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CHRONICLES 


OF 


The  Cape  Fear  River 


1660-1916 


JAMES  SPRUNT 


SECOND  EDITION 


BAIiSIOH 

Zdwabds  a  Bbovoetoh  Pkuituio  Oo. 

1»16 


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Ck>PTBZGHT,  1914,  BT  JaMBS  SPBXTNT 
Ck>PTRXGHT,  1916,  BT  JAMBS  SPBXTNT 


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9o 
SAMUEL  A'COURT  ASHE 

A  LOYAL  AND  DEVOTED 
SON  OF  THE  CAPE  FEAR 
IN  RECOGNITION  OF  HIS  EMINENT  SERVICE  TO  OUR  COMMON- 
WEALTH AND  TO  LITERATURE  IN  ^13  ADMIRABLE  HISTORY 
OF  NORTH  CAROLINA  A  WORK  OF  SUCH  PARTICU- 
LAR MERIT  AS  TO  BRING  CREDIT  TO  HIS 
BIRTHPLACE  AND  TO  ADD  TO  THE 
HIGH  FAME  OF 
THE  CAPE  FEAR  PEOPLE 


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3I63S3 

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Preface 

The  reception  of  the  Cape  Fear  Chronicles,  not  only  by 
friends  of  the  author  but  by  the  general  reader,  and  in  particu- 
lar by  historical  scholars,  has  been  most  unusual.  The  general 
expression  of  gratification  at  its  publication  and  the  generous 
recognition  of  its  value  are  emphatic  assurances  that  Mr. 
Sprunt's  endeavor  to  preserve  the  memories  of  the  Cape  Fear 
has  been  appreciated  beyond  his  expectations.  Numerous  and 
insistent  have  been  the  requests  for  a  second  edition,  to  which  he 
has  finally  yielded,  and  in  doing  so  he  has  embodied  much  addi- 
tional matter  of  interest  and  importance  equal  to  that  contained 
in  the  first  edition.  The  incorporation  of  this  new  matter  has 
necessitated  some  changes  in  the  old,  most  of  which  have  been 
merely  verbal,  but  in  a  few  instances  more  important  changes 
have  been  made  to  secure  greater  uniformity  and  conform  to 
more  recent  information  concerning  certain  local  traditions  and 
memories.  No  trouble  has  been  spared  in  either  edition  to 
secure  the  greatest  exactitude  in  details,  and  especially  has  this 
heeai  true  of  the  edition  now  presented. 

Mr.  Sprunt  has  long  been  interested  in  historical  literature, 
and  through  his  liberality  many  publications  of  interest  and 
value  have  in  recent  years  been  made.  The  fimd  he  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  has  enabled 
that  institution  to  publish  a  series  of  historical  monographs  of 
peculiar  interest,  the  one  published  in  1903  being  of  particular 
importance  to  Wilmington  and  the  Cape  Fear  people.  And  in 
addition  to  being  a  liberal  promoter  of  the  writings  of  others, 
his  personal  output  in  the  field  of  historical  literature  has  been 
a  distinctive  and  valuable  contribution.  His  research  has  been 
extensive  and  remarkably  successful ;  especially  has  he  been  in- 
defatigable in  rescuing  from  oblivion  the  history  of  the  Cape 
Fear  and  clothing  in  his  own  inimitable  style  the  romantic  tales 
and  stirring  deeds  that  belong  to  the  development  of  that  section 
of  North  Carolina. 

In  recognition  of  his  service  to  the  State  in  constructive  citi- 
zenship and  in  his  writings  and  in  appreciation  of  his  personal 
excellence  and  merit,  the  TJniversi^  of  North  Carolina  last 
year  conferred  upon  Mr.  Sprunt  the  degree  of  doctor  of  laws. 
And  more  recently  the  old  historic  College  of  William  and 


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vi  Preface 

Mary,  in  Virginia,  chartered  in  1693,  unanimously  elected  him 
a  member,  causa  honoris,  of  the  Alpha  Chapter  of  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  Society  of  that  college.  This  is  the  honor  literary 
society  of  America,  organized  at  William  and  Mary  in  1YY6, 
and  in  the  selection  of  those  invited  to  become  members  the 
greatest  care  is  exercised,  membership  being  equivalent  to  an 
honorary  degree  conferred  by  any  of  our  collies  and  giving 
the  recipient  special  distinction.  S   A    A 

November  10,  1916. 


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Contents 


PAcn 

FOSBWOBD     iZ 

EbcpijOBATioN  Aia»  SirrTLBMSNT:  Origin  of  the  Name  Cape  Fear — 
The  Ci^e  Fear  River  and  Its  Tributaries— The  Cape  Fear 
Indians — Notes  on  the  Archeology  of  New  Hanoyer  County — 
Indian  Mounds  on  the  Cape  Fear — ^Indians  of  the  Lower 
Cape  Fear — ^Report  of  the  Commissioners  sent  in  1663  to 
Explore  the  Coast — Charlestown,  the  First  Attempted  Set- 
tlCTtient  <m  the  Cape  Fear — Sandford's  Account  of  Conditions 
on  Charles  Riyei^— End  of  the  Settlement  <m  Charles  River, 
the  First  Charlestown— Cape  Fear  Pirate?  of  1719 1 

Pebmanbnt  Settlcment:  The  Town  of  Brunswick — ^A  Visit  to  the 
Cape  Fear  in  1734 — ^Erection  of  Wilmington,  Decay  of  Bruns- 
wick—The Spanish  Invasion,  1747— The  War  of  Jenkins'  Ear 
— ^The  Site  of  Fort  Johnston — Colonial  Plantations  on  the 
Cape  Fear— Colonial  Orton — Crane  Neck  Heron  Colony  on 
Orton  Plantation — Plantations  on  the  Northeast-HSocial  Con- 
ditions— ^Libraries  on  the  Cape  Fear — Colonial  Qovemors  of 
North  Carolina— Colonial  Members  of  the  (General  Assembly. .    88 

RB8I8TAKCB  Betobb  THE  REVOLUTION:  The  Stamp  Act  on  the  Cape 
Fear— William  Houston,  the  Stamp  Master:  Another  View- 
point— Russellborough,  Scene  of  the  First  Armed  Resistance 
—The  Sons  of  Ldb^ty  in  North  Carolina 91 

The  Revolution:  Institution  of  Revolutionary  Government — ^Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Committee  of  Safety— Whigs  and  Tories — 
The  Battle  of  Elizabethtown — Old-Time  Cape  Fear  Heroes — 
Cornelius  Harnett's  Will— Flora  Macdonald 110 

Eablt  Tbabs:  Alyre  Raifeneau  Delile — ^Beginning  of  Federal  For- 
tifications on  the  Cape  Fear— The  First  Steamboat  on  the 
Cape  Fear  River— The  Disastrous  Year  of  1819 — Other  Early 
Fires — First  Cape  Fear  Improvements — ^Railroads,  the  First 
Project — ^The  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad— The  Com- 
merce of  Wilmington— Wilmington  in  the  Forties— The  Pub- 
lic Spirit  of  Wilmington— Activities  on  the  River,  1850-1860 
—Forgotten  Aids  to  the  Navigation  of  the  Cape  Fear— Cape 
Pear  Coal — Fayetteville  on  the  Cape  Fear 130 

Notable  Incidbnts:  Visits  of  Presidents  of  the  United  States  to 
Wilmington  before  the  War^The  Visit  of  Henry  Clay— ^The 
Visit  of  Daniel  Webster— The  Visit  of  Edward  Everettr— Re- 
cation  of  the  Remains  of  John  C.  Calhoun — ^The  Death  of 
Qeneral  James  Ivor  McKay — Governor  Edward  B.  Dudley — 
The  Wilkings-Flanner  Duel 208 


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viii  Contents 

PAGE 

Interesting  Mbmobibs:  Old  School  Days  in  Wilmington— O)lonel 
James  G.  Burr— The  Thalian  Association— A  Fragmentary 
Memory  of  Johnscm  Hooper— Joseph  Jefferson— Immortality 
— The  Jenny  Llnd  Incident 238 

Was  Between  the  States:  On  the  Eve  of  Secession — A  Capture 
Before  the  War— Early  War  Times — Changes  during  the 
War— Mrs  Armand  J.  DeRosset— Confederate  Heroes— The 
Roster  of  Cape  Fear  Camp,  U.  C.  V. — Fort  Caswell — Fort 
Fisher    268 

Blookamb  Running:  Financial  Estimates  of  Blockade  Running — 
The  Port  of  Wilmington  during  the  War — Cape  Fear  Pilots 
— NarratiTes  of  Distinguished  Blockade  Runners— Rescue  of 
Madame  DeRosset — Improyed  Ships  and  Notable  Commcmd- 
ers — North  Carolina  Blockade  Runner  Advance — Other  Ves- 
sels Famous  in  Blockade  Running — ^The  Last  Days  of  Block- 
ade Running — The  Confederate  Navy — ^Wilmington  during 
the  Blockade — ^The  First  and  Second  Attacks  upon  Fort 
Fisher — ^The  Capture  of  Wilmington — ^The  Use  of  Torpedoes 
in  the  Cape  Fear  during  the  War 387 

Peace  Rbstobed:  Resumption  of  Ci^^e  Fear  Commerce — ^Trade  of 
Wilmington,  1815,  1843.  1872— Cuban  Man-of-War  Incident- 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  Navigation  and  Pilotage — Cape 
Fear  Aids  to  Navigation — General  Character  of  the  Coast — 
United  States  Revenue-Cutter  Service — Cape  Fear  Life-Sav- 
ing Service— Use  of  Oil  to  Prevent  Breaking  Seas— Visits  of 
the  Cruiser  Raleigh— ^Federal  Government  Improvements  of 
the  Upper  Cape  Fear — Disastrous  Fires — ^The  Earthquake  of 
1886— The  Visit  of  President  Taft— Woodrow  Wilson's  Youth 
in  Wilmington — Southport  on  the  Cape  Fear — Fort  Caswell 
at  the  Present  Time— The  Proposed  Coastal  Oanal— Munici- 
pal Government  in  Wilmington — ^The  Revolution  of  1898 — 
Cape  Fear  Newspapers — ^The  Wilmington  Bar — Honorable 
George  Davis,  Attorney  General  of  the  Confederacy — George 
Davis:  An  Appreciation  —  The  George  Davis  Monument  — 
Alfred  Moore  Waddell:  Author  —  Bishop  Robert  Strange — 
North  Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames  of  America — 
Places  of  Historic  Interest  in  North  Carolina  Relating  to  the 
Colonial  Period  Tet  Unmarked — ^Luola  Murchison  Sprunt: 
An  Appreciation— The  Boys'  Brigade — Public  Buildings  in 
Wilmington — Wilmington  Churches — Wilmington  Schools — 
Loyalty  of  the  Cape  Fear  People  to  the  State  University — 
The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad— The  Seaboard  Air  Line 
Railroad — Hugh  MacRae's  Activities — ^The  River  Counties — 
The  Growth  of  Wilmington — Looking  Forward 501 


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Foreword 

From  early  youth  I  have  loved  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  the 
ships  and  the  sailors  which  it  bears  upon  its  bosom.  As  a  boy 
I  delighted  to  wander  along  the  wharves  where  the  sailing 
ships  were  moored  with  their  graceful  spars  and  rigging  in 
relief  against  the  sky-line,  with  men  aloft  whose  uncouth  cries 
and  unknown  tongues  inspired  me  with  a  longing  for  the  sea, 
which  I  afterwards  followed,  and  for  the  far-away  countries 
whence  they  had  come. 

In  later  years,  I  heard  the  stories  of  the  old-time  Cape  Fear 
gentlemen,  whose  memories  I  revere,  and  I  treasured  those 
annals  of  our  brave  and  generous  people ;  I  knew  all  the  pilots 
of  the  Cape  Fear,  whose  record  of  brave  deeds  and  unswerving 
loyalty  to  the  Confederacy,  under  great  trial  and  temptation, 
and  whose  steadfast  industry  in  their  dangerous  calling  are 
worthy  of  all  praise ;  and  now,  actuated  by  an  earnest  desire  to 
render  a  public  service  after  many  years'  contact  with  its  men 
and  affairs,  I  have  essayed  to  write  in  the  following  pages  a 
concise  narrative  of  the  sources  and  tributary  streams  of  the 
Cape  Fear  Eiver,  the  origin  of  its  name,  the  development  of 
its  commerce,  and  the  artificial  aids  to  its  navigation,  with  a 
few  historic  incidents  of  its  tidewater  r^on. 

The  limited  scope  of  this  undertaking  does  not  reach  beyond 
the  mere  outlines  of  its  romantic,  dramatic  history,  of  which 
much  has  been  ably  written  by  George  Davis,  Alfred  Moore 
Waddell,  Samuel  A'Court  Ashe,  and  other  historians  of  the 
Cape  Fear. 

I  have  often  looked  from  my  window  upon  the  historic  river 
and  seen  the  white  sails  glistening  in  the  morning  light,  and 
when  the  evening  shadows  deepened  I  have  gazed  upon  the  wide 
expanse  resplendent  with  the  glory  of  the  stars  and  have  heard 
the  sailors  in  the  bay  singing  ^Tarboard  watch,  ahoyl"  while 
the  anchor  lights  of  half  a  hundred  ships  were  twinkling  at 
their  moorings,  and  it  was  something  to  remember  in  after 
years. 

Memory  lingers  with  a  certain  endearment  upon  the  daily 
activities  in  the  harbor  in  that  far-gone  day,  when  the  course  of 
life  was  more  attuned  to  the  placid  flow  of  the  river  than  in  this 
rushing,  jarring  time.    No  more  is  heard  the  long-drawn  cry  of 


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X  Foreword 

the  stevedore,  "Go  ahead,  horse"  and  *^ack  down  lively."  No 
more  do  we  hear  the  song  of  the  chanty  man  rise  shrill  and  clear 
to  the  accompaniment  of  chuckling  blocks  and  creaking  yards, 
nor  the  hearty,  deep  tones  of  the  chorus  as  the  old-time  sailor 
men  tramped  round  the  windlass  from  wharf  to  wharf,  singing : 

"Oh,  blow,  ye  wlnds^  I  long  to  hear  you. 
Blow,  bullies,  blow! 
Oh,  blow  today  and  blow  tomorrow. 
Blow,  my  bully  boys,  blow! 

"Oh,  blow  today  and  blow  tomorrow. 
Blow,  bullies,  blow! 
Oh,  blow  away  all  care  and  sorrow, 
Blow,  my  bully  boys,  blow!" 

"A  tremulous  echo  is  all  that  is  left  of  these  old-time  re- 
frains," but  some  of  our  older  citizens  will  recall  these  plaint- 
ive though  senseless  ditties,  also  the  John  Kooner  songs,  which 
have  enlivened  many  a  dull  hour  in  the  old  seaport  of  the  Cape 
Fear. 

Many  years  ago,  when  the  arched  courthouse  stood  at  the  foot 
of  Market  Street,  a  party  of  prominent  citizens  were  discussing 
under  its  roof  the  events  of  the  day  in  the  soft  light  of  a  beauti- 
ful full  moon,  and  while  they  talked  they  heard  the  tramp  of 
twenty  sailor  men  from  a  near-by  French  ship  moored  at  Market 
Dock;  and  then  in  clear  and  exquisite  tones  the  sailors  sang 
with  all  the  enthusiasm  it  inspired  the  Marseillaise  battle 
hynm.  Colonel  Burr,  who  heard  them,  told  me  many  years  after 
that  it  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  memories  of  a  lifetime. 

But  now  the  distracting  hammering  against  rusting  steel 
plates,  the  clanking  of  chains  against  the  steamship's  sides,  and 
the  raucous  racket  of  the  steam  donkey  betoken  a  new  era  in 
the  harbor  of  Wilmington ;  yet  the  silent  river  flows  on  with  the 
silent  years  as  when  Yassall  sent  the  first  settlers,  or  as  when 
Flora  Macdonald  sailed  past  the  town  to  the  restful  haven  of 
Cross  Creek ;  and  the  Dnim  Tree  still  stands  to  warn  the  out- 
going mariner  that  his  voyage  has  b^un  and  to  welcome  the 
incoming  storm-tossed  sailor  to  the  quiet  harbor  beyond. 

I  have  obtained  the  data  of  the  commercial  development  of 
the  river  largely  from  official  sources  or  reliable  records,  and  I 
have  copied  verbatim,  in  some  technical  detail,  the  generous 
responses  to  my  inquiries  by  Maj.  H.  W.  Stickle,  Corps  of 
Engineers,  IT.  S.  A. ;  Capt.  C.  S.  Ridley,  assistant  engineer,  TJ. 


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Foreword  xi 

S.  A.;  Mr.  R.  C.  Merritt,  assistant  engineer;  Mr.  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  State  geologist;  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Holmes,  director  Bureau 
of  Mines;  Capt.  G.  L.  Garden,  commanding  TJ.  S.  revenue 
cutter  Seminole  \  Mr.  H.  D.  King,  inspector  lights  and  li^t- 
houses.  Sixth  District,  and  Hon.  S.  I.  Kimball,  general  super- 
intendent of  the  Life  Saving  Service,  now  embraced  in  the 
Coast  Guard,  to  each  of  whom  I  make  this  grateful  acknowl- 
edgment. 

This  book  is  intimately  associated  with  two  good  friends, 
Capt  Samuel  A'Court  Ashe  and  Miss  Rosa  Pendleton  ChUes, 
to  whom  I  am  especially  indebted  for  their  invaluable  aid,  and 
sympathy,  and  advice ;  for  without  their  generous  assistance  this 
work  might  not  have  been  accomplished. 


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Exploration  and  Settlement 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  NAME  CAPE  FEAE. 
By  George  Davis. 

The  origin  of  the  name  Cape  Fear  and  its  confusion  in  some 
of  our  early  maps  with  Cape  Fair  led,  many  years  ago,  to  a  dis- 
cussion by  the  Historical  and  Scientific  Society  of  Wilmington, 
of  which  this  writer  was  the  secretary.  A  prominent  Wilming- 
tonian  of  his  day,  Mr.  Henry  Nutt,  to  whose  indefatigable,  in- 
telligent efforts  and  public  spirit  the  closure  of  New  Inlet  was 
largely  due,  stoutly  maintained  in  a  forceful  address  before  that 
body  that  the  name  was  originally  Fair  and  not  Fear. 

Mr.  George  Davis  subsequently  took  the  opposite  view  in  his 
valuable  contribution  entitled  An  Episode  in  Cape  Fear  History, 
published  in  the  South  Atlantic  Magazine,  January,  1879,  which 
I  here  reprint  under  the  above  title. 

Is  it  Cape  Fair?  Or  Cape  Fear?  Adjective  or  noun? 
"Under  which  king,  Bezonian?"  This  old  familiar  name 
under  which  our  noble  river  rolls  its  waters  to  the  sea,  is  it  the 
true  prince  of  the  ancient  line,  or  a  base  pretender,  usurping 
the  seat  of  the  rightful  heir,  and,  after  the  fashion  of  usurpers, 
giving  us  terror  for  beauty,  storm  for  sunshine? 

There  are  some  among  our  most  intelligent  citizens  who 
maintain  that  the  true  name  was,  and  ought  to  be  now.  Cape 
Fair ;  and  that  it  was  originally  so  given  because  the  first  adven- 
turers, seeing  with  the  eye  of  enthusiasm,  found  everything  here 
to  be  fair,  attractive,  and  charming.  And  it  has  even  been  said 
very  lately  that  it  was  never  called  by  its  present  name  until 
after  1750,  and  never  officially  until  1780.  (Address  of  H. 
Nutt  before  H.  and  S.  Society.)  Unfortunately,  in  the  mists 
which  envelop  some  portions  of  our  early  history,  it  is  some- 
times very  difficult  to  guard  against  being  betrayed  into  erro- 
neous conjectures  by  what  appear  to  be  very  plausible  reasons ; 
and  the  materials  for  accurate  investigation  are  not  of  easy  ac- 
cess. It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  this  opinion  should 
have  existed  for  some  time,  not  generally,  but  to  a  limited  ex- 
tent. Beyond  all  doubt  it  is  erroneous,  and  the  proofs  are  con- 
clusive that  our  people  have  been  right  in  finally  rejecting  the 
Beautiful  theory,  and  accepting  the  Fearful.  I  know  of  no  au- 
thority for  this  opinion  except  the  occasional  spelling  of  the 
word.  The  strength  of  the  argument  seems  to  be  this :  Captain 
1 


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2  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Hilton  was  sent  in  1663  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  coun- 
try; he  did  examine  it,  reported  in  glowing  terms  as  to  its 
beauty  and  attractiveness,  and  throughout  his  report  spelled  the 
name  Fair.  I  answer,  Very  true.  But  three  years  later,  in 
1666,  Kobert  Home  published  his  Brief  Description  of  Carolina, 
imder  the  eye,  and  no  doubt  by  the  procurement,  of  the  Pro- 
prietors ;  he  describes  the  coimtry  in  much  more  glowing  terms 
of  praise  than  Hilton  did,  but  spells  the  name,  throughout. 
Fear.  And  where  are  we  then  ?  And  later  still,  in  1711,  a  high 
authority,  Christopher  Gale,  chief  justice  of  North  Carolina, 
like  a  prudent  politician  who  has  not  made  up  his  mind  which 
party  to  join,  spells  it  neither  Fair  nor  Fear,  but  Fare.  (2 
Hawks,  391.)  That  the  name  in  early  times  was  not  infre- 
quently spelt  Fair  is  unquestionable.  Besides  Hilton's  report, 
it  is  so  given  in  the  Letter  of  the  English  Adventurers  to  the 
Proprietors,  1663;  in  the  Instructions  of  the  Proprietors  to 
Governor  Yeamans,  1665 ;  in  Lawson's  history  and  map,  1709 ; 
and  on  Wimble's  map,  1738.  And  perhaps  other  instances 
may  be  found. 

But  all  theise,  if  they  stood  alone  and  unopposed,  could 
hardly  form  the  basis  of  any  solid  argument.  For  all  who  are 
accustomed  to  examine  historical  documents  will  know  too  well 
how  widely  independent  of  all  law,  if  there  was  any  law,  our 
ancestors  were  in  their  spelling,  especially  of  proper  names. 
Pen  in  hand,  they  were  accustomed  to  dare  every  vagary,  and 
no  amount  of  heroic  spelling  ever  appalled  them. 

Some  examples  will  be  instructive  in  our  present  investiga- 
tion. Take  the  great  name  of  him  who  was  "wholly  gentleman, 
wholly  soldier,"  who,  falling  under  the  displeasure  of  a  scoim- 
drel  King  and  languishing  for  twelve  long  years  under  sentence 
of  ignominious  death,  sent  forth  through  his  prison  bars  such 
melodious  notes  that  the  very  King's  son  cried  out,  "No  mon- 
arch in  Christendom  but  my  father  would  keep  such  a  bird  in  a 
cage" ;  who,  inexhaustible  in  ideas  as  in  exploits,  after  having 
brought  a  new  world  to  light,  wrote  the  history  of  the  old  in  a 
prison,  and  then  died,  because  God  had  made  him  too  great  for 
his  fellows — ^that  name  which  to  North  Carolina  ears  rings 
down  through  the  ages  like  a  glorious  chime  of  bells — the  name 
of  our  great  Sir  Walter.  We  know  that  it  was  spelt  three  dif- 
ferent ways,  Raleigh,  Ralegh,  and  Rawlegh. 

And  Sir  Walter's  heroic  kinsman,  that  grand  old  sea-king 
who  fought  his  single  ship  for  fifteen  straight  hours  against 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  3 

fifteen  Spaniards,  one  after  another,  muzzle  to  muzzle,  and 
then  yielded  up  his  soul  to  God  in  that  cheerful  temper  where- 
with men  go  to  a  banquet:  "Here  die  I,  Eichard  Greenville, 
and  with  a  joyful  and  quiet  mind,  having  ended  my  life  like  a 
true  soldier  that  has  fought  for  his  coimtry.  Queen,  religion, 
and  honor."  He  was  indifferently  Greenville,  Grenville,  and 
Ghranville. 

And  take  another  of  these  sea-kings  of  old  who  sailed  to 
America  in  the  early  days — ^that  brilliant,  restless,  daring 
spirit  who  crowded  into  a  few  brief  years  enough  of  wild  adven- 
ture and  excitement  to  season  a  long  life,  and  then  died  little 
more  than  a  boy — ^he  was  indifferently  Cavendish  and  Candish. 

Who,  without  assistance,  could  recognize  Bermuda  in  the 
"still  vexed  Bermoothes"  of  Shakespeare?  And  Home's  pam- 
phlets, of  which  I  have  spoken,  could  only  improve  it  into 
Barmoodoes. 

Coming  down  to  the  very  time  of  which  we  are  speaking,  one 
of  the  first  acts  of  the  Lords  Proprietors  after  receiving  their 
magnificent  grant  was  to  publish  the  important  document  to 
which  I  have  alluded,  the  Declaration  and  Proposals  to  all  who 
will  plant  in  Carolina,  It  is  signed  by  some  of  the  most  famous 
names  in  English  history — George,  Duke  of  Albemarle,  the 
prime  mover  in  bringing  about  the  restoration  of  the  King; 
Edward,  Earl  of  Clarendon,  Lord  High  Chancellor,  and  grand- 
father of  two  English  queens,  but  far  more  famous  as  the  author 
of  that  wonderful  book,  the  History  of  the  Oreat  Rebellion; 
Anthony,  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  Lord  High  Chancellor  and  one 
of  the  greatest  parliamentary  leaders  that  England  ever  pro- 
duced, but  far  greater  as  the  author  of  that  second  charter  of 
Anglo-Saxon  liberties,  the  Habeas  Corpus  Act.  This  very  gifted 
and  very  famous  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  who,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
was  more  distinguished  for  brilliant  talents  than  for  virtuous 
principles,  besides  being  one  of  the  Proprietors  had  an  addi- 
tional claim  to  our  remembrance  which  has  not  been  generally 
known.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  held  at  the  Cockpit 
the  2l8t  of  October,  1669  (Eivers,  346),  he  was  elected  the  first 
chief  justice  of  Carolina.  As  he  never  visited  America  I  pre- 
sume his  oflSce  was  in  a  great  degree  purely  honorary.  But  he 
certainly  executed  its  functions  to  the  extent  at  least  of  its  offi- 
cial patronage.  For  the  record  has  been  preserved  which  shows 
that  on  the  10th  of  June,  1675,  by  virtue  of  that  office,  he  ap- 
pointed Andrew  Percival  to  be  register  of  Berkeley  Precinct. 


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4  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

He  had  not  then  been  raised  to  the  peerage,  but  was  only  Sir 
Anthony  Ashley  Cooper.  He  gave  his  two  family  names  to  the 
rivers  at  Charleston,  and  then  took  himself  the  title  of  Shaftes- 
bury. 

Such  were  some  of  the  signers  of  this  pamphlet.  Surely  these 
men  knew.  Surely  they  would  give  us  some  unimpeachable 
English.  Well,  we  have  an  exact  copy  of  the  pamphlet  and  I 
give  you  my  word  that,  according  to  our  notions,  the  spelling 
of  it  is  enough  to  put  the  whole  school  of  lexicographers  in  a 
madhouse.  Instance  the  following :  "Clarending,"  "Northine," 
"plantacon,"  "proposealls,"  "grannte,"  "ingaige,"  "groathe," 
etc.,  etc.  These  examples,  which  might  be  indefinitely  multi- 
plied, are  sufficient  to  show  that  he  is  a  bold  speculator  who  will 
venture  to  build  an  opinion  on  the  spelling  of  a  name. 

But  the  opposing  proofs  are  quite  conclusive,  and  I  do  not 
scruple  to  promise  that  for  every  authentic  map  or  document, 
prior  to  the  year  1700,  in  which  the  name  is  written  Fair,  I 
will  point  out  at  least  two  in  which  it  is  written  as  at  present. 
An  examination  of  some  of  the  most  important  of  them  will 
remove  all  doubt  from  the  subject. 

In  DeBry's  map  of  Lane's  expedition,  1585,  no  name  is  given 
to  the  cape,  but  we  find  it  distinctly  laid  down,  and  indicated 
by  two  Latin  words  which  are  very  significant,  promontorium 
tremendum.  And  in  the  narrative  of  Sir  Richard  Greenville's 
first  expedition,  in  the  same  year,  we  find  the  very  first  recorded 
mention  of  the  name,  which  ought  to  be  sufficient  of  itself  to 
fix  its  certainty  for  all  time.  For  we  read  there,  for  the  month 
of  June,  1585,  this  entry:  "The  23d  we  were  in  great  danger 
of  a  wreck  on  a  breach  called  the  Cape  of  Fear." 

And  two  years  later,  in  the  narrative  of  the  first  voyage 
under  White,  we  are  told  in  July,  1587,  that  'Tiad  not  Captain 
Stafford  been  more  careful  in  looking  out  than  our  Simon 
Fernando,  we  had  been  all  cast  away  upon  the  breach  called 
the  Cape  of  Fear." 

And  here  we  have  another  orthographic  problem  to  solve. 
Both  of  these  old  worthies  speak  of  the  Cape  of  Fear  as  being 
not  a  beach,  but  a  breach;  and,  on  the  strength  of  that,  possibly 
some  severe  precisian  may  hereafter  start  the  theory,  and  prove 
it  too,  that  the  cape  was  no  cape  at  all,  but  only  a  breach  or 
channel  through  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals. 

Coming  down  near  a  hundred  years  to  the  time  of  the  first 
settlements,  we  find  the  original  spelling  preserved  in  the  Letter 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  5 

of  the  Proprietors  to  Sir  William  Berkeley,  1663 ;  in  the  Pro- 
posals of  the  Proprietors  already  mentioned,  1663 ;  in  Home's 
Brief  Description  of  Carolina  and  on  the  accompanying  map, 
1666 ;  in  the  map  styled  A  New  Description  of  Carolina,  1671 ; 
in  the  Instructions  of  the  Proprietors  to  the  Governor  and 
Comicil  of  Carolina,  1683,  and  in  a  great  many  others. 

These  proofs  would  seem  to  leave  nothing  wanting  to  a  clear 
demonstration  of  the  real  name.  But  there  is  something  yet  to 
be  added.  They  show  that  during  the  same  period  of  time  the 
name  was  spelt  both  ways  indifferently,  not  only  by  different 
persons,  but  the  same  persons,  who  had  peculiar  means  of 
knowing  the  truth.  It  is  clear,  therefore,  that  the  two  modes 
were  not  expressive  of  two  different  ideas,  but  only  different 
forms  of  expressing  the  same  idea.  What  then  was  the  true 
idea  of  the  name — its  raison  d'etre? 

In  pursuing  that  inquiry  our  attention  must  be  directed  to  the 
cape  alone,  and  not  to  the  river.  For,  as  we  have  seen,  the  cape 
bore  its  name  for  near  a  hundred  years  during  which  the  river 
was  nameless,  if  not  imknown.  And,  when  brought  into  notice 
afterwards,  the  river  bore  at  first  a  different  name,  and  only 
after  some  time  glided  into  the  name  of  the  cape.  Thus,  in  the 
Letter  of  the  Proprietors  to  Sir  William  Berkeley,  8th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1663,  after  directing  him  to  procure  a  small  vessel  to 
explore  the  sounds,  they  say,  "And  whilst  they  are  aboard  they 
may  look  into  Charles  River  a  very  little  to  the  Southward  of 
Cape  Fear."  And  so  in  the  Proposals  of  the  Proprietors,  15th 
of  August,  1663,  "If  the  first  colony  will  settle  on  Charles 
River,  near  Cape  Fear,"  etc.,  etc.,  and  in  Home's  map,  1666, 
the  name  is  Charles  River. 

Looking  then  to  the  cape  for  the  idea  and  reason  of  its  name, 
we  find  that  it  is  the  southernmost  point  of  Smith's  Island — a 
naked,  bleak  elbow  of  sand,  jutting  far  out  into  the  ocean.  Im- 
mediately in  its  front  are  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  pushing  out 
still  fartiier,  twenty  miles,  to  sea.  Together  they  stand  for 
warning  and  for  woe ;  and  together  they  catch  the  long  majestic 
roll  of  the  Atlantic  as  it  sweeps  through  a  thousand  miles  of 
grandeur  and  power  from  the  Arctic  towards  the  Gulf.  It  is  the 
playground  of  billows  and  tempests,  the  kingdom  of  silence  and 
awe,  disturbed  by  no  sound  save  the  sea  gull's  shriek  and  the 
breakers'  roar.  Its  whole  aspect  is  suggestive,  not  of  repose  and 
beauty,  but  of  desolation  and  terror.  Imagination  can  not  adorn 
it    Romance  can  not  hallow  it.    Local  pride  can  not  soften  it. 


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6  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

There  it  stands  today,  bleak,  and  threatening,  and  pitiless,  as  it 
stood  three  hundred  years  ago,  when  Greenville  and  White  came 
nigh  unto  death  upon  its  sands.  And  there  it  will  stand,  bleak, 
and  threatening,  and  pitiless,  until  the  earth  and  the  sea  shall 
give  up  their  dead.  And,  as  its  nature,  so  its  name,  is  now, 
always  has  been,  and  always  will  be,  the  Cape  of  Fear. 


THE  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER  AND  ITS  TRIBUTARIES. 

The  Cape  Fear  River,  said  to  have  been  known  to  the  Indian 
aborigines  as  "Sapona,"  later  to  the  explorers  and  to  the  pro- 
moters in  England  as  the  Charles  River,  and  the  Clarendon 
River,  is  formed  hy  the  junction  of  the  Haw  and  the  Deep 
Rivers,  in  Chatham  County,  North  Carolina.  From  their  con- 
fluence, which  is  about  173  miles  by  river  above  Wilmington, 
it  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  through  Harnett,  Cumber- 
land, and  Bladen  Counties,  and  between  Brunswick  and  New 
Hanover  to  the  sea.  The  Haw  River  rises  in  Rockingham  and 
Guilford  Counties  and  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  through 
Alamance,  Orange,  and  Chatham  Counties  to  its  junction  with 
the  Deep  River,  a  distance  of  about  80  miles,  measured  along 
its  general  course.  The  Deep  River  is  of  about  the  same  length 
as  the  Haw.  It  rises  in  Guilford  County  and  flows  through 
Randolph  and  Moore  Counties,  and  joins  the  Haw  in  Chatham. 

The  Deep  River  drains  about  1,400  square  miles.  Its  tribu- 
taries are  only  small  creeks,  the  most  important  being  Rocky 
River.  The  Haw  River  drains  about  1,800  square  miles,  and 
its  tributaries  are  also  small,  but  are  larger  than  those  of  the 
Deep  River.  The  principal  ones,  descending  from  the  head- 
waters, are  Reedy  Fork,  Alamance  Creek,  Cane  Creek,  and 
New  Hope  River. 

Between  the  junction  of  the  Deep  and  the  Haw  Rivers  and 
Fayetteville,  a  distance  of  about  58  miles,  the  most  important 
tributaries  which  join  the  Cape  Fear  are  Upper  Little  River, 
from  the  west,  32  miles  long;  and  Lower  Little  River,  from 
the  west,  45  miles  long.  There  are  other  small  creeks,  the  most 
important  being  Carver's  Creek  and  Blount's  Creek. 

Between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville  the  most  important 
tributary  is  Black  River,  which  enters  from  the  east  about  15 
miles  above  Wilmington  and  has  a  drainage  basin  of  about 
1,430  square  miles.     There  are  several  creeks  which  enter 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  7 

below  Fayetteville,  the  principal  one  being  Eockfish  Creek, 
which  enters  10  miles  below  Fayetteville. 

The  entire  drainage  basin  above  Fayetteville  covers  an  area 
of  4,493  square  miles,  and  the  total  drainage  area  of  the  Cape 
Fear  and  all  its  tributaries  is  about  8,400  square  miles. 

At  Wilmington  the  Cape  Fear  River  proper  is  joined  by  the 
Northeast  Cape  Fear  River.  Their  combined  average  dis- 
charge at  Wilmington  for  the  year  is  about  14,000  feet  a 
second.  Floods  in  their  tributaries  have  but  little  effect  on  the 
water  level  at  Wilmington.  The  lower  river  is  tidal,  and  the 
effects  of  tidal  variations  are  felt  about  40  miles  above  the  city 
on  both  branches. 

The  city  of  Wilmington  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  oppo- 
site the  junction  of  the  two  branches,  and  nearly  all  wharves, 
mills,  and  terminals  are  situated  on  the  same  side.  The  width 
of  the  river  at  Wilmington  is  500  to  1,000  feet.  Four  miles 
below,  it  becomes  1%  miles  wide,  and  is  of  the  nature  of  a  tidal 
estuary,  varying  in  width  as  it  flows  to  the  sea  from  1  to  3  miles. 
The  distance  from  Wilmington  to  the  ocean  is  30  miles* 

Improvements  Below  Wilmington. 

The  improvement  of  the  river  was  begun  by  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  between  Wilmington  and  Big  Island  by  em- 
bankments, jetties,  and  dredging  in  1822,  and  continued  until 
1829,  when  the  Federal  Government  imdertook  the  work  of  im- 
provement and  continued  it  to  1839.  Work  was  resumed  in 
1847  and  continued  up  to  the  War  between  the  States.  It  was 
again  resumed  in  1870  and  has  been  carried  on  continuously 
since  that  date. 

A  report  of  the  Committee  on  Bar  and  River  Improvements 
to  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  January  15,  1872,  contains  the 
following  interesting  information: 

"The  earliest  reliable  information  we  have  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  its  entrance  and  harbor,  is  to  be  found  in  a  map  by 
Edward  Moseley,  in  1733,  and  another  by  James  Wimble,  in 
1738.  Both  of  these  maps,  although  apparently  imperfect, 
nevertheless  represent  the  harbor  as  capacious,  of  good  anchor- 
age, well  landlocked,  easy  of  access,  and  with  four  fathoms 
water  upon  the  bar  (supposed  at  mean  low  tide).  About  this 
draught  of  water  was  carried  by  a  bold  and  direct  channel  on 
the  west  side  of  Big  Island^  to  tiie  town  of  Wilmington. 

^The  river  channel  was  at  that  time  on  the  west  side  of  Big  Island. 
Since  then  it  has  heen  artificially  diverted  to  the  east  side  of  Big  Island. 


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8  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"The  next  we  hear  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  is  through  Wheel- 
er's History  of  North  Carolina  (extracted  from  the  London 
Magazine)  f  giving  an  account  of  the  most  violent  equinoctial 
storm  which  had  ever  occurred  along  the  coast,  forcing  open  an 
entrance  into  the  river  at  a  point  known  as  the  ^Haul-over/  now 
known  as  the  New  Inlet.  This  storm  commenced  on  the  20th 
of  September,  1761,  and  lasted  four  days. 

"This  inlet,  from  long  neglect,  has  become  formidable,  de- 
tracting a  large  portion  of  the  river  water  from  its  legitimate 
outlet,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  river  and  lower  harbor. 

"In  1775,  a  map  of  the  Cape  Fear  Kiver,  more  accurate  in 
its  details  than  the  two  first  alluded  to,  was  published  in  Lon- 
don, which  laid  down  the  New  Inlet,  but  did  not  materially 
vary  the  harbor,  outlet,  or  draught  of  water  upon  the  bar,  or  the 
channel  of  the  river  up  to  the  town  of  Wilmington. 

"At  a  meeting  .of  the  Safety  Committee  of  Wilmington,  held 
on  the  20th  of  November,  1775,  John  Ancrum  presiding,  the 
following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  passed: 

"  'The  committee,  taking  into  consideration  the  damage  with  which 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape  F^ar  River  are  threatened  by  the  King's 
ships  now  in  the  harbor,  and  the  open  and  avowed  contempt  and  viola- 
tion of  Justice  in  the  conduct  of  Qovernor  Martin,  who,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  said  ships,  is  endeavoring  to  carry  off  the  artillery,  the  prop- 
erty of  this  province,  and  the  gift  of  his  late  Majesty  of  blessed  mem- 
ory, for  our  protection  from  foreign  invasion,  have 

"  'Resolved,  That  Messrs.  John  Forster,  William  Wilkinson,  and  John 
Slingsby,  or  any  one  of  them,  be  empowered  to  procure  necessary  ves- 
sels, boats,  and  chains,  to  sink  in  such  part  of  the  channel  as  they  or 
any  of  them  may  think  proper,  to  agree  for  the  purchase  of  such  boats 
and  other  materials  as  may  be  wanted)  and  to  have  them  valued,  that 
the  owners  may  be  reimbursed  by  the  public.  And  it  is  further  ordered, 
that  the  said  John  Forster  &  Co.  do  consult  the  committee  of  Brunswick 
on  this  measure  and  request  their  concurrence.' 

"A  knowledge  of  the  men  of  that  period,  with  the  boisterous 
circumstances  which  surrounded  them,  is  sufficient  evidence 
that  this  order  was  implicitly  obeyed  and  effectually  executed, 
no  report  of  their  action  being  required  or  expected. 

"Tradition  assures  us  that  these  obstacles  were  placed  across 
the  channel  at  Big  Island.  We  therefore  feel  justified  in  say- 
ing that  the  channel,  as  laid  down  by  all  previous  maps,  was, 
at  that  time  and  place,  obstructed  agreeably  to  the  order,  as 
subsequent  events  would  seem  to  imply.  From  time  to  time, 
logs,  stumps,  and  other  drift  matter  brought  down  by  freshets 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  9 

lodged  against  the  obstructionfl,  backing  up  nearly  to  the  nar- 
rows and  forming  what  is  known  as  the  flats  or  shoal  of  logs, 
which,  as  it  increased,  gradually  forced  the  water  through  an 
opening  on  the  west  side  of  Big  Island,  and  in  course  of  time 
scoured  out  a  channel  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  commerce 
of  the  port,  and  so  remained  until  the  year  1826. 

"In  the  year  1797-8,  a  survey  and  map  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  its  harbors  and  outlets,  was  made  by  Joshua  Potts.  At 
this  time,  thirty-seven  years  after  the  breaking  out  of  New  In- 
let, we  find  very  little  alteration  in  the  harbor  or  outlet — ^the 
bar  representing  20  feet  of  water  (supposed  at  mean  low  tide), 
while  the  channels  of  the  river  up  to  Wilmington  had  under- 
gone material  change,  and  very  much  depreciated." 

A  report  of  the  same  committee,  made  four  years  earlier 
than  the  one  just  quoted,  refers  to  the  Potts  survey,  and  says : 

"Older  charts  than  this  exhibit  a  greater  draught  of  water, 
particulars  of  which,  however,  are  not  accurately  remembered 
by  your  committee.  Many  old  citizens  now  living  remember 
to  have  seen  at  our  wharves  vessels  drawing  15  to  18  feet  of 
water.  But  about  the  year  1820,  as  the  depth  of  water  in- 
creased on  New  Inlet,  in  like  proportion  it  diminished  on  the 
Main  Bar,  maintaining  upon  both  the  aggregate  of  about  25 
feet  The  late  Capt.  Thomas  N.  Gautier,  who  was  a  merchant 
of  this  place  during  the  period  of  time  included  between  the 
years  1790  and  1810,  told  one  of  your  committee  that  during 
that  period,  among  many  others,  he  had  loaded  one  ship  to  30 
feet  draught,  which  proceeded  down  the  river  to  sea,  on  her 
voyage  to  London,  without  difficulty  or  interruption.  These 
facts  in  the  history  of  the  past  are  conclusive  evidence,  in  the 
minds  of  your  committee,  that  the  true  and  real  cause  of  the 
present  alarming  condition  of  the  navigation  of  our  bars  and 
river  is  to  be  found  in  the  existence  of  the  New  Inlet,  and  that 
alone." 

A  report  of  Alexander  Strauss  to  the  mayor  and  aldermen  of 
Wilmington,  under  date  of  March  6,  1870,  says: 

"The  bar  in  the  Old  Ship  Channel  has  shoaled  21/2  feet 
in  the  last  five  years,  and  therefore  any  procrastination  in  the 
work  will  be  injurious  to  our  commerce,  as  I  believe  it  can 
be  shown  that  year  by  year  since  1840  the  obstruction  has  in- 
creased, and  imless  speedy  action  is  taken  it  will  result  in  the 
total  destruction  of  our  harbor.  I  base  my  opinion  on  data 
gained  from  different  surveys  made  from  the  year  1733  to 


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10  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

1869.  On  the  survey  of  1733,  a  depth  of  21  feet  is  shown  in 
the  Old  Ship  Channel  at  mean  low  water,  and  in  1869  only 
6%  can  be  found  in  the  same  channel." 

The  condition  of  the  river  prior  to  the  opening  of  New  Inlet 
(which  occurred  during  an  equinoctial  storm  in  1761)  is  rather 
Tmcertain,  but  old  maps  indicate  that  there  was  a  low-water 
depth  of  14  feet  across  the  bar  at  the  mouth,  the  least  depth 
between  Wilmington  and  the  mouth  being  7%  feet.  There  is 
also  some  uncertainty  as  to  the  conditions  in  1829,  when  the 
improvement  was  undertaken  by  the  United  States,  but  the 
most  reliable  information  is  that  there  was  then  about  7  to  7% 
feet  at  low  water  in  the  river,  about  9  feet  in  Bald  Head  Chan- 
nel, 9  feet  in  Rip  Channel,  and  10  feet  at  New  Inlet.  Work  on 
the  bar  was  begun  in  1863,  at  which  time  the  bar  depths  at  low 
water  were  7%  f^®*  ^^  Bald  Head  Channel,  7  feet  in  Rip  Chan- 
nel, and  8  feet  at  New  Inlet,  the  governing  low-water  depth  in 
the  river  having  been  increased  to  9  feet. 

The  original  project  of  1827  was  to  deepen  by  jetties  the 
channel  through  the  shoals  in  the  8  miles  next  below  Wilming- 
ton. This  project  resulted  in  a  gain  of  2  feet  available  depth. 
The  project  of  1853  was  to  straighten  and  deepen  the  bar  chan- 
nel by  dredging,  jettying,  diverting  the  flow  from  the  New 
Inlet,  and  closing  breaches  in  Zeke's  Island.  This  project  was 
incomplete  when  the  War  between  the  States  began.  Up  to  that 
time,  $363,228.92  had  been  spent  on  the  improvement.  The 
work  done  during  this  period  was  measurably  successful.  The 
report  of  the  commission  of  1858  referring  to  it  says:  , 

"The  works  recommended  by  the  board  of  1853  were,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  commission,  entirely  efficient,  so  far  as  they  were 
carried  out,  having,  as  is  shown  by  the  Coast-Survey  maps, 
caused  an  increase  in  the  depth  of  Oak  Island  Channel  of  be- 
tween one  and  two  feet." 

After  the  war  the  first  project  was  that  of  1870,  to  deepen 
the  bar  channel  by  closing  breaches  between  Smith's  and  Zeke's 
Islands,  with  the  ultimate  closure  of  New  Inlet  in  view.  The 
project  of  1873  included  that  of  1870  and  in  addition  the  dredg- 
ing of  the  bar  channel  and  the  closing  of  New  Inlet.  This  work 
was  in  charge  of  Gen.  J.  H.  Simpson,  U.  S.  A.,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  management  of  it  by  Col.  William  P.  Craighill. 
The  main  construction  was  under  Maj.  Walter  Griswold,  assist- 
ant engineer,  whose  services  were  able  and  highly  acceptable. 
Mention  should  be  made  also  of  Henry  Nutt,  Esq.,  chairman 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  11 

of  the  Committee  on  Bar  and  River  Improvements  of  the  Cham- 
ber of  Conmierce,  whose  activities  greatly  advanced  the  work. 
The  Wilmington  Journal  of  March  20,  1872,  contains  the  fol- 
lowing acknowledgment  of  his  services: 

*^e  are  unwilling  to  give  expression  to  the  bright  hopes  of 
the  future  we  anticipate  for  our  goodly  old  town.  But  whether 
that  success  be  attained  in  full  or  scant  measure,  the  name  of 
Henry  Nutt  will,  and  ought  to  be,  held  in  grateful  remembrance 
by  all  our  people  to  the  last  generation,  as  the  earnest,  persist- 
ent, and  enthusiastic  friend  of  this  great  work." 

The  project  of  1874  was  to  obtain  by  dredging  a  channel  100 
feet  wide  and  12  feet  deep  at  low  water  up  to  Wilmington. 
The  project  of  1881  was  to  obtain  by  dredging  a  channel  270 
feet  wide  and  16  feet  deep  at  low  water  up  to  Wilmington. 
These  projects  had  been  practically  completed  in  1889.  At  that 
time  the  expenditure  since  the  war  amounted  to  $2,102,271.93. 

The  project  adopted  September  19,  1890,  was  to  obtain  a 
mean  low-water  depth  of  20  feet  and  a  width  of  270  feet  from 
Wilmington  to  the  ocean.  This  project  has  been  modified  sev- 
eral times. 

For  the  five  years  ending  June  30,  1915,  there  was  expended 
for  river  improvements  $1,440,844.02,  and  the  conmierce  on 
the  Cape  Fear  River  at  and  below  Wilmington  averaged  929,- 
336  tons,  with  an  average  valuation  of  $50,978,671.06  for  the 
five  calendar  years.  At  the  close  of  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1915,  there  had  been  a  total  expenditure  of  $5,974,868.48.  The 
project  below  Wilmington  under  execution  was  adopted  in  the 
River  and  Harbor  Act  approved  July  25,  1912,  and  provides 
for  a  channel  depth  of  26  feet  at  mean  low  water,  with  a  width 
of  300  feet,  increasing  at  the  entrance  and  curves  in  the  river 
and  widening  to  400  feet  across  the  bar.  The  project  is  eighty 
per  cent  completed,  the  depth  having  been  secured  throughout 
the  entire  distance,  additional  work  being  required  only  to 
widen  the  channel  where  the  width  is  deficient.  On  June  30, 
1915,  a  mean  low-water  channel  26  feet  deep  and  from  280  to 
400  feet  wide  existed  on  the  ocean  bar  and  26  feet  deep  and  300 
feet  wide  in  the  river  channels,  excepting  at  Snow's  Marsh 
Channel,  where  the  26-foot  channel  was  from  150  to  270  feet 
wide. 

The  various  projects  adopted  by  the  Federal  Government 
involved  the  closing  of  New  Inlet  and  the  construction  of  a 
defensive  dike  from  Zeke's  Island,  on  the  south  side  of  New 


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12  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Inlet,  to  Smith's  Island.  The  dam  closing  New  Inlet  was  con- 
structed between  1875  and  1881  and  is  5,300  feet  long.  It  is 
built  of  stone,  its  first  cost  being  $540,237.11.  It  was  badly 
damaged  by  a  storm  in  1906,  and  the  cost  of  its  restoration  and 
of  other  minor  repairs  made  since  its  completion  was  $103,- 
044.75,  making  its  total  cost  to  date  $643,281.86.  Swash  De- 
fense Dam,  south  of  New  Inlet,  was  constructed  between  1883 
and  1889  and  is  12,800  feet  long.  It  is  also  built  of  stone,  the 
first  cost  being  $225,965.  The  cost  of  restoring  this  dam  after 
the  storm  of  1906,  including  other  repairs  made  since  its  com- 
pletion, was  $170,109.53,  making  the  total  cost  to  date  $396,- 
074.53.  With  the  exception  of  the  construction  of  these  two 
dams,  the  results  have  been  accomplished  almost  wholly  by 
dredging. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection  that  the  total  ex- 
penditures of  the  Federal  Government  upon  Charleston  Harbor 
to  June  30,  1915,  amounted  to  $5,084,771.90,  and  the  total 
expenditures  on  Cape  Fear  River  at  and  below  Wilmington  to 
the  same  date  was  $5,985,990.01. 

NOETHEAST  CaPE  FeAB  RiVEE. 

Northeast  Cape  Fear  River  has  a  total  length  of  130  miles 
(70  miles  in  a  straight  line)  and  has  been  under  improvement 
since  1890,  the  project  including  the  clearing  of  the  natural 
channel  for  small  steamers  to  Hallsville,  88  miles  above  its 
mouth,  and  for  pole  boats  to  Komegay^s  Bridge,  103  miles 
above  its  mouth. 

The  work  has  consisted  in  removing  snags  and  other  inci- 
dental obstructions  from  the  channel  and  leaning  trees  from  the 
banks.  For  several  years  past,  work  has  been  for  the  purpose  of 
maintenance  only.  To  June  30,  1913,  there  had  been  spent  on 
this  stream  for  improvement  and  maintenance  $33,738.86.  At 
present  8  feet  can  be  carried  to  Rocky  Point  Landing,  35  miles 
from  the  mouth,  5  feet  to  Smith's  Bridge,  52  miles  up,  and  3 
feet  to  Croom's  Bridge,  8  miles  further,  at  all  stages.  Above 
that  point  it  is  only  navigable  during  freshets. 

BliACK     RiVEE. 

This  stream  has  been  under  improvement  since  1887.  The 
original  project  of  1885  included  clearing  the  natural  channel 
and  banks  to  Lisbon  and  cutting  off  a  few  points  at  bends, 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  13 

modified  in  1893,  and  omitting  the  part  above  Clear  Bun,  66 
miles  above  the  mouth.  This  was  completed  in  1895.  Since 
that  time  it  has  been  under  maintenance.  The  total  amount 
expended  to  June  30,  1913,  for  improvement  and  maintenance 
was  $32,877.26.  The  work  has  consisted  in  removing  obstruc- 
tions from  the  channel  and  leaning  trees  from  the  banks,  and  in 
a  small  amount  of  dredging. 

At  present  a  depth  of  5  feet  can  be  carried  to  Point  Caswell 
at  low  stages,  above  which  point  there  is  but  little  navigation 
excepting  during  freshet  stages. 

Town   Ceeek. 

Town  Creek  is  a  tributary  to  Cape  Fear  River,  entering  it 
from  the  west  about  7^^  miles  below  Wilmington.  It  is  not 
now  imder  improvement,  but  was  placed  under  improvement  in 
1881,  the  project  being  to  obtain  4-foot  navigation  at  low  water 
by  removing  obstructions  from  the  mouth  to  Saw-Pit  Landing, 
20  miles  above.  After  spending  $1,000,  this  project  was  aban- 
doned. An  appropriation  of  $8,500  was  made  in  1899  to  be 
expended  in  obtaining  a  mean  low-water  channel  5  feet  deep 
and  40  feet  wide  to  Russeirs  Landing,  19%  miles  above  the 
mouth,  and  to  clear  the  creek  to  Rock's  Landing,  about  4  miles 
farther  up.  The  5-foot  channel  was  obtained  to  Russell's  Land- 
ing by  dredging,  and  snags  were  removed  from  the  channel  for 
the  next  mile  above,  when  the  funds  were  exhausted,  and  no 
further  appropriation  has  been  made. 

Beunswick    River. 

About  four  miles  above  Wilmington,  the  Cape  Fear  River 
divides,  the  western  branch  forming  Brunswick  River.  It  flows 
in  a  southerly  direction  and  again  enters  the  Cape  Fear  River 
about  four  miles  below  Wilmington. 

This  river  has  never  been  under  improvement,  but  the  River 
and  Harbor  Act  of  June  13,  1902,  provides  for  an  expenditure 
not  exceeding  $1,000  of  the  money  appropriated  for  the  im- 
provement of  Cape  Fear  River,  at  and  below  Wilmington,  in 
removing  obstructions  at  the  lower  mouth  of  Brunswick  River. 
Obstructions  were  removed  from  a  width  of  100  feet  during 
1903  at  a  cost  of  $519,  securing  a  channel  at  its  mouth  100  feet 
wide  and  7  feet  deep.^ 

niie  foregoing  technical  information  is  from  the  reports  of  the  U.  S. 
Corps  of  Bnglneers,  by  the  courtesy  of  Major  Stickle. 


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14  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

According  to  the  recitals  in  the  oldest  deeds  for  lands  on 
Eagles'  Island  and  in  its  vicinity  on  either  side,  the  Northeast 
and  the  Northwest  branches  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  come  to- 
gether at  the  southern  point  of  that  island.  What  is  now  called 
Brunswick  River,  on  the  west  side  of  the  island,  was  then  the 
main  River ;  and  Wilmington  was  on  the  Northeast  branch,  and 
not  on  the  main  stream  of  the  Cape  Fear.  That  portion  of  the 
river  which  runs  from  the  Northeast  branch  by  Point  Peter,  or 
Negrohead  Point,  as  it  is  called,  to  the  Northwest  branch  at  the 
head  of  Eagles'  Island,  is  called  in  the  old  deeds  and  statutes 
of  the  State  the  "Thoroughfare,"  and  sometimes  the  "Cut- 
through"  from  one  branch  to  the  other;  and  the  land  granted 
to  John  Maultsby,  on  which  a  part  of  Wilmington  is  situated, 
is  described  as  lying  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the  "Thorough- 
fare." At  another  time,  what  is  now  known  as  Brunswick 
River  was  called  Clarendon  River. 


THE  CAPE  FEAR  INDIANS. 

The  tribal  identity  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians  has  never  been 
clearly  established.  We  find  Indian  mounds,  or  tumuli,  along 
the  river  and  coast  and  in  the  midland  counties,  and  we  are  told 
that  the  head  waters  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  were  known  to  our 
aborigines  as  "Sapona,"  a  tribal  name  also  known  farther  north, 
and  that  "King"  Roger  Moore  exterminated  these  Indians  at 
Big  Sugar  Loaf  after  they  had  raided  Orton ;  but  there  is  noth- 
ing in  the  mounds,  where  hundreds  of  skeletons  are  found,  nor 
in  the  pottery  and  rude  implements  discovered  therein,  to  iden- 
tify the  tribe  or  prove  the  comparatively  unsupported  state- 
ments which  we  have  hitherto  accepted  as  facts.  Capt.  S.  A. 
Ashe  says:  "The  Cape  Fear  Indians  along  the  coast  were 
Southern.  The  Saponas  who  resided  higher  up  were  probably 
Northern.  They  were  not  exterminated  by  ^King'  Roger;  in 
fact,  in  1790  there  were  still  some  in  Granville,  and  a  consid- 
erable number  joined  the  Tuscaroras  on  the  Tuscarora  Reserva- 
tion on  the  Roanoke.  They  were  both  Northern,  probably, 
otherwise  the  Saponas  would  not  have  been  welcome." 

There  is  reason  to  believe  the  tradition,  generally  known  to 
our  older  inhabitants,  that  the  Indians  from  the  back  country 
came  regularly  in  the  early  springtime  to  the  coast  of  the  Cape 
Fear  for  the  seawater  fish  and  oysters  which  were  abundant,  and 
that  their  preparation  for  these  feasts  included  the  copious 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  15 

drinking  of  a  strong  decoction  of  yopon  leaves,  which  produced 
free  vomiting  and  purgation,  before  they  gorged  themselves  to 
repletion  with  the  fish  and  oysters. 

The  beautiful  evergreen  leaf  and  brilliant  red  berries  of  the 
yopon  still  abound  along  the  river  banks  near  the  remains  of  the 
Indian  camps.  The  leaves  were  extensively  used  as  a  substitute 
for  tea,  which  was  unobtainable  during  our  four  years'  war,  and 
the  tea  made  from  them  was  refreshing  and  tonic  in  its  effects. 

Dr.  Francis  P.  Venable  says:  "It  belongs  to  the  Ilex,  or 
holly  genus.  My  first  analysis  was  on  a  small  sample  from  New 
Bern  and  showed  0.32  per  cent  caffeine.  Securing  a  larger  sam- 
ple from  near  Wilmington,  I  found  0.27  per  cent.  The  mate, 
or  Paraguay  tea,  is  also  gotten  from  an  Ilex  and  contains  0.63 
per  cent.  The  percentage  of  tannin  in  the  yopon  is  rather  high 
and  I  suppose  has  something  to  do  with  the  medicinal  effect.'' 

Dr.  Curtis,  an  eminent  botanist  of  North  Carolina,  says: 
^'Yopon  I.  Cassine,  Linn.  An  elegant  shrub  ten  to  fifteen  feet 
high,  but  sometimes  rising  to  twenty  or  twenty-five  feet.  Its 
native  place  is  near  the  water  (salt)  from  Virginia  southward, 
but  never  far  in  the  interior.  Its  dark  green  leaves  and  bright 
red  berries  make  it  very  ornamental  in  yards  and  shrubberies. 
The  leaves  are  small,  one-half  to  one  inch  long,  very  smooth  and 
evenly  scalloped  on  the  edges,  with  small  rounded  teeth.  In 
some  sections  of  the  lower  district,  especially  in  the  region  of 
the  Dismal  Swamp,  these  are  annually  dried  and  used  for  tea, 
which  is,  however,  oppressively  soporific — at  least  for  one  not 
accustomed  to  it." 

Our  yopon  (the  above)  is  the  article  from  which  the  famous 
Black  Drink  of  the  Southern  Indians  was  made.  At  a  certain 
time  of  the  year  they  came  down  in  droves  from  a  distance  of 
several  hundred  miles  to  the  coast  for  the  leaves  of  this  tree. 
They  made  a  fire  on  the  ground,  and  putting  a  great  kettle  of 
water  on  it,  they  threw  in  a  large  quantity  of  these  leaves,  and 
sitting  around  the  fire,  from  a  bowl  holding  about  a  pint,  they 
b^an  drinking  large  draughts,  which  in  a  short  time  caused 
them  to  vomit  easily  and  freely.  Thus  they  continued  drinking 
and  vomiting  for  a  space  of  two  or  three  days,  until  they  had 
sufficiently  cleansed  themselves,  and  then,  every  one  taking  a 
bundle  of  the  leaves,  they  all  retired  to  their  habitations. 


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16  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Notes  on  the  Archaeology  of  New  Hanover  County* 

Bt  David  I.  Bxtshnell^  Jr. 

It  is  with  no  small  satisfaction  that  I  have  obtained  by  the 
courtesy  of  such  eminent  authority  as  that  of  Mr.  David  I.  Bush- 
nell,  jr.,  of  the  Bureau  of  American  Ethnology,  who  is  now  In 
Wilmington  for  investigations  on  the  vanishing  race,  the  follow- 
ing paper;  and  Mr.  Bushnell  has  quoted  from  Mr.  W.  B.  McKoy's 
valuable  contributions  on  the  same  subject.  I  also  include  Dr. 
Joseph  A.  Holmes's  report  upon  his  personal  investigations  of  the 
mounds  in  Duplin  County,  and  a  paper  by  Capt  S.  A.  Ashe  on 
the  Indians  of  the  Liower  Cape  Fear. 

In  reference  to  the  Woecon,  Saxapahaw,  Cape  Fear,  and 
Warrennuncock  Indians,  we  find  it  stated:  "Of  the  North 
Carolina  tribes  bearing  the  foregoing  names  ahnost  nothing  is 
known,  and  of  the  last  two  even  the  proper  names  have  not  been 
recorded.  The  Woccon  were  Siouan ;  the  Saxapahaw  and  Cape 
Fear  Indians  presumably  were  Siouan,  as  indicated  from  their 
associations  and  alliance  with  known  Siouan  tribes;  while  the 
Warrennuncock  were  probably  some  people  better  known  under 
another  name,  although  they  cannot  be  identified."^  Unfor- 
tunately the  identity  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians  has  not  been 
revealed,  and  it  may' ever  remain  a  mystery.  The  name  was 
first  bestowed,  by  the  early  colonists,  upon  the  Indians  whom 
they  found  occupying  the  lands  about  the  mouth  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  and  more  especially  the  peninsula  now  forming  the 
southern  part  of  New  Hanover  County.  It  is  also  possible  the 
term  "Cape  Fear  Indians"  was  applied  to  any  Indians  found  in 
the  vicinity,  regardless  of  their  tribal  connections,  and,  as  will 
be  shown  later,  the  area  was  frequented  by  numbers  of  different 
tribes.  Although  the  native  people  were  often  mentioned  in 
early  writings,  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  Indian  population  of 
the  peninsula  ever  exceeded  a  few  hundred. 

Evidently  Indians  continued  to  occupy  the  lower  part  of  the 
peninsula  until  about  the  year  1725,  at  which  time,  according 
to  a  well-substantiated  tradition,  they  were  driven  from  the 
section.  "Roger  Moore,  because  of  his  wealth  and  large  number 
of  slaves,  was  called  ^King'  Roger.  There  is  a  tradition  on  the 
Cape  Fear  that  he  and  his  slaves  had  a  battle  with  the  Indians 
at  Sugar  Loaf,  nearly  opposite  the  town  of  Brunswick.  Gov- 
ernor Tryon,  forty  years  later,  mentions  that  the  last  battle  with 

'Mooney,  James.  The  Siouan  Tribes  of  the  East  BuHetin  Bureau  of 
Ethnology,  Washington,  1894,  p.  66. 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  17 

the  Indians  was  when  driving  them  from  the  Cape  Fear  in 
1725.    The  tradition  would  seem  to  be  well  founded/'^ 

At  the  present  time,  nearly  two  centuries  after  the  expulsion 
of  the  last  Indian  inhabitants  from  the  peninsula,  we  find  many 
traces  of  their  early  occupancy  of  the  area.  Oysters  and  other 
mollusks  served  as  important  articles  of  food,  and  vast  quantities 
of  shells,  intermingled  with  numerous  fragments  of  pottery  of 
Indian  make,  are  encoimtered  along  the  mainland,  facing  the 
sounds.  These  masses  of  shells  do  not  necessarily  indicate  the 
sites  of  villages,  or  of  permanent  settlements,  but  rather  of  places 
visited  at  different  times  by  various  families  or  persons  for  the 
purpose  of  gathering  oysters,  clams,  etc.  The  majority  of  these 
were  probably  consumed  on  the  spot,  while  others,  following  the 
custom  of  the  more  northern  tribes,  may  have  been  dried  in  the 
smoke  of  the  wigwam  and  thus  preserved  for  future  use. 

The  many  small  pieces  of  pottery  found,  mingled  with  the 
shells,  are  pieces  of  vessels,  probably  cooking  utensils,  of  the 
Indians.  Many  pieces  bear  on  their  outer  or  convex  surfaces 
the  imprint  of  twisted  cords ;  other  fragments  show  the  impres- 
sions of  basketry.  In  a  paper  read  before  the  Historical  and 
Scientific  Society,  Jime  3,  1878,  Mr.  W.  B.  McKoy  described 
this  stage  of  pottery-making,  after  the  clay  had  been  properly 
prepared :  "The  mortar  is  then  pressed  by  the  hand  on  the  in- 
side of  a  hastily  constructed  basket  of  wickerwork  and  allowed 
to  dry  for  a  while ;  the  basket  is  then  inverted  over  a  large  fire 
of  pitch  pine  and  the  pot  is  gradually  hardened  and  blackened 
by  the  smoke,  having  the  appearance  of  a  thick  iron  pot.  By 
constant  use  afterwards  the  particles  of  carbon  that  have  en- 
tered the  pores  of  the  clay  are  burnt  out  and  then  the  pot  has  a 
red  appearance."^  Fragments  occur  upon  which  the  designs  are 
characteristic  of  pottery  from  the  interior  and  farther  south; 
other  pieces  are  undoubtedly  the  work  of  the  southern  Algon- 
quin tribes.  Within  a  radius  of  about  one  hundred  miles  were 
tribes  of  the  Algonquin,  Siouan,  and  Iroquoian  stocks.  Small 
parties  of  the  different  tribes  were  ever  moving  from  place  to 
place,  and  it  is  within  reason  to  suppose  that  members  of  the 
various  tribes,  from  time  to  time,  visited  the  Cape  Fear  penin- 
sula ;  thus  explaining  the  presence  of  the  variety  of  pottery  dis- 
covered among  the  shell-heaps  on  the  shore  of  the  sound. 


'Ashe,  S.  A.    History  of  North  Carolina,    Oreensboro,  1908.    Vol.  1, 
p.  213. 
"Pabliahed  in  the  Daily  Review,  Wilmington,  July  6,  1878. 

2 


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18  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  most  interesting  village  site  yet  examined  is  located 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Myrtle  Sound,  three  miles 
north  of  the  ruins  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  less  than  one  hundred 
yards  from  the  sea  beach.  Three  small  shell-moimds  are  stand- 
ing near  the  center  of  the  area.  The  largest  is  about  thirty 
inches  in  height  and  twenty  feet  in  diameter.  Quantities  of 
pottery  are  scattered  about  on  the  surface,  and  a  few  pieces  of 
stone  are  to  be  found.  Sugar  Loaf  is  less  than  one  mile  from 
this  site  in  a  northwesterly  direction.  Here,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  three  shell-mounds,  was  probably  the  last  Indian  settlement 
on  the  peninsula. 

A  level  area  of  several  acres  at  the  end  of  Myrtle  Sound  was 
likewise  occupied  by  a  settlement,  and  fragments  of  pottery  are 
very  plentiful,  these  being  intermingled  with  quantities  of  oyster 
and  clamshells  scattered  over  the  surface.  Many  pieces  of  the 
earthenware  from  this  site  are  unusually  heavy  and  are  prob- 
ably parts  of  large  cooking  vessels. 

Northward  along  the  sound  are  other  places  of  equal  inter- 
est, some  having  the  appearance  of  having  been  occupied  during 
comparatively  recent  years.  This  may  be  judged  from  the  con- 
dition of  the  shells  and  the  weathering  of  the  pottery.  Other 
remains  may  date  from  a  much  earlier  period ;  but  all  represent 
the  work  of  the  one  people,  the  Indians,  who  had  occupied  the 
country  for  centuries  before  the  coming  of  the  Europeans. 

On  both  sides  of  Hewlet's  Creek,  near  its  mouth,  are  numer- 
ous signs  of  Indian  occupancy.  On  the  north  side,  in  the  rear 
of  the  old  McKoy  house,  are  traces  of  an  extensive  camp,  and 
many  objects  of  Indian  origin  are  said  to  have  been  found  here 
during  past  years.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  is  a  large 
shell-heap  in  which  fragments  of  pottery  occur.  Several  miles 
northward,  on  the  left  bank  of  Barren  Inlet  Creek,  about  one- 
half  mile  from  the  sound,  are  signs  of  a  large  settlement.  Here 
an  area  of  four  or  five  acres  is  strewn  with  pottery.  This  was 
probably  the  site  of  a  permanent  village  as  distinguished  from 
the  more  temporary  camps  met  with  on  the  shore  of  the  sound. 

A  careful  examination  of  various  sites  existing  on  the  penin- 
sula would  be  of  the  greatest  interest.  The  burial  places  of  the 
ancient  inhabitants  of  the  country  would  undoubtedly  be  dis- 
covered, and  this  would  assist  in  the  identification  of  the  people 
who  bore  the  name  "Cape  Fear  Indians,"  all  traces  of  whom 
are  so  rapidly  disappearing. 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  19 

Indian  Mounds  of  the  Cape  Feab. 
By  Pbof.  J.  A.  Holmes. 

(Wilmugton,  N.  C,  Weekly  Star.  October  26,  1883.     Reprinted  Journal  Eliaha 
Mitchell  Scientific  Society  1883-4,  pages  78  to  79.) 

So  far  as  is  known  to  me,  no  account  of  the  Indian  burial 
mounds  which  are  to  be  found  in  portions  of  eastern  North 
Carolina,  has,  as  yet,  been  published.  This  fact  is  considered  a 
sufficient  reason  for  the  publication  of  the  following  notes  con- 
cerning a  few  of  these  mounds  which  have  been  examined  in 
Duplin  and  some  other  counties  in  the  region  under  consid- 
eration. 

It  is  expected  that  the  examination  of  other  mounds  will  be 
carried  on  during  the  present  year,  and  it  is  considered  advisable 
to  postpone  generalized  statements  concerning  them  until  these 
additional  examinations  have  been  completed.  It  may  be  stated, 
however,  of  the  mounds  that  have  been  examined  already,  that 
they  are  quite  different  from  those  of  Caldwell  and  other  coim- 
ties  of  the  western  section  of  the  State,  and  of  much  less  interest 
80  far  as  contents  are  concerned.  As  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  notes,  they  are  usually  low,  rarely  rising  to  more  than 
three  feet  above  the  surrounding  surface,  with  circular  bases, 
varying  in  diameter  from  15  to  40  feet;  and  they  contain  little 
more  than  the  bones  of  human  (presumably  Indian)  skeletons, 
arranged  in  no  special  order.  They  have  been  generally  built 
on  somewhat  elevated,  dry,  sandy  places,  out  of  a  soil  similar  to 
that  by  which  they  are  surrounded.  No  evidence  of  an  excava- 
tion below  the  general  surface  has  as  yet  been  observed.  In  the 
process  of  burial,  the  bones  or  bodies  seem  to  have  been  laid  on 
the  surface,  or  above,  and  covered  up  with  soil  taken  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  mound.  In  every  case  that  has  come  under  my 
own  observation  charcoal  has  been  found  at  the  bottom  of  the 
mound. 

Mound  No.  1. — Duplin  County,  located  at  Kenansville,  about 
one-half  mile  southwest  from  the  courthouse,  on  a  somewhat 
elevated,  dry,  sandy  ridge.  In  form,  its  bas^  is  nearly  circular, 
35  feet  in  diameter;  height  3  feet.  The  soil  of  the  mound  is 
like  that  which  surrounds  it,  with  no  evidence  of  stratification. 
The  excavation  was  made  by  beginning  on  one  side  of  the  mound 
and  cutting  a  trench  35  feet  long,  and  to  a  depth  nearly  2  feet 
below  the  general  surface  of  the  soil  (5  feet  below  top  of  mound), 
and  removing  all  the  soil  of  the  mound  by  cutting  new  trenches 


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20  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

and  filling  up  the  old  ones.  In  this  way  all  the  soil  of  the 
mound,  and  for  two  feet  below  its  base,  was  carefully  examined. 
The  soil  below  the  base  of  the  mound  did  not  appear  to  have 
been  disturbed  at  the  time  the  mound  was  built.  The  contents 
of  the  mound  included  fragments  of  charcoal,  a  few  small  frag- 
ments of  pottery,  a  handful  of  small  shells,  and  parts  of  sixty 
human  skeletons.  No  implements  of  any  kind  were  found. 
Small  pieces  of  charcoal  were  scattered  about  in  different  por- 
tions of  the  mound,  but  the  larger  portion  of  the  charcoal  was 
found  at  one  place,  3  or  4  feet  square,  near  one  side  of  the 
mound.  At  this  place  the  soil  was  colored  dark  and  seemed  to 
be  mixed  with  ashes.  There  were  here,  with  the  charcoal,  frag- 
ments of  bones,  some  of  which  were  dark  colored,  and  may  have 
been  burned;  but  they  were  so  nearly  decomposed  that  I  was 
unable  to  satisfy  myself  as  to  this  point.  I  could  detect  no  evi- 
dence of  burning,  in  case  of  the  bones,  in  other  portions  of  the 
mound.  Fragments  of  pottery  were  few  in  number,  small  in 
size,  and  scattered  about  in  different  parts  of  the  mound.  They 
were  generally  scratched  and  cross-scratched  on  one  side,  but  no 
definite  figures  could  be  made  out.  The  shell  "beads"  were 
small  in  size — 10  to  12  mm.  in  length.  They  are  the  Margi- 
nella  roscida  of  Eedfield,  a  small  gasteropod,  which  is  said  to  be 
now  living  along  the  coasts  of  this  State.  The  specimens,  about 
75  in  number,  were  all  found  together,  lying  in  a  bunch  near 
the  skull  and  breastbones  of  a  skeleton.  The  apex  of  each  one 
had  been  groimd  off  obliquely  so  as  to  leave  an  opening  passing 
through  the  shell  from  the  apex  to  the  anterior  canal — probably 
for  the  purpose  of  stringing  them. 

The  skeletons  of  this  mound  were  generally  much  softened 
from  decay — many  of  the  harder  bones  falling  to  pieces  on  be- 
ing handled,  while  many  of  the  smaller  and  softer  bones  were 
beyond  recognition.  They  were  distributed  through  nearly 
every  portion  of  the  mound,  from  side  to  side,  and  from  the  base 
to  the  top  surface,  without,  so  far  as  was  discovered,  any  definite 
order  as  to  their  arrangement.  None  were  found  below  the  level 
of  the  surface  of  the  soil  outside  the  mound.  In  a  few  cases  the 
skeletons  occurred  singly,  with  no  others  within  several  feet; 
while  in  other  cases,  several  were  found  in  actual  contact  with 
one  another;  and  in  one  portion  of  the  mound,  near  the  outer 
edge,  as  many  as  twenty-one  skeletons  were  foimd  placed  within 
the  space  of  six  feet  square.  Here,  in  the  case  last  mentioned, 
several  of  the  skeletons  lay  side  by  side,  others  on  top  of  these. 


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Exploration  and  Settlement 


21 


parallel  to  them,  while  still  others  lay  on  top  of  and  across  the 
first.  When  one  skeleton  was  located  above  another,  in  some 
cases,  the  two  were  in  actual  contact;  in  other  cases,  they  were 
separated  by  a  foot  or  more  of  soil. 

As  to  the  position  of  the  parts  of  the  individual  skeletons, 
this  could  not  be  fully  settled  in  the  present  case  on  account  of 
the  decayed  condition  of  many  of  the  bones.  The  following  ar- 
rangement of  the  parts,  however,  was  found  to  be  true  of  nearly 
every  skeleton  exhumed.  The  bones  lay  in  a  horizontal  position, 
or  nearly  so.  Those  of  the  lower  limbs  were  bent  upon  them- 
selves at  the  knee,  so  that  the  thigh  bone  {femur)  and  the  bones 
of  the  leg  (tibia  and  fibula)  lay  parallel  to  one  another,  the 
bones  of  the  foot  and  ankle  being  found  with  or  near  the  hip 
bones.  The  knee  cap,  or  patella,  generally  lying  at  its  proper 
place,  indicated  that  there  must  have  been  very  little  disturbance 
of  the  majority  of  the  skeletons  after  their  burial.  The  bones 
of  the  upper  limbs  also  were  seemingly  bent  upon  themselves  at 
the  elbow ;  those  of  the  forearm  (humerus)  generally  lying  quite 
or  nearly  side  by  side  with  the  bones  of  the  thigh  and  leg ;  the 
elbow  joint  pointing  toward  the  hip  bones,  while  the  bones  of 
the  two  arms  below  the  elbow  joint  (radius  and  ulna)  were  in 
many  cases  crossed,  as  it  were,  in  front  of  the  body.  The  ribs 
and  vertebrae  lay  along  by  the  side  of,  on  top  of,  and  between  the 
bones  of  the  upper  and  lower  limbs,  generally  too  far  decayed 
to  indicate  their  proper  order  or  position.  The  skulls  generally 
lay  directly  above  or  near  the  hip  bones,  in  a  variety  of  posi- 
tions ;  in  some  cases  the  side,  right  or  left,  while  in  other  cases 
the  top  of  the  skull,  the  base,  or  the  front,  was  downward. 

But  two  of  the  crania  (A  and  B  of  the  following  table) 
obtained  from  this  moimd  were  sufficiently  well  preserved  for 
measurement;  and  both  of  these,  as  shown  by  the  teeth,  are 
skulls  of  adults.  C  of  this  table  is  the  skull  of  an  adult  taken 
from  Mound  No.  2,  below. 


Cranw. 

Length. 

Breadth. 

Height. 

Index  of 
Breadth. 

Index  of 
Height. 

Facial 
Angle. 

A 
B 
C 

193  mm. 
172  mm. 
180  mm. 

151  mm. 
133  mm. 
137  mm. 

144  mm. 
136  inm. 
147  mm. 

.746 
.772 
.761 

.746 
.790 
.816 

74- 
66* 
63- 

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22  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  skeletons  were  too  much  decomposed  to  permit  the  dis- 
tinguishing of  the  sexes  of  the  individuals  to  whom  they  be- 
longed ;  but  the  size  of  the  crania  (adults)  and  other  bones  seem 
to  indicate  that  a  portion  of  the  skeletons  were  those  of  women. 
One  small  cranium  found  was  evidently  that  of  a  child — ^the 
second  and  third  pairs  of  incisor  teeth  appearing  beyond  the 
gums. 

Mound  No.  2. — Located  1%  miles  east  of  Hallsville,  Duplin 
County,  on  a  somewhat  elevated,  dry,  sandy  region.  Base  of 
mound  nearly  circular,  22  feet  in  diameter;  height,  3  feet,  sur- 
face rounded  over  the  top.  Soil  similar  to  that  which  surrounds 
the  mound — light  sandy.  Excavations  of  one-half  of  the  mound 
exposed  portions  of  eight  skeletons,  fragments  of  charcoal  and 
pottery,  arranged  in  much  the  same  way  as  described  above  in 
case  of  Mound  No.  1.  The  bones  being  badly  decomposed,  and 
the  mound  being  thoroughly  penetrated  by  the  roots  of  trees 
growing  over  it,  the  excavation  was  stopped.  No  implements  or 
weapons  of  any  kind  were  found.  There  was  no  evidence  of 
any  excavation  having  been  made  below  the  general  surface,  in 
the  building  of  the  mound,  but  rather  evidence  to  the  contrary. 
The  third  cranium  (C)  of  the  above  table  was  taken  from  this 
mound. 

Mound  No.  3. — ^Located  in  a  dry,  sandy,  and  rather  elevated 
place  about  one-third  of  a  mile  east  of  Hallsville,  Duplin 
County.  In  size  and  shape  this  mound  resembles  those  already 
mentioned:  Base  circular,  31  feet  in  diameter;  height  2% 
feet.  No  excavation  was  made  other  than  what  was  suflScient 
to  ascertain  that  the  mound  contained  bones  of  human  skeletons. 

Mound  No.  A. — Duplin  County,  located  in  a  rather  level 
sandy  region,  about  one  mile  from  Sarecta  post  office,  on  the 
property  of  Branch  Williams.  Base  of  mound  circular,  35  feet 
in  diameter;  height  2^^  feet.  Soil  sandy,  like  that  which  sur- 
rounds it  Around  the  mound,  extending  out  for  a  distance" 
varying  from  5  to  10  yards,  there  was  a  depression,  which,  in 
addition  to  the  similarity  of  soils  mentioned  above,  affords 
ground  for  the  conjecture  that  here,  as  in  a  number  of  other 
cases,  it  is  probable  the  mound  was  built  by  the  throwing  on  of 
soil  from  its  immediate  vicinity.  Only  a  partial  excavation 
was  made,  with  the  result  of  finding  human  bones,  and  a  few 
small  fragments  of  charcoal  and  pottery. 

Since  the  above  moimds  were  visited,  I  have  obtained  in- 
formation as  to  the  localities  of  mounds,  similar  to  those  de- 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  23 

scribed  in  the  eastern,  southern,  and  western  portions  of  Duplin 
County ;  and  I  can  hardly  doubt  but  that  a  closer  examination 
of  this  region  will  prove  them  to  be  more  numerous  than  they 
are  now  generally  supposed  to  be. 

In  Sampson  County,  the  localities  of  several  mounds  have 
been  noted ;  only  one  of  these,  however,  so  far  as  I  am  informed, 
has  been  examined  with  care.  This  one  (Mound  No.  6),  ex- 
amined by  Messrs.  Phillips  and  Murphy  of  the  Clinton  School, 
is  located  about  2%  miles  west  of  Clinton  (Sampson  County), 
on  the  eastern  exposure  of  a  small  hill.  In  general  character 
it  resembles  the  mounds  already  described.  Base  circular,  40 
feet  in  diameter;  height  3%  feet;  soil  sandy  loam,  resembling 
that  surrounding  the  mound.  Contents  consisted  of  small  frag- 
ments of  charcoal,  two  bunches  of  small  shell  ^Hbeads,''  and  parts 
of  16  human  skeletons.  These  skeletons  were  not  distributed 
uniformly  throughout  the  portion  of  the  moimd  examined.  At 
one  place  there  were  9,  at  another  6,  and  at  a  third  5  skeletons, 
lying  close  to,  and  in  some  cases  on  top  of,  one  another.  In  this 
point  as  in  the  position  of  the  parts  of  the  skeletons  ("doubled- 
up")  this  moimd  resembles  those  described  above.  The  bones 
were  generally  soft  from  decay.  The  small  shells  were  found 
in  bimches  imder  two  skulls;  they  are  of  the  same  kind  (Mar- 
ginella  roscida,  Redfield)  as  those  from  Mound  Xo.  1,  and  their 
ends  were  ground  off  in  the  same  way.  No  bones  were  foimd 
below  the  surface  level,  and  there  was  no  evidence  of  excava- 
tions having  been  made  below  this  point.  No  stone  implements 
of  any  kind  were  found  in  the  mound.  One-half  of  this  mound 
was  examined. 

In  Eobeson  and  Cumberland  Counties  several  mounds  have 
been  examined;  and  for  information  concerning  these,  I  am 
indebted  to  Mr.  Hamilton  McMillan. 

Five  mounds  are  reported  as  having  been  examined  in  Robe- 
son Coimty,  averaging  60  feet  in  circumference,  and  2  feet 
high,  all  located  on  elevated,  dry  ridges,  near  swamps  or  water- 
courses; and  all  contained  bones  of  human  skeletons.  One  of 
these  mounds,  located  about  two  miles  east  of  Red  Springs, 
examined  by  Mr.  McMillan  in  1882,  contained  about  50  skele- 
tons. Many  of  these  bones  near  the  surface  of  the  mound,  in 
Mr.  McMillan's  opinion,  had  been  partly  burned — those  nearer 
the  bottom  were  in  a  better  state  of  preservation.  There  was  an 
"entire  absence  of  skulls  and  teeth"  from  this  mound — a  some- 
what remarkable  fact.    A  broken  stone  "celt"  was  foimd  among 


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24  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  remains ;  but  with  this  one  unimportant  exception,  no  men- 
tion has  been  made  of  implements  having  been  found. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  Mr.  D.  Sinclair,  of  Plain  View, 
Robeson  County,  has  informed  me  that  he  has  seen  four  mounds 
in  the  southern  portion  of  this  county — two  near  Brooklyn  post 
office,  and  two  between  Leesville  and  Fair  Bluff,  about  five  miles 
from  the  latter  place. 

In  Cumberland  Coimty,  two  moimds  are  reported  by  Mr. 
McMillan  as  having  been  examined.  One  of  these,  located 
about  ten  miles  south  of  Fayetteville,  was  found  to  contain  the 
crumbled  bones  of  a  single  person,  lying  in  an  east  and  west 
direction.  There  was  also  found  in  this  mound  a  fragment  of 
rock  rich  in  silver  ore.  The  other  moimd,  located  ten  miles 
southwest  from  Fayetteville,  near  Rockfish  Creek,  was  examined 
by  Mr.  McMillan  in  1860,  and  found  to  contain  a  large  number 
of  skeletons,  *  *  *  bones  were  well  preserved  and,  without 
exception,  those  of  adults.  The  mound  was  located  on  a  high, 
sandy  ridge,  its  base  about  20  feet  in  diameter ;  height  2%  feet. 

In  Wake  County  one  mound  has  been  reported  as  being  located 
on  the  northeast  and  several  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  Neuse 
River,  about  seven  miles  east  from  Raleigh ;  and  from  the  former 
it  is  stated  that  a  large  number  of  stone  implements  have  been 
removed.  But  I  have  been  unable  to  examine  these  or  to  obtain 
any  definite  information  concerning  them.  One  moimd  in  this 
county,  examined  in  1882  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Primrose,  of  Raleigh,  is 
worthy  of  mention  in  this  connection,  as  it  resembles  in  general 
character  the  mounds  of  Duplin  County.  This  mound  is  located 
about  ten  miles  south  of  Raleigh,  on  a  small  plateau  covered 
with  an  original  growth  of  pines.  Base  of  mound  circular, 
about  14  feet  in  diameter;  height  2  feet.  The  contents  of  the 
mound  consisted  of  small  fragments  of  charcoal,  and  the  bones 
of  10  or  12  human  skeletons,  much  decayed,  and  arranged,  so 
far  as  could  be  determined,  without  any  reference  to  order  or 
regularity.    No  weapons  or  implements  of  any  kind  were  found. 

Indians  of  the  Lower  Cape  Feab. 
Bt  S.  a.  Ashb. 

The  Indians  along  the  Pamlico  and  Albemarle  were  of  North- 
em  origin;  those  on  the  Cape  Fear  were  of  Southern  origin. 
The  Yamassees,  who  originally  lived  along  the  coast  east  of 
Savannah,  were  driven  back  into  Georgia  soon  after  the  settle- 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  25 

ment.  The  Indians  dwelling  on  the  Santee,  the  Pee  Dee,  and 
their  branches,  seem  to  have  been  different  from  the  Yamassees, 
and  offshoots  from  one  tribe  or  nation — ^the  Old  Cheraws.  There 
was  an  Indian  tradition  that  before  the  coming  of  the  English- 
men the  principal  body  of  that  tribe,  called  Cheraw-  (or  Chero-) 
kees,  after  a  long  fight  with  the  Catawbas,  removed  to  the  moun- 
tains ;  but  the  minor  offshoots,  along  the  rivers  of  South  Caro- 
lina, were  not  disturbed. 

When  the  Cape  Fear  Indians  were  at  war  with  the  settlers  at 
Old  Town,  the  Indians  along  the  southern  Carolina  coast  knew 
of  it,  but  did  not  take  up  arms  against  the  English,  and  were 
very  friendly  with  those  who,  along  with  Sandford,  visited  them 
in  1665.  The  Indians  on  the  lower  Cape  Fear  are  said  to  have 
been  Congarees,  a  branch  of  the  Old  Cheraws.  Soon  after  the 
settlement,  they  were  driven  away.  In  1731,  Dr.  Brickell,  who 
made  an  extended  journey  to  the  western  part  of  North  Caro- 
lina in  an  embassy  to  the  Indians  in  the  moimtains,  in  his  Natu- 
ral History  of  North  Carolina,  said :  "The  Saponas  live  on  the 
west  branch  of  the  Cape  Fear  River;  the  Toteras  are  neighbors 
to  them ;  the  Keyawees  live  on  a  branch  that  lies  to  the  north- 
west." 

Two  or  three  years  later,  Grovemor  Burrington  mentioned 
that  the  small  tribes  that  had  resided  near  the  settlements  had 
entirely  disappeared;  and  in  1733,  he  also  mentioned  the  fact 
that  "some  South  Carolina  grants  had  been  located  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Waccamaw  River,  on  lands  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Congarees." 

The  ending  "ee"  signifies,  perhaps,  "river."  It  is  surmised 
that  the  true  name  of  Lumber  River  was  Lumbee.  Another 
termination  was  "aw" — ^Waxhaw,  Saxapahaw,  Cheraw,  Bur- 
ghaw.     The  Burghaw  Indians  occupied  what  we  call  Burgaw. 


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26  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

REPORT  OF  COMMISSIONERS  SENT  FROM  BARBA- 
DOES  IN  1663  TO  EXPLORE  THE  COAST. 

(Lawson'8  History  of  North  Carolin*,  page  113.) 

From  Tuesday,  the  29th  of  September,  to  Friday,  the  2d  of 
October,  we  ranged  along  the  shore  from  lat.  32  deg.  20  min.  to 
lat.  33  deg.  11  min.,  but  could  discern  no  entrance  for  our  ship 
after  we  had  passed  to  the  northward  of  32  deg.  40  min.  On 
Saturday,  October  3,  a  violent  storm  overtook  us,  the  wind  being 
north  and  east ;  which  easterly  winds  and  foul  weather  continued 
till  Monday,  the  12th;  by  reason  of  which  storms  and  foul 
weather  we  were  forced  to  get  off  to  sea,  to  secure  ourselves  and 
ship,  and  were  driven  by  the  rapidity  of  a  strong  current  to 
Cape  Hatteras,  in  lat.  35  deg.  30  min.  On  Monday,  the  12th, 
aforesaid,  we  came  to  an  anchor  in  seven  fathoms  at  Cape  Fair 
Road,  and  took  the  meridian  altitude  of  the  sun,  and  were  in 
lat.  33  deg.  43  min.,  the  wind  still  continuing  easterly,  and  foul 
weather  till  Thursday,  the  15th;  and  on  Friday,  the  16th,  the 
wind  being  N.W.,  we  weighed  and  sailed  up  Cape  Fair  River 
some  four  or  five  leagues,  and  came  to  an  anchor  in  six  or  seven 
fathom,  at  which  time  several  Indians  came  on  board  and 
brought  us  great  store  of  fresh  fish,  large  mullets,  young  bass, 
shads,  and  several  other  sorts  of  very  good,  well-tasted  fish.  On 
Saturday,  the  17th,  we  went  down  to  the  Cape  to  see  the  English 
cattle,  but  could  not  find  them,  though  we  rounded  the  Cape, 
and  having  an  Indian  guide  with  us.  Here  we  rode  till  October 
24th.  The  wind  being  against  us,  we  could  not  go  up  the  river 
with  our  ship ;  but  went  on  shore  and  viewed  the  land  of  those 
quarters. 

On  Saturday  we  weighed  and  sailed  up  the  river  some  four 
leagues  or  thereabouts. 

Sunday,  the  25th,  we  weighed  again  and  rowed  up  the  river, 
it  being  calm,  and  got  up  some  fourteen  leagues  from  the  har- 
bor^s  mouth,  where  we  moored  our  ship. 

On  Monday,  October  26th,  we  went  down  with  the  yawl  to 
Necoes,  an  Indian  plantation,  and  viewed  the  land  there. 

On  Tuesday,  the  27th,  we  rowed  up  the  main  river  with  our 
longboat  and  twelve  men,  some  ten  leagues  or  thereabouts. 

On  Wednesday,  the  28th,  we  rowed  up  about  eight  or  ten 
leagues  more. 

Thursday,  the  29th,  was  foul  weather,  with  much  rain  and 
wind,  whidi  forced  us  to  make  huts  and  lie  still. 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  27 

Friday,  the  30th,  we  proceeded  up  the  main  river  seven  or 
eight  leagues. 

Saturday,  the  31st,  we  got  up  three  or  four  leagues  more,  and 
came  to  a  tree  that  lay  across  the  river ;  but  because  our  provi- 
sions were  almost  spent,  we  proceeded  no  further,  but  returned 
downward  before  night;  and  on  Monday,  the  2d  of  November, 
we  came  aboard  our  ship. 

Tuesday,  the  3d,  we  lay  still  to  refresh  ourselves. 

On  Wednesday,  the  4th,  we  went  five  or  six  leagues  up  the 
river  to  search  a  branch  that  run  out  of  the  main  river  toward 
the  northwest  In  which  we  went  up  five  or  six  leagues;  but 
not  liking  the  land,  returned  on  board  that  night  about  mid- 
night, and  called  that  place  Swampy  Branch. 

Thursday,  November  5th,  we  stayed  aboard. 

On  Friday,  the  6th,  we  went  up  Green's  Kiver,  the  mouth  of 
it  being  against  the  place  at  which  rode  our  ship. 

On  Saturday,  the  7th,  we  proceeded  up  the  said  river,  some 
fourteen  or  fifteen  leagues  in  all,  and  found  it  ended  in  several 
small  branches.  The  land,  for  the  most  part,  being  marshy  and 
swamps,  we  returned  towards  our  ship,  and  got  aboard  it  in  the 
night 

Sunday,  November  the  8th,  we  lay  still ;  and  on  Monday  the 
9th,  went  again  up  the  main  river,  being  well  stocked  with  pro- 
visions and  all  things  necessary,  and  proceeded  upward  tiU 
Thursday  noon,  the  12th,  at  which  time  we  came  to  a  place 
where  were  two  islands  in  the  middle  of  the  river;  and  by  rea- 
son of  the  crookedness  of  the  river  at  that  place,  several  trees  lay 
across  both  branches,  which  stopped  the  passage  of  each  branch, 
so  that  we  could  proceed  no  further  with  our  boat ;  but  went  up 
the  river  by  land  some  three  or  four  miles,  and  found  the  river 
wider  and  wider.  So  we  returned,  leaving  it  as  far  as  we  could 
see  up,  a  long  reach  running  N.E.,  we  judging  ourselves  near 
fifty  leagues  north  from  the  river's  moutii. 

We  saw  mulberry  trees,  multitudes  of  grapevines,  and  some 
grapes,  which  we  eat  of.  We  found  a  very  large  and  good  tract 
of  land  on  the  N.W.  side  of  the  river,  tiiin  of  timber,  except 
here  and  there  a  very  great  oak,  and  full  of  grass,  commonly  as 
hi^  as  a  man's  middle  and  in  many  places  to  his  shoulders, 
where  we  saw  many  deer  and  turkeys;  one  deer  having  very 
large  horns  and  great  body,  therefore  called  it  Stag  Park. 

It  being  a  very  pleasant  and  delightful  place,  we  traveled  in 


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28  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

it  several  miles,  but  saw  no  end  thereof.  So  we  returned  to  our 
boat  and  proceeded  down  the  river  and  came  to  another  place, 
some  twenty-five  leagues  from  the  river's  mouth  on  the  same 
side,  where  we  found  a  place  no  less  delightful  than  the  former; 
and,  as  far  as  we  could  judge,  both  tracts  came  into  one.  This 
lower  place  we  called  Rocky  Point,  because  we  found  many 
rocks  and  stones  of  several  sizes  upon  the  land,  which  is  not 
common.  We  sent  our  boat  down  the  river  before  us,  ourselves 
traveling  by  land  many  miles.  Indeed  we  were  so  much  taken 
with  the  pleasantness  of  the  country,  that  we  traveled  into  the 
woods  too  far  to  recover  our  boat  and  company  that  night. 

The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  we  got  to  our  boat;  and  on 
Monday,  the  16th  of  November,  proceeded  down  to  a  place  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  some  twenty-three  leagues  from  the 
harbour's  mouth,  which  we  called  Turkey  Quarters,  because  we 
killed  several  turkeys  thereabouts.  We  viewed  the  land  there 
and  found  some  tracts  of  good  ground,  and  high,  facing  upon 
the  river  about  one  mile  inward ;  but  backward,  some  two  miles, 
all  pine  land,  but  good  pasture  ground. 

We  returned  to  our  boat  and  proceeded  down  some  two  or 
three  leagues,  where  we  had  formerly  viewed,  and  found  it  a 
tract  of  as  good  land  as  any  we  have  seen,  and  had  as  good  tim- 
ber on  it.  The  banks  of  the  river  being  high,  therefore  we 
called  it  High  Land  Point. 

Having  viewed  that,  we  proceeded  down  the  river,  going  on 
shore  in  several  places  on  both  sides,  it  being  generally  large 
marshes,  and  many  of  them  dry,  that  they  may  more  fitly  be 
called  meadows.  The  woodland  against  them  is,  for  the  most 
part,  pine,  and  in  some  places  as  barren  as  ever  we  saw  land, 
but  in  other  places  good  pasture  ground. 

On  Tuesday,  November  the  17th,  we  got  aboard  our  ship, 
riding  against  the  mouth  of  Green's  River,  where  our  men  were 
providing  wood,  and  fitting  the  ship  for  sea.  In  the  interim 
we  took  a  view  of  the  country  on  both  sides  of  the  river  there, 
finding  some  good  land,  but  more  bad,  and  the  best  not  com- 
parable to  that  above. 

Friday,  the  20th,  was  foul  weather ;  yet  in  the  afternoon  we 
weighed,  went  down  the  river  about  two  leagues,  and  came  to 
an  anchor  against  the  mouth  of  Hilton's  River,  and  took  a  view 
of  the  land  there  on  both  sides,  which  appeared  to  us  much  like 
that  at  Green's  River. 

Monday,  the  23d,  we  went  with  our  longboat,  well  victualed 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  29 

and  manned,  up  Hilton's  River ;  and  when  we  came  three  leagues 
or  thereabouts  up  the  same,  we  found  this  and  Green's  River  to 
come  into  one,  and  so  continued  for  four  or  five  leagues,  which 
makes  a  great  island  betwixt  them.  We  proceeded  still  up  the 
river  till  they  parted  again ;  keeping  up  Hilton's  River,  on  the 
larboard  side,  and  followed  the  said  river  five  or  six  leagues 
further,  where  we  found  another  large  branch  of  Green's  River 
to  come  into  Hilton's,  which  makes  another  great  island.  On 
the  starboard  side  going  up,  we  proceeded  still  up  the  river, 
some  four  leagues,  and  returned,  taking  a  view  of  the  land  on 
both  sides,  and  then  judged  ourselves  to  be  from  our  ship  some 
eighteen  leagues  W.  by  N. 

******* 

Proceeding  down  the  river  two  or  three  leagues  further,  we 
came  to  a  place  where  there  were  nine  or  ten  canoes  all  together. 
We  went  ashore  there  and  found  several  Indians,  but  most  of 
them  were  the  same  which  had  made  peace  with  us  before.  We 
stayed  very  little  at  that  place  but  went  directly  down  the  river, 
and  came  to  our  ship  before  day. 

Thursday,  the  26th  of  November,  the  wind  being  at  south,  we 
could  not  go  down  to  the  river's  mouth ;  but  on  Friday  the  27th 
we  weighed  at  the  mouth  of  Hilton's  River,  and  got  down  a 
league  towards  the  harbor's  mouth. 

On  Sunday,  the  29th,  we  got  down  to  Crane  Island,  which  is 
four  leagues,  or  thereabouts,  above  the  entrance  of  the  harbor's 
mouth.  On  Tuesday,  the  1st  of  December,  we  made  a  purchase 
of  the  river  and  land  of  Cape  Fair  of  Wat  Coosa,  and  such  other 
Indians  as  appeared  to  us  to  be  the  chief  of  those  parts.  They 
brought  us  store  of  fresh  fish  aboard,  as  mullets,  shads,  and 
other  sorts,  very  good. 

There  was  a  writing  left  in  a  post,  at  the  point  of  Cape  Fair 
River,  by  those  New  England  men  that  left  cattle  with  the 
Indians  there,  the  contents  whereof  tended  not  only  to  the  dis- 
paragement of  the  land  about  the  said  river,  but  also  to  the  great 
discouragement  of  all  such  as  should  hereafter  come  into  those 
parts  to  settle.  In  answer  to  that  scandalous  writing,  we,  whose 
names  are  underwritten,  do  affirm,  that  we  have  seen,  facing  both 
sides  of  the  river  and  branches  of  Cape  Fair  aforesaid,  as  good 
land  and  as  well  timbered  as  any  we  have  seen  in  any  other  part 
of  the  world,  sufficient  to  accommodate  thousands  of  our  Eng- 
lish nation,  and  lying  commodiously  by  the  said  river's  side. 
On  Friday,  the  4th  of  December,  the  wind  being  fair,  we  put  to 


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30  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

sea,  bound  for  Barbadoes ;  and  on  the  6th  of  February,  1663-4, 
came  to  an  anchor  in  Carlisle  Bay — it  having  pleased  God,  after 
several  apparent  dangers  both  by  sea  and  land,  to  bring  us  all  in 
safety  to  our  long-wished-for  and  much-desired  port,  to  render 
an  account  of  our  discovery,  the  verity  of  which  we  do  assert. 

Anthony  Long. 

William  Hilton. 

Peter  Fabian. 


CHARLESTOWN— THE  FIRST  ATTEMPTED  SET- 
TLEMENT OK  THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

The  first  trading  on  the  Cape  Fear  River  of  which  we  have 
any  record  was  by  a  party  of  adventurers  from  Massachusetts 
in  the  year  1660. 

The  historian  Bryant  says:  "There  were  probably  few  bays 
or  rivers  along  the  coast,  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  Florida, 
unexplored  by  the  New  Englanders,  where  there  was  any  prom- 
ise of  profitable  trade  with  the  Indians.  The  colonist  followed 
the  trader  wherever  unclaimed  lands  were  open  to  occupation. 
These  energetic  pioneers  explored  the  sounds  and  rivers  south 
of  Virginia  in  pursuit  of  Indian  traffic,  and  contrasted  the 
salubrity  of  the  climate  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil  with  that 
region  of  rocks  where  they  made  their  homes,  and  where  winter 
reigns  for  more  than  half  the  year.  In  1660  or  1661,  a  com- 
pany of  these  men  purchased  of  the  natives  and  settled  upon  a 
tract  of  land  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River.  Their  first 
purpose  was  apparently  the  raising  of  stock,  as  the  country 
seemed  peculiarly  fitted  to  grazing,  and  they  brought  a  number 
of  neat  cattle  and  swine  to  be  allowed  to  feed  at  large  under  the 
care  of  herdsmen.  But  they  aimed  at  something  more  than  this 
nomadic  occupation,  and  a  company  was  formed  in  which  a 
number  of  adventurers  in  London  were  enlisted,  to  found  a 
permanent  colony." 

The  most  authentic  account  of  the  first  settlement  on  the  river 
states  that  about  the  time  the  New  Englanders  explored  that 
region,  John  Vassall  and  others  at  Barbadoes,  purposing  to  make 
a  settlement  on  the  coast  of  Virginia,  sent  out  Capt.  William 
Hilton  in  his  ship,  the  Adventurer,  to  explore  the  coast ;  and  he 
made  a  favorable  report  of  the  Cape  Fear.  Soon  afterwards,  the 
New  England  colonists  arrived,  but,  learning  of  Hilton's  visit. 


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thought  it  best  not  to  make  a  settlement  at  that  time;  so  they 
tamed  loose  their  cattle  on  the  island  and  left  a  paper  in  a  box 
stating  that  it  was  a  bad  place  for  a  settlement.  Vassall  now 
again  sent  Hilton  and  with  him  Anthony  Ix)ng  and  Peter 
Fabian  to  make  a  more  thorough  examination. 

On  Monday,  October  12, 1663,  the  Adventurer  came  to  anchor 
a  second  time  in  what  they  called  "The  Cape  Fair  Roads,"  and 
then  the  explorers  proceeded  to  examine  the  lands  along  the 
river.  Their  "main  river"  was  our  Northeast.  They  called  the 
Northwest  branch,  the  Hilton,  and  the  "Cut-off,"  the  Green. 
They  ascended  both  branches  about  seventy-five  miles  and  were 
much  pleased.  Along  the  main  river,  they  named  Turkey  Quar- 
ter, Rocky  Point,  and  Stag  Park,  names  that  have  been  perpetu- 
ated to  this  day. 

While  these  explorations  were  being  made,  the  King  granted 
the  whole  country  south  of  Virginia  to  the  Lords  Proprietors, 
and  the  promoters  of  the  proposed  colony,  both  in  New  England 
and  in  Barbadoes,  applied  to  the  Lords  Proprietors  for  terms  of 
settlement.  These  gentlemen  sought  to  foster  the  enterprise,  and 
in  compliment  to  the  King  named  the  river,  the  Charles,  and  the 
town  to  be  built,  Charlestown,  and  the  region  they  called  Clar- 
endon County.  Eventually,  the  New  England  Association,  John 
Vassall  and  his  friends  at  Barbadoes,  and  Henry  Vassall  and  the 
other  London  merchants  who  were  to  supply  the  colony,  were  all 
brought  into  a  common  enterprise;  and  on  May  24,  1664,  the 
first  settlers  disembarked  at  the  junction  of  the  river  and  Town 
Creek,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  bar.  These  were  followed 
by  accessions  from  New  England  and  Barbadoes  until  the  num- 
ber of  colonists  reached  six  hundred.  John  Vassall  was  ap- 
pointed the  surveyor  and  was  the  chief  man  in  the  colony,  being 
the  leading  promoter  of  the  enterprise,  while  Henry  Vassall 
managed  affairs  at  London.  The  Proprietors,  however,  selected 
as  governor  the  man  they  thought  of  greatest  influence  at  Bar- 
badoes, Col.  John  Yeamans;  and  the  King,  to  show  his  favor 
to  the  colony,  conferred  on  Yeamans  the  honor  of  knighthood. 
He  also  made  a  gift  to  the  colony  of  cannon  and  munitions  for 
defense.  In  November,  1665,  Sir  John  reached  the  colony,  and 
shortly  thereafter  the  first  assembly  on  the  Cape  Fear  was  held. 
There  was  already  a  war  with  the  Indians,  arising,  according  to 
some  accoimts,  from  the  bad  faith  of  the  Massachusetts  men  who 
had  sold  into  slavery  some  Indian  children,  as  well  as  the  adult 
Indians  they  were  able  to  take  prisoners.    There  was  also  dis- 


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32  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

satisfaction  with  the  regulations  of  the  Proprietors,  and  espe- 
cially because  the  colonists  were  not  allowed  to  elect  their  own 
governor,  as  the  people  of  Massachusetts  did.  Sir  John  soon 
left  the  colony  and  returned  to  Barbadoes ;  and  as  some  of  the 
Proprietors  had  died,  and,  England  being  at  war  with  Holland, 
the  others  were  too  busy  to  attend  to  the  affairs  of  the  infant 
colony,  for  more  than  a  year  Vassall's  appeals  to  the  Proprietors, 
received  no  answer.  The  settlers  becoming  disheartened,  Vas- 
sall  did  all  he  could  to  satisfy  them,  but  they  felt  cut  off  and 
abandoned.  After  they  had  found  a  way  to  reach  Albemarle  and 
Virginia  by  land,  he  could  no  longer  hold  them.  On  October  6, 
1667,  Vassall  wrote  from  Nansemond,  Virginia,  a  touching 
account  of  the  failure  of  the  colony. 

After  the  departure  of  the  colonists  from  Charlestown  in 
1667,  Clarendon  County  again  became  a  solitude.  A  few  years 
later  a  new  Charlestown  was  begun  farther  south,  and  in  the 
management  of  this  new  settlement  Sir  John  Yeamans  proved 
himself  a  wise  and  efficient  governor  and  a  meritorious  and 
beneficent  administrator.  After  his  death  the  settlement  was^ 
removed  to  the  junction  of  the  Ashley  and  Cooper  Kivers,  where 
it  flourished  and  endured. 


SANDFOKD'S  ACCOUNT  OF  CONDITIONS  ON 
CHAKLES  RIVER. 

(Colonial  Reeords,  Vol.  I,  page  119.) 

The  Right  Honoble  the  Lords  Proprietors  of  the  Province  of 
Carolina  in  prosecucion  of  his  sacred  Ma"**  pious  intencons  of 
planting  and  civillizing  there  his  domin'  and  people  of  North- 
erne  America,  w*'**  Neighbour  Southward  on  Virginia  (by  some 
called  Florida  (found  out  and  discovered  by  S'  Sebastian  Cabott 
in  the  year  1497  at  the  charges  of  H :  7 :  King  of  England  co) 
Constituted  S'.  John  Yeamans  Baronet  their  L^  Generall  with 
ample  powers  for  placing  a  Colony  in  some  of  the  Rivers  to  the 
Southward  and  Westward  of  Cape  S^  Romania  who  departing 
from  the  Island  Barbadoes  in  Octob:  1665  in  a  Fly  boate  of 
about  150  Tonns  accompanyed  by  a  small  Friggatt  of  his  owne 
and  a  Sloope  purchased  by  a  Comon  purse  for  the  service  of  the 
Colonyes  after  they  had  been  separated  by  a  great  storme  att 
Sea  (wherein  the  Friggatt  lost  all  her  Mast  and  himseKe  had 
like  to  have  foundred  and  were  all  brought  together  againe  in 


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the  beginning  of  November  to  an  Anchor  before  the  mouth  of 
Charles  River  neere  Cape  Feare  in  the  County  of  Clarendon, 
part  of  the  same  Province  newly  begunn  to  be  peopled  and  within 
the  U  Gen""  Commission.  They  were  after  blowne  from  their 
Anchors  by  a  suddaine  violent  Gust,  the  Fly  boate  S'  John  was 
in  narrowly  escapeing  the  dangerous  shoales  of  the  Cape.  But 
this  proved  but  a  short  difference  in  their  Fate,  for  returning 
with  a  favorable  winde  to  a  second  viewe  of  the  entrance  into 
Charles  River  but  destituted  of  all  pilates  (save  their  owne  eyes 
(which  the  flattering  Gale  that  conducted  them  did  alsoe  delude 
by  covering  the  rough  visage  of  their  objected  dangers  with  a 
thicke  vaile  of  smoth  waters)  they  stranded  their  vessell  on  the 
middle  ground  of  the  harbours  mouth  to  the  Westward  of  the 
Channell  where  the  Ebbe  presently  left  her  and  the  wind  with 
its  owne  multeplyed  forces  and  the  auxiliaryes  of  the  tide  of 
flood  beate  her  to  peeces.  The  persons  were  all  saved  by  the 
neighborhood  of  the  shore  but  the  greatest  part  of  their  provision 
of  victualls  clothes,  &c :  and  of  the  Magazine  of  Armes  powder 
and  other  Military  furniture  shipped  by  the  Lords  Proprietors 
for  the  defence  of  the  designed  settlement  perished  in  the  waters 
the  L*  Gen"  purposed  at  first  imediately  to  repaire  his  Friggatt 
(which  togetiier  with  the  Sloop  gate  safely  into  the  River  when 
the  Fly  boate  was  driven  off)  and  to  send  her  back  to  Barbados 
for  recruity  whilst  himseK  in  person  attended  the  issue  of  that 
discovery  which  I  and  some  other  Gentlemen  offered  to  make 
Southwards  in  the  Sloope,  But  when  the  great  and  growing 
necessityes  of  the  English  Colony  in  Charles  River  (heightened 
by  this  disaster)  begann  clamorously  to  crave  the  use  of  the 
Sloope  in  a  voyage  to  Virginia  for  their  speedy  reliefe,  S'  John 
altered  that  his  first  resolution  and  permitting  the  sloope  to  goe 
to  Virginia  returned  himself  to  Barbadoes  in  his  Friggatt.  Yett 
that  the  designe  of  the  Southern  Settlement  might  not  wholy 
fall,  Hee  considered  with  the  freighters  of  the  sloope  that  in  case 
she  miscarryed  in  her  Virginia  voyage  they  should  hire  Captain 
Edward  Stanyons  vessell  (then  in  there  harbour  but  bound  for 
Barbados)  to  performe  the  Discovery  and  left  a  commission 
with  mee  for  the  effecting  it  upon  the  retume  of  the  Sloope  or 
Stanion  which  should  first  happen. 

The  sloope  in  her  comeing  home  from  Virginia  loaded  with 
victualls  being  ready  by  reason  of  her  extreme  rottenness  in  her 
timbers  to  Sinke  was  driven  on  shoare  by  a  storme  in  the  night 
on  Cape  looke  out  (the  next  head  land  to  the  north  and  Eastward 


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34  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

of  Cape  Feare  and  about  20  Le:  distant  her  men  all  saved  ex- 
cept two  and  with  many  difficulties  brought  by  their  boate 
through  the  great  Sound  into  Albemarle  River  neare  the  Island 
Roanoke  (within  this  same  province  of  Carolina,  to  the  English 
Plantation  there — 

Captain  Stanyon  in  returning  from  Barbados  weakly  maned 
and  without  any  second  to  himselfe  driven  to  and  agen  on  the 
seas  for  many  weekes  by  contrary  winds  and  conquered  with 
care,  vexation  and  watching  lost  his  reason,  and  after  many 
wild  extravagances  leapt  over  board  in  a  frenzye,  leaveing  his 
small  Company  and  vessell  to  the  much  more  quiet  and  constant 
though  but  little  knowing  and  prudent  conduct  of  a  child,  who 
yett  assisted  by  a  miraculous  providence  after  many  wander- 
ings brought  her  safe  to  Charles  River  in  Clarendon  her  de- 
sired port  and  haven.     *     *     * 

[Then  Sandford  gives  an  account  of  his  voyage  along  the 
coast  of  southern  Carolina,  the  following  extract  being  of 
interest.] 

Indeed  all  along  I  observed  a  kind  of  emulation  amongst  the 
three  principall  Indians  of  the  Country  (vizt:)  those  of  Key- 
waha  Eddistowe  and  Port  Royall  concerning  us  and  our  Friend- 
shipp  each  contending  to  assure  it  to  themselves  and  jealous  of 
the  other  though  all  be  allyed  and  this  notwithstanding  that  they 
knew  wee  were  in  actuall  warre  with  the  natives  att  Claren- 
don and  had  killed  and  sent  away  many  of  them  For  they  fre- 
quently discoursed  with  us  concerning  the  warre,  told  us  that 
the  Natives  were  noughts,  the  land  sandy  and  barren,  their 
Country  sickly,  but  if  wee  would  come  amongst  them  wee  should 
finde  the  contrary  to  all  their  evills,  and  never  any  occasion  of 
dischargeing  our  gunns  but  in  merryment  and  for  pastime. 
•N-  «  «  *  «  «  « 

Robt:  Sandfoed. 
Massachusetts  Sends  Some  Relief. 

(Hutchinson*!  History  of  Massachusetts,  page  238.) 

In  1667,  the  people  at  Cape  Fear  being  under  distressing  cir- 
cumstances, a  general  contribution  by  order  of  court  was  made 
throughout  the  colony  for  their  relief.  Although  this  was  a  col- 
ony subject  to  the  Proprietary  Government  of  Lord  Clarendon 
and  others,  yet  the  foundation  was  laid  about  the  time  of  the 
Restoration  by  adventurers  from  New  England,  who  supposed 


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they  had  a  right  to  the  soil  as  first  occupants  and  purchasers 
from  the  natives,  and,  issuing  from  Massachusetts,  to  the  same 
civil  privileges;  but  they  were  disappointed  as  to  both. 


THE  END  OF  THE  SETTLEMENT  ON  CHAELES 
KIVEK— THE  FIRST  CHARLESTOWN. 

John  Vassall  to  Sir  John  Colleton. 

(B.  P.  R.  O..  Shaftesbury  Papers,  Bdle.  48.  No.  8.) 

Nanoymond  in  Virginny  6th  October  1667. 
Honnorable  Sir, 

I  presume  you  have  heard  of  the  unhapy  Loss  of  our  Planta- 
tion on  Charles  River  the  reason  of  which  I  could  never  soe  well 
have  understood  had  I  not  com  hither  to  heare;  how  that  all 
that  came  from  us  made  it  their  business  soe  to  exclaime  against 
the  Country  as  they  had  rendered  it  unfitt  for  a  Christian  habi- 
tation; which  hindered  the  coming  of  the  people  &  supplys  to 
us  soe  as  the  rude  Rable  of  our  Inhabitants  ware  dayly  redy  to 
mutany  against  mee  for  keeping  them  there  soe  long ;  insomuch 
that  after  they  had  found  a  way  to  com  hither  by  land  all  the 
arguments  and  authority  I  could  use  wold  noe  longer  prevail 
which  inforced  mee  to  stop  the  first  ship  that  came  till  I  could 
send  for  more  shipping  to  carry  us  all  away  togeather  espetially 
such  weak  persons  as  ware  not  able  to  goe  by  land  the  charge 
and  trouble  whereof  and  the  loss  of  my  Estate  there  having  soe 
ruened  mee  as  I  am  not  well  able  to  settle  myself  heare  or  in  any 
other  place  to  live  comfortably.  But  had  it  pleased  God  to 
bring  my  Cauzen  Vassall  safe  hither  wee  had  bin  yett  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  I  sent  one  Whiticar  last  November  on 
purpose  at  my  owne  charge  to  give  the  Lords  an  account  of  our 
condition  but  hee  was  taken  by  the  way  soe  as  I  have  not  heard 
a  word  from  any  of  you  since  I  receaved  my  Commissions  by 
Mr.  Sandford  and  indeed  we  ware  as  a  poore  Company  of  de- 
serted people  little  regarded  by  any  others  and  noe  way  able  to 
supply  ourselves  with  clothing  and  necessaries  nor  any  number 
considerable  to  defend  ourselves  from  the  Indians  all  which  was 
occationed  by  the  hard  termes  of  your  Consetions  which  made 
our  friends  that  sett  us  out  from  Barbadoes  to  forsake  us,  soe 
as  they  would  neither  suply  us  with  necessaries  nor  find  ship- 
ping to  fetch  us  away,  yet  had  wee  had  but  200£  sent  us  in 


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36  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Clothing  wee  had  made  a  comfortable  shift  for  amiother  yeare, 
and  I  offered  to  stay  there  if  but  twenty  men  would  stay  with 
mee  till  wee  had  heard  from  your  Lordships,  for  wee  had  come 
enough  for  two  yeares  for  a  f arr  greater  number  and  tho'  the 
Indians  had  killed  our  Cattle  yett  wee  might  have  defended  our- 
selves but  I  could  not  find  6.  men  that  wold  be  true  to  me  to 
stay:  soe  was  constrained  to  leave  it  to  my  greate  loss  &  ruin, 
and  I  fear  you  will  not  have  a  much  better  account  of  your 
plantation  at  Roanoke  unless  a  better  course  be  taken  to  incorage 
their  stay  for  they  are  not  without  greate  cause  of  complaints. 
This  with  my  very  humble  servis  presented  is  all  at  present 
From  Your  honnors  humble  servant 

John  VASSALii 
To  the  Honorable  Sir  John  Coliton 
Knight  and  Barronett  at  Nerehald 
These  present 
In  Essex. 

Samuel  Maverickb  to  Sec.  L^  Ablington. 

(B.  p.  R.  C.  Shaftesbury  Papers.  Vol.  XXI,  134.) 

The  plantations  at  Cape  Feare  are  deserted,  the  inhabitants 
have  since  come  hither,  some  to  Virginia. 

Yo'  most  obliged 

humble  Servant 
Boston  Samuell  Maverickb 

Oct.  16,  1667. 


CAPE  FEAE  PIKATES  OF  1719. 

There  was  a  wide  breadth  of  wilderness  between  the  settle- 
ments in  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  before  1725  it  was  not 
determined  to  which  province  the  Cape  Fear  River  belonged. 
About  1692  Landgrave  Smith  located  a  grant  of  48,000  acres 
on  that  river,  and  other  South  Carolina  grants  were  located  near 
the  confluence  of  its  two  branches ;  but  there  was  no  permanent 
settlement  made.  One  Lockwood,  from  Barbadoes,  however, 
made  a  settlement  farther  to  the  south,  which  the  Indians  de- 
stroyed, and  hence  the  name  to  this  day  of  "Lockwood's  Folly." 

The  solitude  remained  unbroken  until  in  1719,  when  Steed 
Bonnet,  an  infamous  pirate,  established  himself  within  the  har- 


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Exploration  and  Settlement  37 

bor  and  made  such  depredations  on  the  commerce  of  Charleston 
that  Colonel  Khett  organized  an  expedition  against  him.  A 
notable  battle  took  place  near  where  Southport  now  stands,  end- 
ing in  the  destruction  of  Bonnet's  vessel  and  the  capture  of 
many  of  the  pirates.  Two  days  later  other  pirate  vessels  were 
taken  at  sea,  and  more  than  a  hundred  pirates  were  hanged 
at  one  time  on  the  wharves  of  Charleston.  It  is  supposed  that 
some  of  Bonnet's  men  escaped  and  made  their  way  up  the  river, 
eventually  amalgamating  with  a  small  tribe  of  Indians  on  the 
Lumber  River,  where,  soon  after  the  permanent  settlement  of 
the  Cape  Fear,  in  1725,  a  considerable  number  of  English- 
speaking  people  were  found. 


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THE  TOWN  OF  BRUNSWICK. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1712,  was  commissioned  the  first 
governor  of  the  province  of  North  Carolina,  separate  and  dis- 
tinct from  the  province  of  South  Carolina. 

In  the  year  1711  a  horrible  massacre  of  the  colonists  in  Albe- 
marle occurred,  which  was  characterized  by  such  fiendish 
cruelty  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  led  principally  by  Tusca- 
roras,  that  the  colony  on  the  Neuse  and  Pamlico  was  blighted 
for  years  and  well-nigh  destroyed.  One  hundred  and  thirty 
persons  were  butchered  in  two  hours  under  the  most  appalling 
circumstances.  Women  were  laid  upon  the  house  floors  and 
great  stakes  driven  through  their  bodies;  other  atrocities  were 
committed  too  frightful  to  think  of,  and  more  than  eighty  un- 
baptized  infants  were  dashed  to  pieces  against  trees.  Although 
it  appears  that  there  were  occasional  difficulties  with  the  In- 
dians during  the  early  settlements,  this  seems  to  have  been  the 
first  general  uprising  in  the  province.  It  led  to  the  Tuscarora 
War,  which  would  probably  have  exterminated  the  white  peo- 
ple in  North  Carolina  but  for  the  timely  and  generous  assist- 
ance of  South  Carolina,  which  voted  £4,000  sterling,  and  dis- 
patched troops  immediately  to  Albemarle  without  so  much  as 
asking  for  security  or  promise  to  pay.  It  is  this  war  which 
leads  us  to  the  introduction  of  Col.  James  Moore,  son  of  Gov. 
James  Moore,  of  South  Carolina,  who  came  from  South  Caro- 
lina with  a  second  force  of  troops  to  the  help  of  our  colonists, 
and  by  his  active  and  efficient  campaign  made  short  work  of  the 
Tuscaroras  and  restored  peace  to  our  sorely  troubled  people. 

Meanwhile,  a  third  army  had  come  from  South  Carolina 
under  Maj.  Maurice  Moore,  a  younger  brother  of  Col.  James 
Moore,  who  after  peace  remained  in  Albemarle.  The  next  year 
the  people  of  South  Carolina  were  themselves  in  danger  of  ex- 
termination because  of  a  most  terrible  Indian  war,  and  Maj. 
Maurice  Moore  was  dispatched  with  a  force  to  their  relief.  He 
marched  along  the  coast,  crossing  the  Cape  Fear  near  Sugar 
Loaf,  and  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  river  lands  that  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  settling  them.  The  Lords  Proprietors,  how- 
ever, had  prohibited  the  making  of  any  settlement  within  twenty 
[38] 


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Permanent  Settlement  39 

miles  of  that  river,  and  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  carry 
out  his  plan.  Finally,  in  1725,  he  and  his  kindred  and  friends 
in  Albemarle  and  South  Carolina  joined  in  settling  the  Cape 
Fear  country.  His  brother,  Roger  Moore,  came  with  his  hun- 
dreds of  slaves  and  built  Orton,  while  Maurice  Moore  selected  a 
most  admirable  site  on  a  bluff  near  Orton,  fifteen  miles  below 
the  present  city  of  Wilmington,  and  laid  out  a  town  which  he 
called  Brunswick,  in  honor  of  the  reigning  family.  Brunswick 
quickly  prospered,  for  a  steady  stream  of  population  flowed  in, 
and  the  trade  of  the  river  grew  rapidly.  In  1731  Dr.  Brickell 
wrote  in  his  Natural  History  of  North  Carolina,  "Brunswick 
has  a  great  trade,  a  number  of  merchants  and  rich  planters." 
At  that  early  period  forty-two  vessels,  carrying  valuable 
cargoes,  sailed  from  the  port  in  one  year. 

I  have  before  me  the  original  book  of  entries  and  clearances 
of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  custom  house  at  the  port  of  Bruns- 
wick, in  the  province  of  North  Carolina,  beginning  with  A.  D. 
1773,  in  the  reign  of  George  III.,  and  running  for  three  years. 
It  is  strongly  bound  in  leather,  somewhat  injured  by  abuse  for 
other  purposes  during  Revolutionary  times,  but  it  contains  in 
fine,  legible  handwriting,  wonderfully  well  preserved,  a  record 
of  over  three  hundred  vessels,  with  the  particulars  of  their  car- 
goes and  crews.  Among  the  names  of  the  trading  vessels,  some 
of  which  are  remarkable,  are  the  brig  Orton,  the  brig  Wilming- 
ton, and  the  schooner  RaJce's  Delight. 

Some  of  the  cargoes  are  significant ;  20  negroes,  50  hogsheads 
of  rum,  1,000  bags  of  salt,  etc.  The  outward  cargoes  to  ports 
in  the  provinces,  to  the  West  Indies,  and  to  London,  Bristol, 
and  other  distant  destinations,  were  mostly  lumber,  staves,  tar, 
indigo,  rice,  com,  wheat,  and  tobacco. 

The  full-rigged  ship  Ulysses,  Captain  Wilson,  brought  from 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  October  18,  1773,  to  Brimswick,  furniture, 
leather,  saddles,  earthenware,  shoes,  linen,  hats,  gunpowder, 
silks,  glass,  iron,  lead,  and  "shott,"  also  port  wine,  rugs,  toys, 
and  household  articles. 

Other  Scotch  brigs,  notably  the  Baliol,  brought  many  settlers 
to  the  Cape  Fear,  most  of  whom  went  farther  up  to  Cross  Creek, 
now  Fayetteville.  Among  these  was  the  distinguished  lady. 
Flora  Macdonald. 

There  are  no  available  records  of  trade  and  commerce  per- 
taining to  Brunswick  or  to  the  new  settlement  at  Wilmington. 
It  appears,  however,  that  many  of  the  plantations  established 


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40  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

sawmills,  from  which  lumber,  along  with  the  products  of  the 
farms,  was  shipped  in  plantation  brigs  and  schooners  to  distant 
ports.  At  Orton  a  large  sawmill  was  run  by  water  power,  and 
vessels  were  loaded  in  the  river  opposite  the  mill  with  lumber, 
rice,  and  indigo. 

In  its  early  years  Brunswick  was  in  Carteret  Precinct,  for 
when  Carteret  Precinct,  as  the  counties  were  formerly  called, 
was  established  in  1722,  it  ran  down  the  coast  to  the  unknown 
confines  of  North  Carolina,  and  back  into  the  wilderness  with- 
out limitation. 

So  the  settlement  at  Bnmswick,  in  1725,  was  in  Carteret, 
until  New  Hanover  Precinct  was  established;  and  then  it  was 
in  New  Hanover,  which  at  first  embraced  the  territory  now 
in  Duplin,  Sampson,  Bladen,  and  Brunswick  Counties.  It  was 
not  until  shortly  before  the  Kevolution  that  Brunswick  was  cut 
off  from  New  Hanover. 

As  the  Cape  Fear  region  was  originally  in  Carteret  Precinct, 
some  of  the  early  grants  and  deeds  for  lands  in  New  Hanover 
and  Brunswick  were  registered  at  Beaufort,  the  county  seat  of 
Carteret. 


A  VISIT  TO  THE  CAPE  FEAE  IN  1734. 

(Qeorsia  Historical  Papers,  Vol  11,  page  54.) 

I  intend  after  my  return  to  Charleston  to  take  a  journey,  by 
land,  to  Cape  Fear  in  North  Carolina,  which  I  have  heard  so 
much  talk  of.     *     *     * 

I  set  out  from  Charleston  on  the  10th  of  June,  on  my 
travels  to  Cape  Fear,  in  North  Carolina,  in  company  with  thir- 
teen more,  and  the  first  night  reached  Mr.  More's,  in  Goose 
Creek.     *     *     * 

The  next  morning,  just  as  we  were  setting  out  from  thence, 
our  tired  horses  came  in,  when  we  ordered  them  to  be  left  there 
till  further  orders ;  we  left  the  boys  behind  to  come  after  us  as 
well  as  they  could.  We  reached  Little  Charlotta  by  dinner 
time,  which  is  about  fifteen  miles  from  Ash's,  or  Little  River ; 
we  dined  there,  and  in  the  afternoon  crossed  the  ferry,  where 
we  intended  to  sleep  that  night.  We  reached  there  about  eight 
the  same  night,  after  having  crossed  the  ferry. 

It  [Lockwood's  Folly]  is  so  named  after  one  Lockwood,  a 
Barbadian,  who  attempted  to  settle  it  some  time  ago ;  but,  by  his 
cruel  behavior  to  the  Indians,  they  drove  him  from  thence,  and 


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it  has  not  been  settled  above  ten  years.  We  left  Lockwood's 
Folly  about  eight  the  next  morning,  and  by  two  reached  the 
town  of  Brunswick,  which  is  the  chief  town  in  Cape  Fear ;  but 
with  no  more  than  two  of  the  same  horses  which  came  with  us 
out  of  South  Carolina.  We  dined  there  that  afternoon.  Mr. 
Koger  More  hearing  we  were  come,  was  so  kind  as  to  send  fresh 
horses  for  us  to  come  up  to  his  house,  which  we  did,  and  were 
kindly  received  by  him;  he  being  the  chief  gentleman  in  all 
Cape  Fear.  His  house  is  built  of  brick,  and  exceedingly  pleas- 
antly situated  about  two  miles  from  the  town,  and  about  half 
a  mile  from  the  river ;  though  there  is  a  creek  comes  close  up  to 
the  door,  between  two  beautiful  meadows,  about  three  miles 
length.  He  has  a  prospect  of  the  town  of  Brunswick,  and  of 
another  beautiful  brick  house,  a  building  about  half  a  mile  from 
him,  belonging  to  Eleazar  Allen,  Esq.,  late  speaker  to  the  Com- 
mons House  of  Assembly,  in  the  province  of  South  Carolina. 
There  were  several  vessels  lying  about  the  town  of  Brunswick, 
but  I  shall  forbear  giving  a  description  of  that  place;  yet  on 
the  20th  of  June  we  left  Mr.  Boger  More's,  accompanied  by  his 
brother,  Nathaniel  More,  Esq.,  to  a  plantation  of  his,  up  the 
Northwest  branch  of  Cape  Fear  Kiver.  The  river  is  wonder- 
fully pleasant,  being,  next  to  the  Savannah,  the  finest  on  all  the 
continent. 

We  reached  The  Forks,  as  they  call  it,  that  same  night,  where 
the  river  divides  into  two  very  beautiful  branches,  called  the 
Northeast  and  the  Northwest,  passing  by  several  pretty  planta- 
tions on  both  sides.  We  lodged  that  night  at  one  Mr.  Jehu 
Davis',  and  the  next  morning,  proceeded  up  the  Northwest 
branch ;  when  we  got  about  two  miles  from  thence,  we  came  to 
a  beautiful  plantation,  belonging  to  Captain  Gabriel,  who  is  a 
great  merchant  there,  where  were  two  ships,  two  sloops,  and  a 
brigantine,  loaded  with  lumber  for  the  West  Indies :  it  is  about 
twenty-two  miles  from  the  bar ;  when  we  came  about  four  miles 
higher  up,  we  saw  an  opening  on  the  northeast  side  of  us,  which 
is  called  Black  River,  on  which  there  is  a  great  deal  of  good 
meadow  land,  but  there  is  not  any  one  settled  on  it. 

The  next  night  we  came  to  another  plantation  belonging  to 
Mr.  Roger  More,  called  the  Blue  Banks,  where  he  is  a-going  to 
build  another  very  large  brick  house.  This  bluff  is  at  least  a 
hundred  feet  high,  and  has  a  beautiful  prospect  over  a  fine  large 
meadow,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river;  the  houses  are  all 
built  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  river,  it  being  for  the  most 


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42  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

part  high  champaign  land :  the  other  side  is  very  much  subject 
to  overflow,  but  I  cannot  learn  they  have  lost  but  one  crop.  I 
am  credibly  informed  they  have  very  commonly  fourscore  bush- 
els of  com  on  an  acre  of  their  overflowed  land.  It  very  rarely 
overflows  but  in  the  wintertime,  when  their  crop  is  off.  I  must 
confess  I  saw  the  finest  com  growing  there  that  I  ever  saw  in 
my  life,  as  likewise  wheat  and  hemp.  We  lodged  there  that 
night  at  one  Captain  Gibbs',  adjoining  to  Mr.  More's  plantation, 
where  we  met  with  very  good  entertainment.  The  next  morning 
we  left  his  house,  and  proceeded  up  the  said  river  to  a  plantation 
belonging  to  Mr.  John  Davis,  where  we  dined.  The  plantations 
on  this  river  are  very  much  alike  as  to  the  situation ;  but  there 
are  many  more  improvements  on  some  than  on  others ;  this  house 
is  built  after  the  Dutch  fashion,  and  made  to  front  both  ways — 
on  the  river,  and  on  the  land.  He  has  a  beautiful  avenue  cut 
through  the  woods  for  above  two  miles,  which  is  a  great  addition 
to  the  house.  We  left  his  house  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  and 
the  same  evening  reached  Mr.  Nathaniel  More's  plantation, 
which  is  reckoned  forty  miles  from  Brunswick.  It  is  likewise 
a  very  pleasant  place  on  a  bluff  upwards  of  sixty  feet  high.  I 
forbore  mentioning  any  thing  either  as  to  the  goodness  or  the 
badness  of  the  land  in  my  passage  from  South  Carolina,  it  be- 
ing, in  short,  nothing  but  a  sandy  bank  from  Winneaw  ferry  to 
Brunswick;  and,  indeed,  the  town  itself  is  not  much  better  at 
present :  it  is  that  which  has  given  this  place  such  a  bad  name  on 
account  of  the  land,  it  being  the  only  road  to  South  Carolina 
from  the  northern  part  of  the  continent,  and  as  there  are  a  great 
many  travellers  from  New  York,  New  England,  &c.,  who  go  to 
Charleston,  having  been  asked  what  sort  of  land  they  have  in 
Cape  Fear,  have  not  stuck  out  to  say  that  it  is  all  a  mere  sand 
bank ;  but  let  those  gentlemen  take  a  view  of  the  rivers,  and  they 
will  soon  be  convinced  to  the  contrary,  as  well  as  myself,  who, 
must  confess,  till  then  was  of  their  opinion,  but  now  am  con- 
vinced by  ocular  demonstration,  for  I  have  not  so  much  as  seen 
one  foot  of  bad  land  since  my  leaving  Bnmswick.  About  three 
days  after  my  arrival  at  Mr.  More's,  there  came  a  sloop  of  one 
hundred  tons,  and  upwards,  from  South  Carolina,  to  be  laden 
with  com,  which  is  sixty  miles  at  least  from  the  bar.  I  never 
yet  heard  of  any  man  who  was  ever  at  the  head  of  that  river,  but 
they  tell  me  the  higher  you  go  up  the  better  the  land,  and  the 
river  grows  wider  and  wider.  There  are  people  settled  at  least 
forty  miles  higher  up,  but  indeed  the  tide  does  not  flow,  at  the 


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Permanent  Settlement  43 

most,  above  twenty  miles  higher.  Two  days  after,  I  was  taken 
very  ill  of  an  ague  and  fever,  which  continued  on  me  for  near  a 
month,  in  which  time  my  companions  left  me,  and  returned  to 
South  Carolina.  When  I  began  to  recover  my  health  a  little, 
I  mentioned  to  Mr.  More  the  great  desire  I  had  to  see  Wacca- 
maw  Lake,  as  I  had  heard  so  much  talk  of  it,  and  been  myself 
a  great  way  up  the  river ;  that  I  was  sure  by  the  course  of  the 
country  I  could  not  be  above  twenty  miles  from  thence.  He 
told  me  he  had  a  negro  fellow,  who  he  thought  could  carry  me 
to  it,  and  that  he  would  accompany  me  himself,  with  some 
others  of  his  acquaintance.  On  the  18th  of  July  we  set  out 
from  his  house  on  horseback,  with  every  one  his  gun,  and  took 
the  n^ro  with  us.  We  rode  about  four  miles  on  a  direct  course 
through  an  open  pine  barren,  when  we  came  to  a  large  cane 
swamp,  about  half  a  mile  through,  which  we  crossed  in  about  an 
hour's  time,  but  I  was  astonished  to  see  the  innumerable  sight  of 
musquetoes,  and  the  largest  that  I  ever  saw  in  my  life,  for  they 
made  nothing  to  fetch  blood  of  us  through  our  buckskin  gloves, 
coats,  and  jackets.  As  soon  as  we  got  through  that  swamp,  we 
came  to  another  open  pine  barren,  where  we  saw  a  great  herd 
of  deer,  the  largest  and  fattest  that  ever  I  saw  in  those  parts : 
we  made  shift  to  kiU  a  brace  of  them,  which  we  made  a  hearty 
dinner  on.  We  rode  about  two  miles  farther,  when  we  came  to 
another  cane  swamp,  where  we  shot  a  large  she-bear  and  two 
cubs.  It  was  so  large  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  we  got 
through  it.  When  we  got  on  the  other  side,  it  began  to  rain 
very  hard,  or  otherwise,  as  far  as  I  know,  we  might  have  shot 
ten  brace  of  deer,  for  they  were  almost  as  thick  as  in  the  parks 
in  England,  and  did  not  seem  to  be  in  the  least  afraid  of  us,  for 
I  question  much  whether  they  had  ever  seen  a  man  in  their 
lives  before,  for  they  seemed  to  look  on  us  as  amazed.  We  made 
shift  as  well  as  we  could  to  reach  the  lake  the  same  night,  but 
had  but  little  pleasure ;  it  continued  to  rain  very  hard,  we  made 
a  large  fire  of  lightwood,  and  slept  as  well  as  we  could  that 
night.  The  next  morning  we  took  a  particular  view  of  it,  and 
I  think  it  is  the  pleasantest  place  that  ever  I  saw  in  my  life. 
It  is  at  least  eighteen  miles  round,  surrounded  with  exceedingly 
good  land,  as  oak  of  all  sorts,  hickory,  and  fine  cypress  swamps. 
There  is  an  old  Indian  field  to  be  seen,  which  shows  it  was  for- 
merly inhabited  by  them,  but  I  believe  not  within  these  fifty 
years,  for  there  is  scarce  one  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians,  or  the 
Waccamaws,  that  can  give  any  account  of  it.    There  is  plenty  of 


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44  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

deer,  wild  turkeys,  geese,  and  ducks,  and  fish  in  abundance ;  we 
shot  sufficient  to  serve  forty  men,  though  there  were  but  six  of 
us.  We  went  abnost  round  it,  but  there  is  on  the  northeast  side 
a  small  cypress  swamp,  so  deep  that  we  could  not  go  through  it ; 
we  returned  back  again  on  a  direct  line,  being  resolved  to  find 
how  far  it  was  on  a  straight  course  from  the  Northwest  branch 
of  Cape  Fear  Kiver,  which  we  found  did  not  exceed  ten  miles. 
We  returned  back  to  Mr.  More's  that  same  night,  having 
satisfied  our  curiosity,  and  the  next  morning  set  out  with  an 
intent  to  take  a  view  of  the  Northeast  branch,  on  which  there  is 
a  great  deal  of  good  land,  but  not  in  my  opinion,  for  the  gen- 
erality, so  good  as  on  the  Northwest,  but  I  think  the  river  is 
much  more  beautiful  We  lay  that  first  night  at  Newton,  in  a 
small  hut,  and  the  next  day  reached  Kocky  Point,  which  is  the 
finest  place  in  all  Cape  Fear.  There  are  several  very  worthy 
gentlemen  settled  there,  particularly  Col.  Maurice  More,  Cap- 
tain Heme,  John  Swan,  Esq.,  and  several  others.  We  stayed 
there  one  night,  and  the  next  morning  set  out  on  horseback  to 
take  a  view  of  the  land  backward,  imagining  that  there  might 
be  only  a  skirt  of  good  land  on  the  river,  but  I  am  sure  I  rode 
for  about  twenty  miles  back,  through  nothing  but  black  walnut, 
oak,  and  hickory;  we  returned  the  same  night  to  Rocky  Point, 
and  the  next  morning  set  out  for  a  plantation  belonging  to  Mr. 
John  Davis,  within  six  miles  of  Brunswick,  where  I  was  a  sec- 
ond time  taken  ill,  so  that  I  thought  I  should  have  died ;  but  by 
the  providence  of  Grod,  and  the  care  of  good  Mrs.  Davis,  I 
recovered  in  a  fortnight's  time,  so  that  I  was  able  to  set  out  on 
my  journey  to  South  Carolina.  I  took  leave  of  that  worthy 
family  on  the  10th  of  August,  when  she  was  so  kind  as  to  force 
me  to  take  a  bottle  of  shrub,  and  several  other  things  with  me. 
I  reached  Mr.  Roger  More's  the  same  night,  where  I  was  again 
handsomely  received,  but  being  resolved  to  set  out  on  my  jour- 
ney the  next  morning,  he  generously  offered  me  a  horse  to  carry 
me  to  the  house  where  I  was  obliged  to  leave  mine  on  the  road, 
as  likewise  a  servant  to  attend  me,  which  I  refused.  I  left 
his  house  the  next  morning,  being  the  11th  of  August,  at  half 
an  hour  after  seven,  and  reached  Brunswick  by  eight.  I  set 
out  from  thence  about  nine,  and  about  four  miles  from  thence 
met  my  landlord  of  Lockwood's  Folly,  who  was  in  hopes  I 
would  stay  at  his  house  all  night. 

When  I  was  about  halfway  over  the  bay,  I  intended  to  stop 


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Permanent  Settlement  45 

at  the  next  spring  and  take  a  tiff  of  punch ;  but  by  some  unfor- 
tunate accident,  I  know  not  how,  when  I  came  within  sight  of 
the  spring,  my  bottle  unluckily  broke,  and  I  lost  every  drop  of 
my  shrub ;  but  examining  my  bags,  I  accidentally  found  a  bottle 
of  cherry  brandy,  with  some  ginger-bread  and  cheese,  which  I 
believe  good  Mrs.  More  ordered  to  be  put  up  unknown  to  me.  I 
drank  two  drams  of  that,  not  being  willing  it  should  all  be  lost 
in  case  it  should  break,  and  mounting  my  horse,  took  some 

ginger-bread  and  cheese  in  my  hand  and  pursued  my  journey. 
******* 

I  reached  Witton's  by  noon,  and  had  my  possum  dressed  for 
dinner.  *  *  *  I  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the  7th  [17th] 
day  of  August,  where  I  remained  till  the  23d  of  November, 
when  I  set  sail  for  England  and  arrived  safe  in  London  on  the 
3d  of  January,  1734-5. 

ERECTION  OF  WILMINGTON— DECAY  OF 
BEUNSWICK. 

In  the  cove  near  Governor  Tryon's  residence,  stiU  known  as 
Governor's  Cove,  were  anchored  in  colonial  times  His  Majesty's 
sloops  of  war  Viper,  Diligence,  Scorpion,  and  Cruizer;  and  the 
frigate  Rose,  a  prison  ship,  was  anchored  in  the  stream.  This 
roadstead  proved  to  be  unsafe  in  stormy  weather,  and  because  of 
that  fact  and  of  the  growth  of  a  village  fifteen  miles  farther  up 
the  river  called  New  Liverpool,  afterwards  Newton,  and  lastly 
Wilmington,  which  absorbed  the  trade  of  the  two  branches  of 
the  river  near  that  point  and  prospered,  a  gradual  exodus  from 
Brunswick  began  and  continued;  so  that  while  Wilmington 
flourished  and  became  the  capital  of  the  province,  Brunswick 
dwindled  and  during  the  Revolutionary  War  was  wholly  aban- 
doned. 

In  1731  John  Maultsby  took  out  a  warrant  for  640  acres  of 
land  opposite  the  "Thoroughfare,"  and  John  Watson  located  a 
similar  warrant  adjoining  and  below  that.  In  1732  a  few  enter- 
prising men  settled  on  Maultsby's  grant  for  trade,  and  called 
the  place  New  Liverpool.  The  next  spring  Michael  Higgins, 
Joshua  Grainger,  James  Wimble,  and  John  Watson  joined  in 
laying  off  a  town  on  Watson's  entry,  which  they  called  Newton. 

Gov.  Gabriel  Johnston  arrived  in  November,  1734,  and  he 
at  once  espoused  the  cause  of  Newton  as  against  Brunswick, 
the  older  town.     He  bought  land  near  Newton  and  led  his 


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46  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

friends  to  do  so.  Determined  to  give  it  importance,  he  ordered 
that  the  Council  should  meet  there,  and  «lso  that  the  courts 
should  be  held  there  instead  of  at  Brunswick ;  and,  indeed,  as  a 
sort  of  advertisement,  he  made  May  13,  1735,  a  gala  day  for 
the  village.  On  that  day  he  had  the  land  office  opened  there, 
also  the  Court  of  Exchequer  to  meet  there,  as  well  as  the  New 
Hanover  Court,  and,  likewise,  the  Council.  Then  he  sought  to 
have  the  village  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Wilmington. 
For  a  brief  time  the  influence  of  Brunswick  prevailed  against 
him,  but  he  finally  succeeded. 

The  Act  of  Incorporation,^  passed  in  1739  by  the  Assembly, 
is  as  follows : 

An  Act,  for  erecting  the  village  called  Newton,  in  New  Han- 
over County,  into  a  town  and  township,  by  the  name  of  Wil- 
mington; and  regulating  and  ascertaining  the  bounds  thereof. 

Section  1.  Whereas,  several  merchants,  tradesmen,  artifi- 
cers, and  other  persons  of  good  substance,  have  settled  them- 
selves at  a  village  called  Newton  lying  on  the  east  branch  of 
Cape  Fear ;  and  whereas,  the  said  village  by  reason  of  its  con- 
venient situation  at  the  meeting  of  the  two  great  branches  of 
Cape  Fear  River,  and  likewise,  by  reason  of  the  depth  of  water, 
capable  of  receiving  vessels  of  considerable  burthen,  safety  of  its 
roads  beyond  any  other  part  of  the  river,  and  the  secure  and 
easy  access  from  all  parts  of  the  different  branches  of  the  said 
river,  is,  upon  all  those  and  many  other  accounts,  more  proper 
for  being  erected  into  a  town  or  township,  than  any  other  part 
of  the  said  river. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  His  Excellency  Gabriel 
Johnston,  Esq.,  Governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  His  Majesty's  Council  and  General  Assembly  of  this  prov- 
ince, and  it  is  hereby  enacted,  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that 
the  village  heretofore  called  Newton,  lying  on  the  east  side  of 
the  northeast  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River,  in  New  Hanover 
County,  shall,  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  Act,  be  a 
town  and  township,  and  the  said  village  is  hereby  established 
a  town  and  township  by  the  name  of  Wilmington,  the  bounds 
whereof  shall  be  and  are  circumscribed  in  manner  following: 
That  is  to  say,  to  the  northeast,  by  the  lands  of  His  Excellency 
Gabriel  Johnston,  Esq. ;  upwards  and  below,  by  the  lands  of 
Michael  Dyer ;  to  the  westward  by  the  northeast  branch  of  Cape 
Fear  River;  and  to  the  eastward,  by  a  line  drawn  between  the 

iSwann's  Collection  Puhlic  Acts,  North  Carolina,  1739,  Chapter  IV. 
p.  99. 


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PLAN  of  the  Town  of  WttLMINGTON 
in  New  Hanover  Counts 

NORTH  Carolina 

Reference 

A. Church.  B. Court  House.  C.Coal .  D,  Tann'SarJ. 
£,  Still  House. 


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fm^  Thi9  ;nw  ao€tccp>»of  Km»(Ulfirmfvmdihm^  I iirmy. ^'tJBh  ^fUB^um London, 


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Permanent  Settlement  47 

said  lands  of  His  Excellency  Gabriel  Johnston,  Esq.,  and 
Michael  Dyer,. one  hundred  and  twenty  poles  distant  from  the 
river. 

Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  forever,  after  passing  of  this  Act,  the  inhabitants  of 
and  near  the  said  town,  qualified  as  hereinafter  mentioned, 
shall  have  the  privilege  of  choosing  one  Eepresentative  for  the 
said  town,  to  sit  and  vote  in  General  Assembly. 

Sec.  4.  And  for  ascertaining  the  method  of  choosing  the 
said  Representative,  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  that  every  tenant  of  any  brick,  stone,  or  framed  in- 
habitable house,  of  the  length  of  twenty  feet,  and  sixteen  feet 
wide,  within  the  bounds  of  the  said  town,  who,  at  the  day  of 
election,  and  for  three  months  next  before,  inhabited  such  house, 
shall  be  entitled  to  vote  in  the  election  for  the  Representative 
of  the  said  town,  to  be  sent  to  the  General  Assembly ;  and  in  case 
there  shall  be  no  tenant  of  such  house  in  the  said  town  on  the 
day  of  election,  qualified  to  vote  as  aforesaid,  that  then,  and  in 
such  case,  the  person  seized  of  such  house,  either  in  fee-simple, 
or  fee-tail,  or  for  term  of  life,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  for  the 
Representative  aforesaid. 

Sec.  5.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  every  person  who,  on  the  day  of  election,  and  for  three 
months  next  before,  shall  be  in  actual  possession  or  an  inhabi- 
tant of  a  brick  house,  of  the  length  of  thirty  feet,  and  sixteen 
feet  wide,  between  the  bounds  of  the  said  town  upwards,  and 
Smith's  Creek,  and  within  one  hundred  and  twenty  poles  of  the 
Northeast  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River,  shall  be  entitled  to,  and 
have  a  vote  in  the  election  of  a  Representative  for  the  said  town 
(unless  such  person  be  a  servant),  and  shall,  as  long  as  he  con- 
tinues an  inhabitant  of  such  house,  within  the  said  bounds, 
enjoy  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  inmiunities,  to  which  any 
inhabitant  within  the  said  town  shall  be  entitled,  by  virtue  of 
said  Act. 

Sec  6.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  no  person  shall  be  deemed  qualified  to  be  a  Repre- 
sentative for  the  said  town,  to  sit  in  the  General  Assembly,  un- 
less, on  the  day  of  election,  he  be,  and  for  three  months  next 
before,  was  seized,  in  fee-simple,  or  for  the  term  of  life,  of  a 
brick,  stone,  or  framed  house  of  the  dimensions  aforesaid,  with 
one  or  more  brick  chimney  or  chimnies. 

Sec.  7.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  forever,  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  Court  of 


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48  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  County  of  New  Hanover,  and  the  election  of  the  Kepresent- 
atives  to  be  sent  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  the  election  of 
Vestrymen,  and  all  other  public  elections,  of  what  kind  or 
nature  soever,  for  the  said  county  and  town,  shall  be  held  and 
made  in  the  town  of  Wilmington,  and  at  no  other  place  whatso- 
ever, any  law,  statute,  usage,  or  custom,  to  the  contrary,  not- 
withstanding. 

Sec.  8.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  from  and  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  Collector 
and  Naval  Officers  of  the  port  of  Brunswick  (of  which  port  the 
said  town  of  Wilmington  is  the  most  central  and  convenient 
place,  both  for  exportation  and  importation,  by  reason  of  its 
navigation  and  situation),  shall  constantly  reside  in  the  said 
town,  and  there  keep  their  respective  offices,  imtil  His  Majesty 
shall  be  pleased  to  give  his  directions  to  the  contrary.  And 
likewise,  the  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  the  Coimty  of  New  Hanover, 
and  the  Register  of  the  said  county,  shall  constantly  hold  and 
execute  their  respective  offices  in  the  said  town  of  Wilmington ; 
and  that  if  either  of  the  said  officers  neglect  or  refuse  so  to  do, 
he  so  neglecting  or  refusing,  shall,  for  every  month  he  shall  be  a 
delinquent,  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  five  pounds  proclamation 
money ;  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered,  by  him  who  shall  sue  for 
the  same,  in  the  general  court  of  this  province,  or  in  the  County 
Court  of  New  Hanover,  by  action  of  debt,  bill,  plaint,  or  infor- 
mation, wherein  no  essoin,  protection,  injunction,  or  wager  of 
law  shall  be  allowed,  and  one-half  of  such  forfeiture  shall  be 
for  the  use  of  the  person  who  sues  for  the  same,  and  the  other 
half  shall  be  paid  to  the  conunissioners,  for  the  time  being, 
appointed  for  regulating  the  said  town. 

Sec.  9.  And  for  the  due  regulating  the  said  town,  be  it  fur- 
ther enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  Robert  Halton, 
James  Murray,  Samuel  Woodard,  William  Farris,  Richard 
Eagles,  John  Porter  and  Robert  Walker,  Esquires,  are  hereby 
established  and  appointed  conmiissioners  for  the  said  town ;  and 
the  said  commissioners,  or  a  majority  of  them,  and  their  suc- 
cessors shall  have,  and  be  invested  with  all  powers  and  authori- 
ties within  the  bounds  of  the  said  town  of  Wilmington,  in  as  full 
and  ample  manner  as  the  conunissioners  for  the  town  of  Edenton 
have  or  possess,  by  virtue  of  any  law  heretofore  passed. 

Sec.  10.  And  whereas  the  justices  of  the  County  Court  of 
New  Hanover,  at  the  court  held  at  Brunswick,  on  Tuesday  the 
eleventh  day  of  December  last,  have  imposed  a  tax  of  five  shil- 


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Permanent  Settlement  49 

lings  per  poll,  to  be  levied  on  the  tithable  inhabitants  of  the  said 
county,  between  the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first  day  of 
March,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine ;  and  after- 
wards, one  other  tax  of  five  shillings  per  poll,  to  be  levied  on  the 
said  inhabitants,  between  the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first 
day  of  March,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty,  towards 
building  a  courthouse  and  gaol  in  the  town  of  Brunswick,  for 
the  said  county. 

Sec.  11.  Be  it  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the 
justices  of  the  said  County  Court  shall,  and  are  hereby  directed 
to  apply  the  said  levy  or  tax  towards  finishing  and  completing 
the  courthouse  already  erected  in  the  said  town  of  Wilmington, 
and  towards  building  a  gaol  in  the  said  town. 

Sec.  12.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  if  any  one  or  more  of  the  said  commissioners  shall 
die,  or  remove  out  of  the  county,  that  then  and  in  such  case,  the 
surviving  or  remaining  commissioners  shall,  within  six  months 
after  the  death  or  removal  of  such  commissioner,  present  to  His 
Excellency  the  Governor,  or  Commander-in-Chief  for  the  time 
being,  three  persons,  one  of  which  the  said  Governor  or  Com- 
mander-in-Chief is  hereby  empowered  to  nominate  and  appoint; 
and  the  commissioners  so  appointed  shall  be  invested  with  the 
same  powers  and  authorities  as  any  commissioner  nominated  by 

Gabriel  Johnston,  Esq.,  Governor. 
William  Smith,  President. 
John  Hodgson,  Speaker. 


THE  SPANISH  INVASION,  1747. 

On  November  20,  1740,  a  considerable  force,  enlisted  on  the 
Cape  Fear,  left  Wilmington  under  the  command  of  Capt.  James 
Innes  to  fight  the  Spaniards  at  Cartagena;  they  were  carried 
off  by  disease  and  but  few  returned.  The  next  year  the  Span- 
iards in  retaliation  seized  Ocracoke  Inlet  and  committed  tre- 
mendous depredations.  And  again,  in  1744,  they  scoured  the 
coast.  Three  years  later,  they  made  another  foray.  In  July, 
1747,  they  entered  the  Cape  Fear,  but  the  militia  were  prompt 
in  meeting  them,  and  held  them  in  check,  taking  some  prisoners. 
From  there  they  went  north,  entered  Beaufort  Harbor,  and,  on 
August  26,  after  several  days'  fighting,  gained  possession  of  the 
town.  Emboldened  by  this  victory,  they  returned  to  the  Cape 
4 


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50  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Fear,  and,  on  September  4,  1747,  began  to  ascend  the  river. 
New  Hanover  County  then  included  what  has  since  become 
Brunswick,  and  the  people  from  Duplin  to  Lockwood's  ^olly 
sprang  to  their  horses  and  hurried  to  Brunswick.  Eleazar 
Allen,  Roger  Moore,  Edward  Moseley,  and  William  Forbes 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  take  measures  for  defense; 
while  Maj.  John  Swann  was  invested  with  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  the  troops.  The  companies  of  Capt.  William  Dry, 
Capt.  John  Ashe,  and  Capt.  John  Sampson,  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  county,  alone  numbered  300  men ;  so  the  defenders 
doubtless  were  about  a  thousand.  On  the  6th,  the  Spaniards 
possessed  themselves  of  Brunswick,  and  for  four  days  the  battle 
raged.  At  length,  on  September  10,  one  of  the  Spanish  vessels 
was  blown  up  and  the  others  were  driven  off.  All  that  day 
Colonel  Dry  was  burying  dead  Spaniards,  for  a  considerable 
number  of  them  perished,  and  twenty-nine  were  taken  alive.  It 
was  from  the  destroyed  vessel  that  the  painting  in  the  vestry 
room  of  St.  James's  Church  in  Wilmington,  "Ecce  Homo,"  was 
taken.  The  spoils  from  the  wreck  were  appropriated  for  the 
use  of  the  churches  in  Brunswick  and  Wilmington. 

Because  of  these  incursions,  a  fort  was  built  the  next  year  to 
guard  the  river — Fort  Johnston.  It  was  garrisoned  by  com- 
panies raised  in  the  vicinity,  and  some  of  the  young  officers 
trained  to  arms  there  afterwards  became  distinguished  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War  and  in  the  Revolution,  among  them 
Gen.  James  Moore  and  Gen.  Robert  Howe. 

The  War  of  Jenkins'  Ear. 

Catherine  Albertson,  in  her  very  interesting  book  entitled 
In  Ancient  Albemarle,  says,  with  reference  to  this  interesting 
episode : 

The  real  cause  of  this  war  in  1740  was  the  constant  violation 
on  the  part  of  the  English  of  the  commercial  laws  which  Spain 
had  made  to  exclude  foreign  nations  from  the  trade  of  her 
American  colonies.  But  the  event  which  precipitated  matters 
and  gave  to  the  conflict  which  followed  the  name  of  "The  War 
of  Jenkins'  Ear"  was  as  follows : 

The  Spaniards  captured  an  English  merchant  vessel,  whose 
master  they  accused  of  violating  the  trade  laws  of  Spain.  In 
order  to  wring  a  confession  from  the  master,  Captain  Jenkins, 
his  captors  hung  him  up  to  a  yardarm  of  his  ship  until  he  was 
nearly  dead,  and  then  let  him  down,  thinking  he  would  confess. 


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Permanent  Settlement  51 

But  on  his  stoutly  denying  that  he  had  been  engaged  in  any 
nefarious  dealings^  and  since  no  proof  could  be  found  against 
him^  the  captain  of  the  Spanish  ship  cut  off  one  of  the  English 
captain's  ears,  and  insolently  told  him  to  show  it  to  his  country- 
men as  a  warning  of  what  Englishmen  might  expect  who  were 
caught  trading  with  Spain's  colonies  in  America. 

Captain  Jenkins  put  the  ear  in  his  pocket,  sailed  home  as 
fast  as  wind  and  wave  would  carry  him,  and  was  taken  straight 
to  the  Houses  of  Parliament  with  his  story.  Such  was  the  in- 
dignation of  both  Lords  and  Commons  at  this  insult  to  one  of 
their  nation,  and  so  loud  was  the  clamor  for  vengeance,  that 
even  Walpole,  who  for  years  had  managed  to  hold  the  English 
dogs  of  war  in  leash,  was  now  compelled  to  yield  to  the  will  of 
the  people,  and  Parliament  declared  war  on  Spain. 

Immediately  upon  this  declaration.  King  George  called  upon 
his  "trusty  and  well-beloved  subjects  in  Carolina"  and  the  other 
twelve  colonies,  to  raise  troops  to  help  the  mother  country  in 
her  struggle  with  arrogant  Spain.  Carolina  responded  nobly  to 
the  call  for  troops,  as  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  from 
Gov.  Gabriel  Johnston  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  will  testify: 
"I  can  now  assure  Your  Grace  that  we  have  raised  400  men 
in  this  province  who  are  just  going  to  put  to  sea.  In  those 
northern  parts  of  the  colony  adjoining  to  Virginia,  we  have  got 
100  men  each,  though  some  few  deserted  since  they  began  to 
send  them  on  board  the  transports  at  Cape  Fear.  I  have  good 
reason  to  believe  we  could  have  raised  200  more  if  it  had  been 
possible  to  negotiate  the  bills  of  exchange  in  this  part  of  the  con- 
tinent ;  but  as  that  was  impossible  we  were  obliged  to  rest  satis- 
fied with  four  companies.  I  must,  in  justice  to  the  Assembly  of 
the  province,  inform  Your  Grace  that  they  were  very  zealous  and 
imanimous  in  promoting  this  service.  They  have  raised  a  sub- 
sidy of  1,200  pounds,  as  it  is  reckoned  hereby,  on  which  the 
men  have  subsisted  ever  since  August,  and  all  the  transports 
are  victualed." 

No  record  has  been  kept  of  the  names  of  the  privates  who 
enlisted  from  Carolina  in  this  war.  Nor  do  we  know  how  many 
of  those  who  at  the  King's  call  left  home  and  country  to  fight 
in  a  foreign  land  ever  returned  to  their  native  shores;  but  we 
do  know  that  these  Carolina  troops  took  part  in  the  disastrous 
engagements  of  Cartagena  and  Boca-Chica;  and  that  King 
George's  troops  saw  fulfilled  Walpole's  prophecy,  made  at  the 
time  of  the  rejoicing  over  the  news  that  Parliament  had  de- 


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52  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

clared  war  on  Spain:  "You  are  ringing  the  joy  bells  now," 
said  the  great  prime  minister,  ^T>ut  before  this  war  is  over  you 
will  all  be  wringing  your  hands." 

After  the  two  crushing  defeats  of  Cartagena  and  Boca-Chica, 
the  troops  from  the  colonies  who  still  survived  embarked  upon 
their  ships  to  return  home ;  but  while  homeward  bound  a  malig- 
nant fever  broke  out  among  the  soldiers,  which  destroyed  nine 
out  of  every  ten  men  on  the  ships.  But  few  of  those  from 
Carolina  lived  to  see  their  native  home  again.  That  they  bore 
themselves  bravely  on  the  field  of  battle,  none  who  know  the 
war  record  of  North  Carolina  will  dare  deny,  though,  as  re- 
gards her  private  soldiers  in  this  war,  history  is  silent. 

One  of  the  officers  from  Carolina,  Captain  Innes,  of  Wil- 
mington, made  such  a  record  for  gallantry  during  the  two  en- 
gagements mentioned,  that  in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  in 
which  fourteen  years  later  not  only  the  Thirteen  Colonies,  but 
most  of  the  countries  of  Europe  as  well,  were  embroiled,  he  was 
made  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  American  forces  [in  Vir- 
ginia], George  Washington  himself  gladly  serving  under  this 
distinguished  Carolinian. 


THE  SITE  OF  FORT  JOHNSTON. 

(Eztraotfl  from  an  address  delivered  by  Dr.  J.  0.  DeRoulhao  Hamilton,  alumnus 

professor  of  history,  Univendty  of  North  Carolina,  before  the  North 

Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames  at  Southport,  N.  C.) 

Fort  Johnston  dates  from  the  War  of  the  Austrian  Succes- 
sion, or,  as  it  was  known  in  the  colonies.  King  George's  War. 
In  this  contest,  in  which  the  mother  country  was  engaged  with 
both  France  and  Spain,  many  of  the  colonies  took  an  active 
part.  The  Southern  colonies  were  all  in  an  exposed  condition 
and  seemed  in  imminent  danger  of  attack,  particularly  from 
Spain.  Then  it  was,  in  1745,  that  the  Assembly  of  North 
Carolina,  after  reciting  that 

* 'Whereas,  from  the  present  War  with  France  and  Spain, 
There  is  great  Reason  to  fear  that  such  Parts  of  this  Province 
which  are  situated  most  commodious  for  Shipping  to  enter  may 
be  invaded  by  the  Enemy ;  and  whereas,  The  Entrance  of  Cftpe 
Fear  River,  from  its  known  depth  of  water  and  other  Conven- 
iences for  Navigation,  may  tempt  them  to  such  an  enterprise, 
while  it  remains  in  so  naked  and  defenceless  a  Condition  as  it 
now  is,     *     *     *     for  the  better  securing  of  the  Inhabitants 


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Permanent  Settlement  53 

of  the  River  from  Insult  and  Invasion,"  appointed  a  board  of 
commissioners,  consisting  of  Gov.  Gabriel  Johnston,  for  whom 
the  fort  was  to  be  named,  Nathaniel  Rice,  Robert  Halton,  Elea- 
zar  Allen,  Matthew  Rowan,  Edward  Moseley,  Roger  Moore, 
William  Forbes,  James  Innes,  William  Farris,  John  Swann 
and  George  Moore,  who  were  charged  with  the  duty  of  erecting 
a  fort  large  enough  to  contain  twenty  cannon,  and  provided  for 
the  payment  of  the  expenses  of  construction  by  appropriating 
therefor  the  powder  money  exacted  from  vessels  entering  the 
port.  In  1748  two  thousand  pounds  were  appropriated  for  the 
work,  and  at  various  times  later  the  amount  was  increased.  The 
fort  was  completed  in  1764,  by  William  Dry,  and  very  poorly 
built  it  was,  too,  for  the  tapia,  or  "tabby  work,"  as  it  was  called, 
contained  such  a  large  proportion  of  sand  that  every  time  a  gun 
was  fired  part  of  the  parapet  fell  down.  Governor  Tryon  said 
that  it  was  a  disgrace  to  the  ordnance  in  it,  but  he  described  its 
situation  as  admirable  in  every  respect,  and  Josiah  Quincy,  who 
visited  it  in  1773,  said  it  was  delightful. 

The  first  commander  of  the  fort  was  Capt  John  Dalrymple. 
Of  this  officer,  the  least  said,  the  better.  General  Braddock,  in 
order  to  get  rid  of  him,  gave  him  the  appointment  and  sent  him 
to  Governor  Dobbs.  This  is  not  an  imfair  example  of  the 
English  method  of  making  colonial  appointments  at  that  time. 
Dalrymple  went  to  England,  and  upon  his  return  was  arrested 
by  Governor  Dobbs  and  thrown  into  prison,  but  upon  appeal  to 
the  Board  of  Trade,  he  was  restored  to  command  and  held  it 
until  his  death  at  the  fort  in  1766.  Governor  Tryon  at  once 
recommended  Robert  Howe  for  the  vacancy  and  placed  him  in 
command,  but  Abraham  Collett  received  the  commission  and 
under  Governor  Martin  took  command  of  the  fort.  The  position 
was  retained  by  him  until  the  downfall  of  the  royal  government. 

Twice  before  1776  was  the  wisdom  of  the  colonial  leaders  in 
not  strengthening  the  fort  justified.  When  those  patriots  of  the 
Cape  Fear,  under  the  lead  of  Harnett,  Ashe,  and  Waddell, 
defied  the  Governor  and  the  armed  power  of  England  and 
thereby  prevented  the  execution  of  the  Stamp  Act,  placing 
themselves  high  in  our  roll  of  honor.  Governor  Tryon  had  the 
mortification  of  seeing  the  gims  of  the  fort  spiked  by  Captain 
Dalrymple,  lest  they  be  turned  by  Waddell  and  his  force  against 
the  English  war  vessels  that  lay  in  the  harbor.  The  garrison 
of  the  fort,  consisting  of  Captain  Dalrymple  and  two  men,  then 
took  refuge  elsewhere. 


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54  Chronicles  of  the  Gape  Fear  Rwer 

In  July,  1775,  Governor  Martin,  considering  that  only  about 
a  dozen  men  composed  the  garrison,  decided  that  the  best  policy 
was  to  dismount  the  cannon  and  place  them  under  the  protection 
of  the  guns  of  the  Cruizer,  then  lying  at  anchor  in  the  harbor. 
He  wrote  Halifax : 

"Fort  Johnston,  my  lord,  is  a  most  contemptible  thing,  fit 
neither  for  a  place  of  arms  nor  an  asylum  for  the  friends  of  the 
government.  On  account  of  the  weakness  and  smallness  of  it, 
it  is  of  little  consequence,  and  the  King's  artillery,  which  is  all 
that  is  good  about  it,  will  be  as  well  secured  under  cover  of  the 
Cruizer's  guns,  at  less  charge,  as  upon  the  walls  of  that  little 
wretched  place." 

The  general  correctness  of  this  statement  is  one  of  the  most 
fortunate  circumstances  of  North  Carolina  Revolutionary  his- 
tory. 

The  Wilmington  Committee  of  Safety,  already  influenced  by 
the  deep  anger  of  the  people  against  Captain  Collett,  whose 
conduct  even  Governor  Martin  considered  indefensible,  had,  in 
the  meantime,  decided  upon  the  capture  of  the  fort,  and  on 
July  18,  the  Governor  received  from  John  Ashe  a  notice, 
signed  "The  People,"  which  announced  the  intention  of  the 
comnuttee  to  take  possession.  That  night  he  took  refuge  on 
the  Cruizer,  and  the  patriots,  occupying  the  fort,  set  fire  to  the 
buildings,  and  the  next  day  what  remained  of  them  was  de- 
stroyed. With  this  departure  of  Martin,  royal  government  in 
North  Carolina  ceased.  One  of  the  purest  and  most  gifted 
sons  of  the  Cape  Fear  has  said  of  this : 

"Thus  nobly  upon  the  Cape  Fear  closed  the  first  act  of  the 
drama.  And  when  the  curtain  rose  again  George  by  the  grace 
of  God,  King,  was  King  no  longer ;  but  the  Constitution  reigned, 
and  the  free  people  of  North  Carolina  governed  themselves." 

After  the  capture  of  the  fort,  it  was  occupied  by  patriot  troops 
under  Robert  Howe.  Later  in  the  war,  five  British  regiments 
encamped  on  the  site,  but  it  played  no  important  part  during 
the  Revolution,  and  the  remainder  of  its  history  can  be  briefly 
told.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  the  only  people  living  near 
the  fort  were  a  few  pilots.  The  healthf ulness  of  the  situation, 
however,  interested  a  number  of  residents  of  Wilmington,  and 
steps  were  taken  for  laying  off  a  town.  One,  situated  on  the 
lands  of  Maj.  John  Walker,  was  incorporated,  but  disappeared 
simultaneously  with  its  incorporation.  But  in  1792,  an  act  of 
the  Assembly  set  up  the  town  of  Smithville,  naming  it  in  honor 


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Permanent  Settlement  65 

of  that  patriot  and  philanthropist,  Benjamin  Smith,  who  after- 
wards became  governor  of  North  Carolina.  And  Smithville  it 
remained,  a  good  North  Carolina  name,  preserving  in  onr 
nomenclature  the  memory  of  that  public  benefactor,  until  a  few 
years  since,  when  this  monument  of  the  past  was  destroyed  and 
the  name  of  Southport  substituted.  I  trust  that  I  may  live  to 
see  the  day  when  Smithville  shall  be  restored  to  North  Carolina. 

The  site  of  the  fort  remained  the  property  of  North  Carolina 
until  1794,  when  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  on  condition 
that  a  fort  should  be  erected  there.  The  condition  was  not  ful- 
filled until  1809.  Then  the  Legislature  receded  the  site  to  the 
United  States. 

In  1825  the  construction  of  Fort  Caswell  was  begun,  and 
after  its  completion  Fort  Johnston  was  of  less  importance.  In 
1836  the  garrison  was  withdrawn. 

Its  importance  during  the  War  between  the  States  was  ob- 
scured by  the  glory  of  its  neighbor,  Fort  Fisher,  and  since  the 
war  Fort  Johnston  has  been  entirely  abandoned  for  Fort  Cas- 
well. 

It  remains,  then,  a  relic  of  the  past.  It  was  the  scene  of  a 
calm  and  brave  defiance,  flung  in  the  teeth  of  England's  power, 
and  it  is  well  to  mark  the  spot  and  at  the  same  time  to  dedicate 
here  a  monument  which  shall  forever  commemorate  the  valor 
and  patriotism  of  the  men  of  the  Cape  Fear. 


COLONIAL  PLANTATIONS  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAE. 

In  his  admirable  History  of  New  Hanover  County,  a  labor 
of  love  for  which  the  accomplished  author  never  received  the 
smallest  compensation,  the  late  Col.  Alfred  Moore  Waddell 
describes  sixty-six  prominent  plantations  and  their  proprietors 
on  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  in  colonial  times.  Of  the  manner  of  life 
of  these  planters,  he  says  in  A  Colonial  Officer  and  His  Times: 

"In  the  southern  end  of  the  province,  at  Brimswick  and 
Wilmington,  and  along  the  Cape  Fear,  there  were  an  equally 
refined  and  cultivated  society  and  some  very  remarkable  men. 
No  better  society  existed  in  America,  and  it  is  but  simple  truth 
to  say  that  for  classical  learning,  wit,  oratory,  and  varied  accom- 
plishments, no  generation  of  their  successors  has  equaled  them. 

"Their  hospitality  was  boundless  and  proverbial,  and  of  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  enjoyed  there  can  be  no  coimterpart  in 


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56  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  present  age.  Some  of  them  had  town  residences,  but  most 
of  them  lived  on  their  plantations,  and  they  were  not  the  thrift- 
less characters  that  by  some  means  it  became  fashionable  to 
assimie  all  Southern  planters  were.  There  was  much  gaiety  and 
festivity  among  them,  and  some  of  them  rode  hard  to  hounds, 
but  as  a  general  rule  they  looked  after  their  estates,  and  kept 
themselves  as  well  informed  in  regard  to  what  was  going  on 
in  the  world  as  the  limited  means  of  commimication  allowed. 
There  was  little  display,  but  in  almost  every  house  could  be 
foimd  valuable  plate,  and,  in  some,  excellent  libraries.  The 
usual  mode  of  travel  was  on  horseback,  and  in  ^gigs,'  or  'chairs,' 
which  were  vehicles  without  springs  but  hung  on  heavy  straps, 
and  to  which  one  horse,  and  sometimes  by  young  beaux,  two 
horses,  tandem,  were  driven;  a  mounted  servant  rode  behind, 
or,  if  the  gig  was  occupied  by  ladies,  beside  the  horse.  The 
family  coach  was  moimted  by  three  steps,  and  had  great  carved 
leather  springs,  with  baggage  rack  behind,  and  a  high,  narrow 
driver's  seat  and  box  in  front.  The  gentlemen  wore  clubbed 
and  powdered  queues  and  knee-breeches,  with  buckled  low- 
quartered  shoes,  and  many  carried  gold  or  silver  snuffboxes 
which,  being  first  tapped,  were  handed  with  grave  courtesy  to 
their  acquaintances  when  passing  the  compliments  of  the  day. 
There  are  persons  still  living  who  remember  seeing  these  things 
in  their  early  youth.  The  writer  of  these  lines  himself  remem- 
bers seeing  in  his  childhood  the  decaying  remains  of  old  'chairs,' 
and  family  coaches,  and  knew  at  that  time  several  old  negroes 
who  had  been  body  servants  in  their  youth  to  the  proprietors  of 
these  ancient  vehicles.  It  is  no  wonder  they  sometimes  drove 
the  coaches  four-in-hand.  It  was  not  only  grand  style,  but  the 
weight  of  the  vehicle  and  the  character  of  the  roads  made  it 
necessary. 

"During  the  period  embraced  in  these  pages,  four-wheeled 
pleasure  vehicles  were  rare,  and  even  two-wheeled  ones  were  not 
common,  except  among  the  town  nabobs  and  well-to-do  planters. 
The  coaches,  or  chariots,  as  a  certain  class  of  vehicles  was  called, 
were  all  imported  from  England,  and  the  possession  of  such  a 
means  of  locomotion  was  evidence  of  high  social  position.  It 
was  less  than  twenty  years  before  the  period  named,  that  the 
first  stage  wagon  in  the  colonies,  in  1738,  was  run  from  Trenton 
to  New  Bnmswick,  in  New  Jersey,  twice  a  week,  and  the  ad- 
vertisement of  it  assured  the  public  that  it  would  be  fitted  up 
with  benches  and  covered  over  'so  that  passengers  may  sit  easy 
and  dry.' " 


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Permanent  Settlement  57 

Some  of  the  prominent  Lower  Cape  Fear  men  of  colonial  and 
Kevolutionary  days  were,  Governor  Burrington,  of  Governor's 
Point;  Gen.  Robert  Howe,  of  Howe's  Point;  Nathaniel  Moore, 
of  York ;  Gov.  Arthur  Dobbs,  of  Russellboro — all  below  Orton. 
"King''  Eoger  Moore,  of  Orton;  James  Smith,  of  Kendal; 
Eleazar  Allen,  of  Lilliput;  John  Moore,  of  Pleasant  Oaks; 
Nathaniel  Rice,  of  Old  Town  Creek;  John  Baptista  Ashe,  of 
Spring  Garden,  afterwards  called  Grovely ;  Chief  Justice  HaseU, 
of  Belgrange ;  Schencking  Moore,  of  Hullfields ;  John  Davis,  of 
Davis  Plantation;  John  Dalrymple  (who  commanded  Fort 
Johnston),  of  Dalrymple  Place;  John  Ancrum,  of  Old  Town; 
Marsden  Campbell,  of  Clarendon;  Richard  Eagles,  of  The 
Forks ;  Judge  Alfred  Moore,  of  Buchoi ;  John  Waddell,  of  Bel- 
ville;  Gov.  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Belvidere.  These  were  aU 
below  Wilmington.  Many  others  equally  important  resided 
on  their  plantations  above  Wilmington.  All  are  recorded  in 
Colonel  Waddell's  History  of  New  Hanover  County,  but  these 
are  mentioned  here  in  support  of  the  statement  that  the  Cape 
Fear  planters  of  olden  time  were  men  of  mark. 


COLONIAL  ORTON. 

Many  of  the  old  homesteads  described  by  Colonel  Waddell 
have  fallen  into  decay  and  some  of  the  residences  have  entirely 
disappeared,  but  Orton,  on  the  lower  Cape  Fear  River,  still 
stands  as  it  did  in  colonial  days,  when  it  was  the  home  of 
"King"  Roger  Moore,  of  Gov.  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Richard 
Quince,  and  in  later  years  of  Dr.  Fred  J.  Hill  and  Col.  Ken- 
neth McKenzie  Murchison. 

It  is  a  majestic  domain  of  more  than  ten  thousand  acres,  and 
the  house  is  still  regarded  by  competent  critics  as  one  of  the 
finest  examples  of  pure  colonial  architecture  in  America. 

The  lordly  residence  of  Chief  Justice  Eleazar  Allen,  upon 
the  adjacent  plantation  of  Lilliput,  which  was  distinguished  in 
his  day  for  a  large  and  liberal  hospitality,  has  long  since  dis- 
appeared, but  the  grand  old  oaks  which  lifted  their  majestic 
branches  to  the  soft  south  breezes  in  colonial  times  still  sing 
their  murmured  requiem  above  a  ^Tboimdless  contiguity  of 
shade." 

Here,  upon  the  banks  of  our  historic  river,  which  stretches 
two  miles  to  the  eastern  shore,  is  heard  the  booming  of  the  broad 
Atlantic  as  it  sweeps  in  its  might  and  majesty  from  Greenland 


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58  Chronicles  of  the  Gape  Fear  River 

to  the  Gulf.  Along  the  shining  beach,  from  Fort  Fisher  to  Fort 
Caswell,  its  foaming  breakers  run  and  roar,  the  racing  steeds  of 
Neptune,  with  their  white-crested  manes,  charging  and  reform- 
ing for  the  never-ending  fray. 

The  adjacent  plantation  of  Kendal,  originally  owned  by 
"King''  Roger  Moore,  from  whom  it  passed  to  his  descendants, 
was  later  the  property  of  James  Smith,  a  brother  of  Gov.  Benja- 
min Smith,  and  it  was  here,  near  the  banks  of  Orton  Creek, 
which  divides  this  estate  from  the  splendid  domain  of  Orton, 
that  the  quarrel  between  the  Smith  brothers  ended  by  the  de- 
parture of  James  to  South  Carolina  (where,  in  1834,  his  six 
sons  assumed  their  grandmother's  name,  Rhett,  and  became  the 
founders  of  the  famous  Rhett  family),  leaving  his  intolerant 
and  choleric  brother,  Benjamin,  to  a  succession  of  misfortimes, 
disappointments,  and  distresses,  which  brought  him  at  last  to  a 
pauper's  grave. 

Behind  Kendal  is  McKenzie's  milldam,  the  scene  of  a  battle 
between  the  British  troops  and  the  minute  men  from  Brunswick 
and  Wilmington,  when,  in  1775,  the  British  fleet  lay  in  the 
river. 

We  linger  at  Orton,  the  most  attractive  of  all  the  old  colonial 
estates  on  the  Cape  Fear.  For  a  hundred  and  eighty-nine  years 
it  has  survived  the  vicissitudes  of  war,  pestilence,  and  famine, 
and  it  still  maintains  its  reputation  of  colonial  days  for  a  refined 
and  generous  hospitality.  Here,  in  the  exhilaration  of  the 
hunter,  the  restful  seclusion  of  the  angler,  the  quiet  quest  of  the 
naturalist,  the  peaceful  contemplation  of  the  student,  is  found 
surcease  from  the  vanities  and  vexations  of  urban  life.  For 
nearly  two  centuries  it  has  been  a  haven  of  rest  and  recreation 
to  its  favored  guests. 

"Here,  like  the  hush  of  evening  calm  on  hearts  opprest. 
In  silence  falls  the  healing  balm  of  quiet  rest, 

And  softly  from  the  shadows  deep 

The  grand  oaks  sing  the  soul  to  sleep 
On  Nature's  breast." 

The  house,  or  Hall,  built  by  "King"  Roger  Moore  in  1725, 
with  its  stately  white  pillars  gleaming  in  the  sunshine  through 
the  surrounding  forest,  is  a  most  pleasing  vista  to  the  passing 
mariner.  The  river  view,  stretching  for  ten  miles  southward 
and  eastward,  includes  ^TBig  Sugar  Loaf,"  Fort  Anderson,  Fort 
Buchanan,  and  Fort  Fisher. 

We  love  its  traditions  and  its  memories,  for  no  sorrow  came 


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Permanent  Settlement  59 

to  us  there.  The  primeval  forest  with  its  dense  undergrowth  of 
dogwood  blossoms,  which  shine  with  the  brightness  of  the  falling 
snow;  the  thickets  of  Cherokee  roses,  which  surpass  the  most 
beautiful  of  other  regions ;  the  brilliant  carpet  of  wild  azaleas, 
the  golden  splendor  of  the  yellow  jessamine,  the  modest  Drosera, 
the  marvelous  Dionwa  mvscipula,  and  the  trumpet  Sarracenia; 
the  river  drive  to  the  white  beach,  from  which  are  seen  the  dis- 
tant breakers ;  the  secluded  spot  in  the  wilderness  conmianding 
a  wide  view  of  an  exquisite  landscape,  where,  safe  from  intru- 
sion, we  sat  upon  a  sheltered  seat  beneath  the  giant  pines  and 
heard  the  faint  " Yo  ho"  of  the  sailor,  outward  bound ;  a  place 
apart  for  holy  contemplation  when  the  day  is  far  spent,  where 
the  overhanging  branches  cast  the  shadow  of  a  cross,  and  where, 
later,  throu^  the  interlacing  foliage,  the  star  of  hope  is  shining; 
the  joyful  reception  at  the  big  house,  the  spacious  hall  with  its 
ample  hearth  and  blazing  oak  logs ;  around  it,  after  the  bounti- 
ful evening  meal,  the  old  songs  sung  and  the  old  tales  told,  and 
fun  and  frolic  to  keep  duU  care  beyond  the  threshold. 

Through  the  quiet  lanes  of  Orton  to  the  ruins  of  Governor 
Tryon's  palace  is  half  a  mile.  Here  is  the  cradle  of  American 
independence;  for  upon  this  spot,  until  recently  hidden  by  a 
dense  undergrowth  of  timber,  occurred,  between  six  and  seven 
o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  19th  of  February,  1766,  the  first 
open  resistance  to  the  British  Stamp  Act  in  the  American  colo- 
nies, by  450  armed  men,  who  surrounded  the  palace  and  de- 
manded the  surrender  of  the  custodian  of  the  obnoxious  symbols 
of  the  King's  authority. 

Ten  minutes'  walk  farther  down  brings  us  to  the  ruins  of  the 
colonial  church  of  St.  Philip,  the  scene  of  many  notable  inci- 
dents and  the  resting  place  of  early  pioneers.  It  was  built 
by  the  citizens  of  Brunswick,  and,  principally,  by  the  landed 
gentry,  about  1740.  In  1751,  Mr.  Lewis  Henry  DeEosset,  a 
member  of  Gov.  Gabriel  Johnston's  council,  and  subsequently 
an  expatriated  Royalist,  introduced  a  bill  appropriating  to  St. 
Philip's  Church  at  Brunswick  and  to  St.  James's  Church  at 
Wilmington,  equally,  a  fund  that  was  realized  by  the  capture 
and  destructicm  of  a  pirate  vessel,  which,  in  a  squadron  of 
Spanish  buccaneers,  had  entered  the  river  and  plimdered  the 
plantations. 

The  walls  of  St.  Philip's  Church  are  nearly  three  feet  thick, 
and  are  solid  and  almost  intact  still,  while  the  roof  and  floor 
have  disappeared.     It  must  have  possessed  much  architectural 


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60  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

beauty  and  massive  grandeur,  with  its  high-pitched  roof,  its 
lofty  doors,  and  its  beautiful  chancel  windows. 

A  little  to  the  west,  surrounded  by  a  forest  of  pines,  lies 
Liberty  Pond,  a  beautiful  lake  of  clear  spring  water,  once 
stained  with  the  blood  of  friend  and  foe  in  a  deadly  conflict — 
hence  its  traditional  name.  It  is  now  a  most  restful,  tranquil 
spot,  with  its  profound  stillness,  the  beach  of  snow  white  sand, 
the  unbroken  surface  of  the  lake  reflecting  the  foliage  and  the 
changing  sky-line. 

Turning  to  the  southeast,  we  leave  the  woodland  and  reach  a 
bluff  upon  the  river  bank,  still  known  as  Howe's  Point,  where 
the  Revolutionary  patriot  and  soldier.  Gen.  Eobert  Howe,  was 
bom  and  reared.  His  residence,  long  since  a  ruin,  was  a  large 
frame  building  on  a  stone  or  brick  foundation,  still  remembered 
as  such  by  several  aged  citizens  of  Brunswick. 

A  short  distance  from  the  Howe  place,  the  writer  found  some 
years  ago,  in  the  woods  and  upon  a  commanding  site  near  the 
river,  under  many  layers  of  pine  straw,  the  clearly  defined  ruins 
of  an  ancient  fort,  which  was  undoubtedly  of  colonial  origin. 
Mr.  Reynolds,  who  lived  at  his  place  near  by,  said  that  his  great 
grandfather  informed  him  forty  years  ago  that  long  before  the 
War  of  the  Revolution  this  fort  was  erected  by  the  colonial  gov- 
ernment for  the  protection  of  the  colonists  against  buccaneers. 

Hence  to  the  staid  old  county  seat  is  a  journey  of  an  hour ;  it 
was  originally  known  as  Fort  Johnston.  The  adjacent  hamlet 
was  subsequently  called  Smithville.  In  the  old  courthouse, 
which  is  its  principal  building,  may  be  seen  the  evidence  that 
on  the  death,  January  17,  1749,  of  Mr.  Allen,  aged  57  years, 
the  plantation  Lilliput,  where  he  was  buried,  became  the  prop- 
erty (and,  it  is  said,  the  residence  for  a  brief  period)  of  the 
great  grandson  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  Sir  Thomas  Frankland, 
commanding  the  frigate  Rose,  who  was  subsequently  Admiral 
of  the  White  in  the  British  Navy. 

In  connection  with  the  inscription  on  Chief  Justice  Allen's 
tomb — that  he  died  in  January,  1749 — it  is  to  be  noted  that  in 
December,  1749,  he  was  acting  as  chief  justice.  At  that  period 
the  calendar  year  began  and  ended  in  March,  so  that  January, 
1749,  followed  December  of  that  year.  The  alteration  in  the 
calendar  was  made  by  act  of  Parliament  in  1751. 


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ORTON. 

A  stately  mansion  girt  by  God's  great  woods, 

Each  clod  of  earth  a  friend  to  me  and  mine. 

Each  room  a  home  within  the  one  vast  home, 

Where  naught  of  all  its  perfect  pomp 

Can  mar  the  sweet  simplicity  and  ease  of  entertainment. 

There  dwells  the  warmth  of  generous  hospitality 

That  counts  no  act  a  favor  and  no  gift  a  sacrifice. 

There  sordid  things  and  anxious  cares  come  not 

No  strangers'  words  or  presence  there  intrude. 

There  love  of  life — clean,  wholesome,  healthful  life — prevails. 

And  there  the  peace  of  God  pervades 

Each  hour  of  perfect  day  and  night. 

One  day  within  its  woods. 

One  night  beneath  its  roof, 

To  tired  body  gives  a  newborn  vigor, 

To  wearied  mind  a  keen  creative  power, 

To  the  soul  a  sense  of  clean,  sweet  peace. 

And  to  the  hour  of  regretful  leaving 

A  loving  and  lasting  benediction. 

Rev.  Richard  W.  Hogue, 


CRANE  NECK  HERON  COLONY  ON  ORTON 

PLANTATION. 

By  Rosa  Pendleton  Chiles. 

Stretching  for  miles  through  the  vast  domain  of  Orton  Planta- 
tion is  a  great  pond,  and  in  an  elected  spot  above  its  still  waters 
nests  the  only  colony  of  egrets  remaining  in  North  Carolina 
today. 

For  centuries  the  heron  has  made  its  home  in  the  primeval 
solitude  of  saltmarsh,  untrodden  swamp,  or  silent  waters  of 
some  hidden  pond,  where  the  cypress  springs  like  a  sentinel 
from  the  deep  and  spreads  its  limbs  for  nesting  ground.  Bold 
must  be  the  hunter,  though  tempted  by  the  glimmer  of  gold,  who, 
braving  mosquitoes  and  reptiles,  threads  his  way  over  the  track- 
less morass,  paddles  his  boat  along  the  tortuous  meanderings  of 
the  smaller  water  courses,  or  plunges  through  the  dense  growth 
fringing  their  banks,  following  the  heron  to  its  nest  in  pine  or 
cypress.  Yet  we  know  only  too  well  some  who  are  fearless 
enough  to  make  the  effort,  and  the  story  of  their  success  is  writ- 
ten in  the  tragedy  of  millions  of  bird  lives  and  the  deeper 
tragedy  of  some  human  lives.  Notwithstanding  the  caution  of 
this  noble  bird  in  seeking  a  home  in  the  well-nigh  impenetrable 


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62  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

waste  of  marsh  or  cypress-grown  water,  it  has  escaped  extermi- 
nation only  through  the  aid  of  its  himian  friends. 

There  are  twenty  heron  colonies  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  but 
only  three  are  protected  by  individuals;  the  rest  are  cared  for 
by  the  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies.  One  of  these 
is  the  Crane  Neck  colony,  belonging  to  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  the 
present  owner  of  Orton  Plantation,  and  wholly  preserved  by 
him.  He  who  notes  the  sparrow's  fall  put  into  the  heart  of 
Mr.  Sprunt  a  great  love  for  wild  creatures,  and  it  is  a  joy  and 
satisfaction  to  him  to  afford  the  heron  wise  enough  to  seek 
refuge  at  Crane  Neck  complete  protection  from  the  mercenary 
and  merciless  plume-hunter.  Here  the  snowy  egret,  American 
egret,  great  blue,  little  blue,  black-crowned  night,  Louisiana, 
and  green  herons  nest  and  chatter  of  the  brooding  time  in  as 
great  security  as  others  of  their  kind,  peopling,  perchance,  the 
same  pond,  and  mingling  their  familiar  "quock,  quock"  with 
the  rippling  waters  as  the  first  ship  sailed  up  the  Cape  Fear, 
enjoyed  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  No  doubt 
the  adventurous  explorers,  Hilton,  Fabian,  and  Long,  witnessed, 
as  those  fortunate  enough  today  may  witness,  the  heron  flight 
high  in  the  rare  air  of  the  purpling  dawn,  woven  into  its  ravish- 
ing cloud-films  and  vanishing  with  them. 

"They  near,  they  pass,  set  sharp  against  the  sky; 

Grotesques  some  Orient  artist  might  have  drawn 

Blue  on  a  golden  dawn; 
They  pass,  are  gone  like  leaves  blown  cloud-high, — 
And  oh,  my  heart  is  mad  to  follow  where  they  fly! " 

Such  may  have  been  the  sentiment  of  the  early  adventurous 
spirit,  dreaming  of  conquest;  such  seems  now  the  sentiment  of 
certain  heirs  of  that  conquest,  dreaming  of  greed.  But  the 
heron  of  Crane  Neck  flies  in  peace. 

This  colony  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  ornithological 
world  in  1898  by  Mr.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson,  secretary  of  the 
National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies,  himself  a  North 
Carolinian,  and  the  association,  of  which  Mr.  Sprunt  is  a  mem- 
ber, feels  unusual  satisfaction  in  the  preservation  by  its  owner 
of  this  single  egret  colony  in  the  State.  According  to  the  report 
of  Mr.  Pearson  at  this  time,  "the  colony  contains  probably  800 
pairs  of  little  blue  herons,  about  the  same  number  of  Louisiana 
herons,  125  pairs  of  great  blue  herons,  40  pairs  of  American 
egrets,  25  pairs  of  snowy  egrets,  and  probably  20  pairs  of  black- 


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Permanent  Settlement  63 

crowned  night  herons,  also  a  few  green  herons,  and  now  and 
then  a  few  anhingas." 

The  curator  of  the  State  Museum,  Mr.  H.  H.  Brimley,  visited 
the  colony  in  1913,  and  reported  a  somewhat  smaller  number 
than  Mr.  Pearson  now  estimates,  but  both  have  stated  that  the 
colony  holds  its  own.  Mr.  Brimley  makes  the  encouraging  state- 
ment that  "the  American  egrets  have  increased  in  number  dur- 
ing the  past  few  years,  and  that  the  snowy  egrets  have  at  least 
held  their  own,"  and  adds,  "No  evidence  of  any  kind  was  noted 
of  the  plume  herons  having  been  ^shot  up.'  "  Concluding,  Mr. 
Brimley  says :  "The  pride  taken  in  this  interesting  heron  colony 
by  its  owner,  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  of  Wilmington,  and  his  inter- 
est in  the  conservation  of  all  wild  life,  is  responsible  for  its 
immunity  from  being  'shot  up.'  It  is  widely  known,  locally, 
and  the  means  of  reaching  it  are  known  even  to  some  of  the  old- 
time  plume-hunters,  and  to  the  efForts  of  Mr.  Sprunt  in  pre- 
serving these  birds  all  praise  is  due."  The  feeling  expressed 
by  Mr.  Brimley  is  the  feeling  entertained  by  all  bird-lovers,  who 
rejoice  that  the  heron  has  this  safe  retreat. 


PLANTATIONS  ON  THE  NOETHEAST  EIVER. 

By  Db.  John  Hampden  Hill. 

About  forty-one  years  ago  Dr.  John  Hampden  Hill,i  a  promi- 
nent Cape  Fear  planter  of  Lllliput,  a  gentleman  of  culture  and 
refinement,  generally  respected  and  admired,  wrote  some  inter- 
esting reminiscences  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear,  and  for  personal 
reasons  instructed  his  friend,  Mr.  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  to  reserve 
them  from  publication  until  after  the  author's  death.  Upon  my 
earnest  solicitation,  however,  he  permitted  me  to  copy  these 
papers  in  the  year  1892  and  to  use  them  in  a  series  of  news- 
paper articles  entitled  A  ColonUa  Plantation,  I  reproduce  them 
here  as  worthy  of  more  permanent  record. 

After  this  section  began  to  be  visited,  and  settlements  made 
by  emigrants  from  Europe  and  from  the  other  provinces, 
amongst  the  earliest  places  that  attracted  attention  was  Stag 
Park.  It  was  first  located  and  patented  by  George  Burrington, 
then  governor  of  the  province  of  North  Carolina.  This  Gov- 
ernor Burrington  was  a  very  worthless  and  profligate  character, 
so  much  so,  that  on  one  occasion  being  at  Edenton,  he  was  pre- 

iDr.  Hill  was  born  April  28,  1807,  at  Hjrrneham,  and  died  February 
19, 1893,  at  Goldsboro,  full  of  years  and  the  consolations  of  an  honorable 
Christian  life. 


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64  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

sented  by  the  grand  jury  of  Chowan  County  for  riotous  and  dis- 
orderly conduct  on  the  streets,  with  a  party  of  rowdy  compan- 
ions. Of  such  material  as  this  did  our  English  rulers  make 
governors  for  the  guardianship  of  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  their 
loyal  subjects  in  these  provinces. 

Burrington  returned  to  England,  and  there  contracted  a  debt 
to  a  Mr.  Strudwick,  for  which  he  mortgaged  the  Stag  Park 
estate  of  ten  thousand  acres,  and  a  large  body  of  land  which  he 
owned  in  what  was  known  as  The  Hawfields,  in  Orange  County. 
Mr.  Strudwick  sent  his  son,  Edmimd,  to  look  after  his  property, 
thus  acquired  in  this  country. 

The  tradition  was  that  this  gentleman  had  fallen  into  dis- 
favor with  his  friends  on  accoimt  of  having  married  an  actress 
in  the  city  of  London,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  coming  to  set- 
tle in  America.  His  residence  was  divided  between  Stag  Park 
and  The  Hawfields.  He  left  a  son  whom  the  writer  has  only 
heard  mentioned  as  Major  Strudwick  and  as  quite  an  influential 
citizen  of  Orange  County,  where  he  chiefly  resided.  He  married 
a  Miss  Shepperd,  of  Orange,  by  which  marriage  there  were 
several  sons  and  daughters,  of  whom  the  late  Mr.  Samuel  Strud- 
wick, of  Alabama,  was  the  eldest.  This  gentleman  was  a  suc- 
cessful planter  and  acquired  a  large  estate.  He  was  of  high 
intelligence,  and  remarkable  for  his  fine  conversational  talent. 

Dr.  Edmund  Strudwick,  of  HiUsboro,  is  well  known  as  one 
of  the  ablest  physicians  of  the  State,  and  is  especially  eminent 
as  a  surgeon.  Betsy,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  Mr.  Paoli 
Ashe,  and  was  the  mother  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  S.  Ashe,  one  of 
the  associate  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  North  Carolina, 
and  a  gentleman  distinguished  alike  for  professional  ability  and 
great  worth  and  purity  of  character. 

Stag  Park  was  sold  about  the  year  1817  for  division  among 
the  heirs,  and  was  purchased  by  Ezekiel  Lane,  Esq.,  for  $10,000. 
This  gentleman  we  will  have  occasion  to  mention  further  on. 

The  next  place,  descending  the  Northeast,  is  The  Neck,  the 
residence  of  Gov.  Samuel  Ashe,  who,  together  with  his  brother. 
Gen.  John  Ashe,  was  amongst  the  most  prominent  and  influen- 
tial characters  in  the  Cape  Fear  region,  both  before  and  after 
the  Revolutionary  War.  Gt)vernor  Ashe  held  with  distinction 
the  office  of  judge  up  to  the  time  he  was  elected  governor.  His 
eldest  son,  John  Baptista  Ashe,  was  also  elected  governor,  but 
died  before  he  could  be  inducted  into  office.  There  were  two 
other  sons  of  Governor  Ashe,  Samuel  and  Thomas.    The  latter 


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Permanent  Settlement  65 

was  the  grandfather  of  the  present  Judge  Ashe,  already  spoken 
of,  and  the  former  will  be  mentioned  further  on.  There  was 
still  another  son  named  Cincinnatus,  who,  with  some  other 
youths  of  the  Cape  Fear  gentry,  volunteered  as  midshipman  on 
board  a  privateer,  fitted  out  at  Wilmington,  and  commanded  by 
a  Captain  Allen,  an  Englishman.  The  vessel  went  to  sea,  and 
was  supposed  to  have  been  sunk  by  a  British  ship,  or  foundered 
in  some  other  way,  as  she  was  never  more  heard  of.  The  writer 
remembers  when  he  was  a  child  an  old  lady,  a  Mrs.  Allen,  en- 
tirely blind,  the  widow  of  the  English  captain,  who  lived  with 
the  families  of  the  Northeast,  first  one  and  then  another,  with 
whom  she  was  always  a  welcome  guest,  and  treated  with  much 
respect  and  consideration. 

Below  The  Neck,  and  within  the  precinct  known  as  Rocky 
Point,  was  Green  Hill,  the  residence  of  Gen,  John  Ashe.  This 
gentleman  did  more,  probably,  than  any  other  man  in  the  prov- 
ince towards  arousing  the  spirit  of  resistance  against  what  was 
called  British  oppression.  He  was  the  prime  mover  and  leader 
of  the  party  which  resisted  the  Gt)vemor  in  his  attempt  to 
enforce  the  Stamp  Act.  And  when  the  War  of  the  Revolution 
did  break  out,  he  raised  a  regiment  at  his  own  expense,  so 
ardently  were  his  feelings  enlisted  in  the  cause. 

The  history  of  General  Ashe's  services  is,  or  ought  to  be, 
known  to  the  people  of  the  Cape  Fear.  But  it  may  not  be 
known  that  he  died  in  obscurity,  and  the  place  of  his  interment 
can  not  be  pointed  out.  The  story  is  that  on  a  visit  to  his 
family  at  Green  Hill  when  in  feeble  health,  he  was  betrayed  by 
a  faithless  servant  to  a  party  of  soldiers,  sent  out  from  the  garri- 
son at  Wilmington  for  his  capture.  Taken  to  Wilmington,  he 
was  confined  in  Craig's  %ull-pen,"  as  it  was  called.  Here  his 
health  became  so  feeble  that  he  was  released  on  parole,  and  at- 
tempted to  get  to  his  family  at  Hillsboro.  But  he  reached  no 
farther  than  Sampson  Hall,  the  residence  of  Col.  John  Samp- 
son, in  the  county  of  that  name.  Here  he  died  and  was  buried, 
and  there  is  neither  stone  nor  mound  to  mark  the  spot. 

General  Ashe  left  a  son  who  also  served  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution — ^Maj.  Samuel  Ashe.  He  was  an  active  politician 
of  the  Democrat-Republican  party,  and  represented  for  many 
years  the  county  of  New  Hanover  in  the  Legislature.  Of  the 
three  daughters  of  General  Ashe,  one  married  Colonel  Alston, 
of  South  Carolina.  Gov.  Joseph  Alston  of  South  Carolina  was 
her  son.    Another  married  Mr.  Davis ;  and  the  third,  Mr.  Wil- 


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66  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

liam  H,  Hill.  The  last  was  the  mother  of  Mr.  Joseph  Alston 
Hill,  the  most  talented  man  of  the  family,  with  the  most  bril- 
liant promise  of  distinction  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
six.  This  Green  Hill  property  is  now  owned  by  the  estate  of 
the  late  Maj.  John  Walker. 

The  Ashe  family  in  early  times  after  the  Revolution  differed 
in  politics  with  the  generality  of  the  Cape  Fear  gentry.  The 
Governor  and  his  sons,  with  the  exception  of  Col.  Samuel  Ashe, 
were  leaders  of  the  Republican  or  Jeffersonian  faction,  whereas 
the  large  majority  of  the  gentry  and  educated  class  were  Feder- 
alists of  the  Hamilton  school.  After  the  adoption  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  and  a  republican  form  of  government  was  estab- 
lished, there  is  no  doubt  but  that  a  good  deal  of  feeling  and 
prejudice  existed  against  what  was  called  too  much  liberty  and 
equality,  and  the  practice  of  some  of  the  old  Republicans  was 
not  always  consistent  with  their  professed  principles. 

The  next  place  of  note,  and  adjoining  Green  Hill  to  the  north, 
was  Moseley  Hall,  the  residence  of  the  Moseley  family,  one  of 
prominence  in  colonial  times.  One  of  them,  Sampson  Moseley, 
Esq.,  was  a  member  of  the  King^s  council  and  surveyor-general 
of  the  province,  but  the  writer  does  not  know  that  any  of  the 
male  members  of  the  family  survived  the  Revolution,  or  that 
any  of  their  descendants  whatever  are  left.  They  were  nearly 
allied  by  blood  to  the  Lillingtons.  One  of  the  daughters  of  the 
family  married  a  Mr.  Carlton  Walker,  and  left  one  son,  John 
Moseley  Walker,  who  died  soon  after  coming  of  age,  and  the 
estate  passed  to  his  half-brothers  and  sisters.  This  was  a  large 
and  quite  valuable  place  and  was  said  to  have  been  handsomely 
improved,  but  all  that  the  writer  remembers  seeing  were  the 
remains  of  what  were  said  to  have  been  fine  old  avenues. 

Crossing  Clayton  Creek,  we  come  to  the  next  place  below, 
known  in  olden  times  as  Clayton  Hall,  the  residence  of  a  Mr. 
Clayton,  a  Scotch  gentleman,  who  died  leaving  no  descendants, 
though  I  believe  the  Restons  of  Wilmington  were  his  nearest 
kin.  This  property,  which  was  at  one  time  regarded  as  the  best 
plantation  in  New  Hanover  County,  was  purchased  by  Col. 
Samuel  Ashe.  Colonel  Ashe,  when  I  knew  him,  was  about  the 
only  survivor  of  the  olden  times  on  the  Northeast  River.  He 
had  been  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  had  entered  the 
army  when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  old  and  served  through 
the  last  three  years  of  the  war,  was  at  the  siege  of  Charleston, 
and  was  there  made  prisoner.     Colonel  Ashe  was  a  gentleman 


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Permanent  Settlement  67 

of  commanding  appearance,  tall  and  erect,  with  prominent  fea- 
tures, deep-sunken,  but  piercing  eyes,  of  fine  manners  and  bear- 
ing, of  remarkable  colloquial  powers,  and  manner  and  style  of 
narration  most  engaging.  Especially  was  his  fund  of  anecdotes 
and  incidents  relating  to  the  olden  times  most  interesting,  and 
seemed  almost  inexhaustible.  Of  him  Mr.  George  Davis,  in  his 
address  at  Chapel  Hill  in  1855,  spoke  as  follows:  "In  my  early 
youth  I  remember  an  old  man,  bowed  by  age  and  infirmities, 
but  of  noble  front  and  most  commanding  presence.  Old  and 
young  gathered  around  him  in  love  and  veneration  to  listen  to 
his  stories  of  the  olden  times.  And  as  he  spoke  of  his  country's 
trials,  and  of  the  deeds  and  sufferings  of  her  sons,  his  eyes 
flashed  with  the  ardor  of  youth,  and  his  voice  rang  like  the 
battle  charge  of  a  bugle.  He  was  the  soul  of  truth  and  honor, 
with  the  ripe  wisdom  of  a  man  and  the  guileless  simplicity  of 
a  child.  He  won  strangers  to  him  with  a  look,  and  those  who 
knew  him  loved  him  with  a  most  filial  affection.  None  ever 
lived  more  honored  and  revered.  None  ever  died  leaving  a 
purer  or  more  cherished  memory.  This  was  Col.  Samuel  Ashe, 
'the  last  of  all  the  Romans.'  " 

The  old  Clayton  Hall  mansion,  left  for  a  long  time  unten- 
anted, went  to  decay,  and  there  was  nothing  left  of  it  when  the 
writer  can  remember  but  the  foundation.  He  can  remember  an 
old  vault,  which  stood  to  the  north  of  the  creek,  in  which  it  is 
said  the  remains  of  Mr.  Clayton  rested.  After  Colonel  Ashe 
came  in  possession  of  the  place,  he  built  immediately  on  the  bank 
of  the  creek,  so  that  you  could  stand  on  one  end  of  his  piazza 
and  fish.  The  spring  out  of  which  they  got  their  drinking 
water  flowed  from  the  base  of  a  rock,  which  formed  the  bank  of 
the  creek,  and  when  the  tide  was  up,  the  spring  was  overflowed. 

It  was  a  great  treat  to  visit  the  old  colonel  and  hear  him  talk 
of  olden  times.  His  memory  was  remarkable  and  his  style  of 
narration  uncommonly  good. 

He  seemed  familiar  with  the  genealogy  of  every  family  that 
had  ever  lived  on  the  Cape  Fear,  and  their  traditions.  It  is 
much  to  be  regretted  that  some  one  who  had  the  capacity  could 
not  have  chronicled  his  narratives  as  they  were  related  by  him- 
self. 

Colonel  Ashe  removed  from  Eocky  Point  when  he  was  well 
advanced  in  years  to  a  place  which  he  owned  on  the  Cape  Fear, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Fayetteville,  where  he  lived  several 
years.  His  only  male  descendant  of  the  name  in  the  State,  I 
believe,  is  Capt.  Samuel  A.  Ashe,  of  Ealeigh. 


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68  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Colonel  Ashe,  on  his  removal,  sold  the  Clayton  Hall  estate  to 
Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  who  retired  from  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Wilmington  and  made  his  residence  here,  where  he  carried 
on  planting  operations  with  fair  success.  He  abandoned  the  old 
settlement,  and  built  on  what  was  known  as  the  Sand  Ridge, 
and  renamed  the  place,  calling  it  Ashe-Moore,  in  compliment  to 
the  two  families  so  long  known  and  distinguished  in  the  Cape 
Fear  region.  Dr.  McRee  had  acquired  a  higher  reputation  than 
any  other  physician  of  his  day  in  the  Lower  Cape  Fear,  or  even 
in  the  whole  State.  The  writer  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  being 
his  pupil,  and  of  his  long  friendship,  and  to  speak  of  him  in 
such  terms  as  he  esteemed  him,  as  a  noble  gentleman  and  physi- 
cian, might  seem  like  extravagant  eulogy. 

The  next  place  on  the  river  is  The  Vats.  Here  the  river 
changes  its  course,  making  a  sharp,  sudden  bend,  and  a  promi- 
nent point  of  rocks  jutting  into  the  stream  gives  the  name  of 
Rocky  Point  to  all  that  portion  of  country  lying  west,  as  far 
as  the  Wilmington  &  Weldon  Railroad.  This  place  was  first 
located  by  Maj.  Maurice  Moore,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
the  Cape  Fear  section.  It  is  related  that  Major  Moore  and 
Governor  Burrington,  both  of  them  exploring  in  search  of  rich 
lands,  happened  to  reach  this  point  about  the  same  time.  As 
they  stepped  on  shore  from  their  boats,  both  claimed  possession 
by  right  of  prior  location  and  occupation.  But  the  colonel 
stoutly  resisted  His  Excellency's  pretensions,  and  by  dint  of 
strong  will  held  the  property.  The  arbitrary  disposition  exhib- 
ited on  this  occasion  rather  strikingly  illustrates  what  is  said  to 
have  been  characteristic  of  the  Moore  family,  especially  that 
branch  of  it.  The  lands  of  this  place  were  very  rich,  and  it 
continued  in  the  Moore  family  for  several  generations.  It  was 
finally  sold  by  Judge  Alfred  Moore  to  Mr.  Ezekiel  Lane,  a  most 
worthy  gentleman,  who  here  laid  the  foundation  of  quite  a  large 
estate,  acquired  by  farming  alone.  Commencing  with  small 
means,  he  became  the  largest  landowner  in  the  county  of  New 
Hanover,  his  estate  being  mostly  composed  of  those  Rocky 
Point  lands. 

The  next  two  places,  adjoining  and  to  the  south  of  The  Vats, 
were  Spring  Field  and  Strawberry,  owned  by  Mr.  Levin  Lane, 
a  son  of  Mr.  E.  Lane,  a  planter  like  his  father,  and  a  most 
worthy  and  highly  respectable  gentleman.  Mr.  Lane  resided  at 
Strawberry. 

Let  us  return  to  The  Vats  and  cross  the  river  by  the  ferry 


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Permanent  Settlement  69 

there.  Traveling  eastward  by  the  New  Bern  Road  about  four 
miles,  we  come  to  LiUington  Hall,  the  residence  of  Gen.  Alex- 
ander Lillington.^  It  would  seem  like  a  singular  selection  for 
a  gentleman  to  make  for  a  residence,  just  on  the  border  of  the 
Great  Holly  Shelter  pocosin  or  dismal,  and  quite  remote  from 
the  other  gentry  settlements.  But  in  those  days  stock  raising 
was  much  attended  to,  and  here  inunense  tracts  of  unoccupied 
lands  furnished  rich  pasturage  and  fine  range. 

General  Lillington  was  nearly  allied  to  the  Moseleys,  of 
Moseley  Hall,  and  came  to  reside  on  the  Cape  Fear  about  the 
same  time  with  them.  He  was  an  ardent  Whig  and  patriot,  and 
taking  up  arms  early  in  the  Revolution,  he  soon  distinguished 
himself  as  a  bold  and  sagacious  leader.  On  the  attempt  of  the 
Scotch  settlers  about  Cross  Creek  to  move  on  Wilmington  for 
the  purpose  of  cooperating  with  the  British  force  intended  to  in- 
vade and  subjugate  North  Carolina,  General  Lillington  speedily 
organized  the  militia  of  New  Hanover  and  Duplin  Counties 
and  marched  rapidly  in  the  direction  from  which  the  enemy 
approached.  Selecting  a  position  at  Moore's  Creek  where  it  was 
crossed  by  a  ridge,  he  threw  up  intrenchments  and  awaited  the 
approach  of  the  Scots.  On  the  arrival  of  General  Caswell,  the 
superior  in  command,  he  approved  of  Lillington's  plans  and 
arrangements  for  meeting  the  enemy.  The  result  of  the  battle 
which  ensued  is  well  known  to  history,  and  its  success  was,  by 
his  contemporaries,  mainly  attributed  to  Lillington's  prompt 
movement  and  skillful  arrangements. 

The  Lillington  Hall  mansion  was  a  quaint  old  structure  of 
ante-Revolutionary  date,  and  standing  alone ;  there  was  no  house 
that  approached  it  in  size  or  appearance  in  that  wild  region. 
When  the  writer  visited  there  while  a  youth  there  was  quite  a 
library  of  rare  old  English  books  which  would  be  highly  prized 
at  this  day.  At  that  time  it  was  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Black,  a  highly  respectable  and  worthy  gentleman,  who 
had  married  the  widow  of  Mr.  George  Lillington,  the  youngest 
son  of  the  colonel.  This  place,  like  all  the  residences  of  the 
early  gentry,  has  gone  out  of  the  family  and  into  stranger  hands. 

As  there  is  no  other  place  of  note  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
we  will  recross  the  ferry  at  The  Vats,  and  following  the  road 

HJeneral  LlUlngton  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Walters,  one 
of  the  most  esteemed  planters  of  Brunswick.  The  Watters  family  In 
every  generation  has  heen  most  highly  regarded  for  Its  worth  and  ex- 
cellence. Mrs.  Lillington  Is  said  to  have  been  on  the  field  with  her  hus- 
band at  the  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek. 


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70  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

leading  west  to  where  it  crosses  the  main  county  road,  come  to 
Moore  Fields.  This  was  the  residence  of  George  Moore,  Esq., 
one  of  the  most  prominent  gentlemen  of  his  day,  both  before  and 
after  the  Revolution.  I  remember  the  old  mansion  as  it  stood, 
but  much  dilapidated.  Not  a  vestige  of  it  is  left  now.  There 
had  been  raised  near  the  house  two  mounds  for  rabbit-warrens, 
and  near  by  was  a  fishpond.  Mr.  Moore  was  the  father  of  a 
numerous  progeny.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
a  Miss  Mary  Ashe,  a  sister,  I  believe,  of  Governor  Ashe;  the 
second  was  a  Miss  Jones.  There  is  extant  an  old  copy  of  the 
Church  of  England  Prayer-book  in  the  possession  of  one  of  his 
descendants  (Dr.  William  H.  Moore)  in  which  are  recorded  the 
births  and  names  of  his  children  by  thes^  marriages,  and  there 
were  twenty-seven.  From  these  or  the  survivors,  for  many  of 
them  must  have  died  during  infancy,  have  sprimg  many  of  the 
families  of  the  Cape  Fear  region,  some  of  whose  descendants 
are  still  living  there,  among  whom  can  be  mentioned  tjie  Hon. 
George  Davis,  who  has  no  superior,  if  any  equal,  here  or  in  any 
other  part  of  the  State.  Also,  the  Hon.  Thomas  S.  Ashe  is  one 
of  the  lineal  descendants  of  this  old  stock.  There  was  one  of 
the  granddaughters,  Miss  Sallie  Moore,  who  was  reputed  to  be 
the  greatest  beauty  of  her  day.  Her  father,  William  Moore, 
removed  to  the  State  of  Tennessee,  where  she  was  heard  of  still 
living  a  few  years  since. 

George  Moore  of  Moore  Fields,  as  he  was  familiarly  called, 
was  remarkable  for  his  great  energy  and  good  management ;  a 
man  of  considerable  wealth,  owning  many  slaves.  He  had  a 
summer  residence  on  the  soimd,  to  reach  which  he  crossed  the 
Northeast  River  at  The  Vats  ferry;  and  from  a* mile  or  two  to 
the  east  of  it,  he  had  made  a  perfectly  straight  road,  ditched  on 
each  side,  twenty  miles  in  length.  This  road,  though  no  longer 
used,  can  still  be  traced.  It  is  related  that  when  com  was  wanted 
at  the  summer  place,  one  himdred  negro  fellows  would  be 
started,  each  with  a  bushel  bag  on  his  head.  There  is  quite  a 
deep  ditch  leading  from  some  large  bay  swamps  lying  to  the 
west  of  the  county  road.  It  used  to  be  called  the  Devil's  Ditch, 
and  there  was  some  mystery  and  idle  tradition  as  to  why  and 
how  the  ditch  was  cut  there.  It  was  doubtless  made  to  drain 
the  water  from  those  bays,  to  flood  some  lands  cultivated  in  rice 
which  were  too  low  to  be  drained  for  com. 

We  will  now  pass  down  the  old  Swann  Point  Avenue  to  the 
coimty  road,  and,  traveling  west,  soon  reach  and  cross  Turkey 


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TNIS  MA^  IS  IMAOCUHATK  in  SOMC  nca^CCT*.      ^CI.MAM  WAS  ONCK  MIOPOSKO 

ASTNC  NAMK  Of  A   NIW  •OUNTT,  SUT  CVCMTUALLV  WNKN  TMC 

COUNTT  WA»  CNCATKO  IT  WAS  CALkKO  SAMPSON 


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3 


LOWER. CAPE  FEAR  SECTION 

AND 

ADJACENT  COUNTRY 

GIVING  THE  UXATION  OF   SOME  OF  THE 

OLD   PLANTATIONS  AND  NAMES 

OF  THE   PLANTERS 

MADE   IN   1776 

•Y 

HENRY  MOUZON 


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Permanent  Settlement  71 

Creek,  and  come  to  that  famous  old  plantation,  Spring  Garden, 
the  residence  of  Frederick  Jones,  Esq.,  noted  in  his  day  as 
being  the  most  industrious  and  successful  farmer  in  all  the 
coimtry  round.  Mr.  Jones  was  a  Virginian,  induced  to  settle 
on  the  Cape  Fear  by  Mr.  Swann,  whose  niece  he  had  married. 
Besides  the  son,  who  assumed  the  name  of  Swann,  there  were 
five  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Mr,  John  Hill,  of  Fair 
Fields.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  late  Dr.  Frederick  J.  and 
John  Hill.  Another  married  Michael  Sampson,  Esq.,  of  Samp- 
son Hall.  The  remaining  three  daughters  married  three  broth- 
ers, Scotch  gentlemen,  by  the  name  of  Cutlar.  Only  one  of 
these  left  children,  Dr.  Roger  Cutlar,  who  was  the  father  of  the 
late  Dr.  Frederick  J.  Cutlar,  of  Wilmington,  eminent  in  his 
profession  and  beloved  for  his  purity  of  character.  From  this 
good  old  Spring  Garden  stock,  comes  also  the  writer's  best 
esteemed  and  most  worthy  friend,  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  Esq.^ 

We  will  now  retrace  our  steps  across  Turkey  Creek.  Passing 
over  the  river  at  The  Oaks  and  going  through  what  was  called 
L^are's  Neck,  we  come  to  Castle  Haynes.  Legare's,  a  deep 
neck  formed  by  the  river  on  one  side  and  Prince  George's  Creek 
on  the  other,  was  widely  known  as  a  favorite  resort  for  deer  and 
a  famous  himting  ground.  Castle  Haynes  was  the  residence  of 
a  Mr.  Haynes,  of  whose  history  the  writer  has  heard  but  little, 
except  that  he  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Waddell  family,  among 
whom  I  have  heard  related  the  tradition  of  his  sad  death  by 
drowning.  It  is  said  that  he  was  ill  of  a  fever  and,  while  in 
delirium,  he  rose  from  his  bed  and  rushed  to  the  creek,  which 
was  near  by,  plimged  in,  and  was  drowned  before  assistance 
could  reach  him. 

This  Mr.  Haynes  married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Richard  Mars- 
den,  who  prior  to  1736  served  long  as  a  minister  on  the  Cape 
Fear,  and  left  two  daughters:  Margaret,  who  married  Mr. 

iBesides  the  plantations  here  mentioned  in  this  paper,  near  the  lower 
Ferry  were  Mulberry  and  The  Oaks,  the  latter  being  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Swann.  Mulberry  was  the  headquarters  of  General  Lillington  while 
hemming  in  the  British  forces  that  occupied  Wilmington.  And  where 
Uie  railroad  crosses  the  county  road,  one  mile  south  of  Rocky  Point 
station,  was  Hsrrneham,  built  by  Colonel  Hyme,  and  famous  In  the  early 
days  of  the  settlement.  Later,  it  was  the  birthplace  of  Dr.  Hill.  Hyrne- 
ham,  like  The  Oaks,  was  built  of  brick,  the  walls  nearly  three  feet  thick. 
They  were  commodious  and  handsome  residences.  Farther  west  were 
Mt  Gallant,  the  home  of  Col.  John  Pugh  Williams;  Pleasant  Hall,  Wil- 
liam Davis'  residence,  and  Swann  Point,  where  the  old  councilor  John 
Swann  lived.  The  river  was  crossed  by  Heron  Bridge,  and  on  the  south 
side  was  Mt.  Blake,  the  residence  of  the  McKenzles.  Being  occupied 
by  Major  Craig,  it  was  burned  by  General  Lillington  in  1781. 


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72  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

George  Burgwyn,  and  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Col.  Hugh 
Waddell,  from  which  union  sprang  the  Waddell  family,  so  long 
and  honorably  known  on  the  Cape  Fear. 

Turning  east  from  Castle  Haynes  and  crossing  the  county 
road,  we  come  to  The  Hermitage,  the  residence  of  the  Burgwyn 
family.  The  foimder  of  this  family  was  Mr.  John  Burgwyn, 
an  English  gentleman,  in  olden  times  an  opulent  merchant,  who 
carried  on  an  extensive  commerce  between  Wilmington  and 
Bristol  in  England.  He  must  have  had  fine  taste,  as  displayed 
by  the  manner  in  which  the  grounds  around  The  Hermitage 
were  laid  off  and  improved.  Its  fine  avenues  and  handsomely 
arranged  pleasure-groimds  surpassed  everything  in  the  whole 
country  roimd.  Mr.  George  Burgwyn,  who  occupied  The 
Hermitage  after  his  father's  death,  was  also  a  gentleman  of 
good  taste,  and  devoted  much  attention  to  the  decoration  of  the 
place,  keeping  it  in  handsome  condition. 

Mr.  George  Burgwyn  reared  a  numerous  and  highly  respect- 
able family.  His  oldest  son,  Capt.  John  Burgwyn,  of  the  United 
States  Army,  was  killed  in  battle  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  his 
grandson.  Gen.  George  B.  Anderson,  died  of  a  wound  received 
at  the  Battle  of  Antietam. 

We  will  turn  now  westward  and,  crossing  the  county  road  at 
a  short  distance,  come  to  Rocky  Run,  where  lived  Dr.  Nathaniel 
Hill.  In  earlier  times  this  place  was  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Maurice  Jones,  whose  daughter  Dr.  Hill  married.  Of  the  his- 
tory of  this  gentleman,  Mr.  Jones,  the  writer  never  heard  much. 
But  a  tradition  worth  relating  will  illustrate  his  firmness  and 
remarkable  self-possession  and  presence  of  mind.  He  was  a  great 
woodsman,  and  in  the  habit  of  still-hunting.  On  one  occasion 
he  was  creeping  to  shoot  a  deer,  which  was  feeding  at  a  dog- 
wood tree.  When,  feeling  that  something  was  dragging  at  one 
of  his  legs,  he  turned  his  head  and  saw  that  it  was  a  large  rattle- 
snake, which  had  struck  and  fastened  its  fangs  in  the  buck- 
skin leggings  that  all  huntsmen  wore  at  that  day,  he  deliberately 
crawled  on,  dragging  the  snake  as  he  went.  Getting  within 
proper  range,  he  fired  and  killed  the  deer,  then,  turning,  killed 
the  snake. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Hill  was  sent  to  Scotland  when  he  was  quite 
young,  where  he  was  placed  with  an  apothecary.  Having  com- 
pleted a  full  term  at  this  business,  he  entered  the  medical  col- 
lege at  Edinburgh,  where  he  remained  until  he  had  completed 
his  medical  course.    Returning  home  before  he  was  quite  of  age. 


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Permanent  Settlement  73 

he  entered  actively  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Wil- 
mington. Full  of  energy  and  earnestness,  with  remarkable 
sagacity  and  decision,  he  very  soon  acquired  the  confidence  of 
the  community.  His  reputation  was  established  and  not  sur- 
passed in  the  whole  Cape  Fear  region. 

After  a  laborious  and  lucrative  practice  of  twenty-five  years. 
Dr.  Hill  retired  with  an  independent  estate  to  Eocky  Run, 
where  he  had  built  a  comfortable  and  commodious  house.  Here, 
before  the  prime  of  his  life  was  over  and  in  the  full  vigor  of 
manhood,  he  took  up  his  abode  and  for  many  years  dispensed  a 
liberal  hospitality  to  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  relatives. 

On  the  first  day  of  January  of  each  year,  that  being  Dr.  Hill's 
birthday,  a  numerous  party  of  friends  and  relatives  always  as- 
sembled at  Rocky  Run  to  celebrate  the  event  with  feasting  and 
good  cheer.  Then  it  was  that  those  fine  deer  hunts  came  off, 
which  were  so  skillfully  conducted  that  they  were  invariably 
successful.  The  standers  were  judiciously  placed,  and  the 
bringing  down  of  the  game  depended  on  their  skill  as  marks- 
men. In  the  management  of  these  hunts,  the  guests,  whether  old 
or  young,  were  invariably  placed  at  the  best  stands,  the  doctor 
taking  the  chances  as  they  might  arrive  for  himself.  He  always 
carried  a  long  flint-and-steel  single-barrel  silver-mounted  gun, 
and  it  was  not  often  that  he  failed  to  bring  down  the  deer 
coming  fairly  by  him  within  one  himdred  yards.  Many  a  day 
of  sport  has  the  writer  enjoyed  with  this  noble  old  gentleman  at 
his  fine  old  seat.  Most  systematic  and  pimctual  in  his  habits, 
invariably  as  we  rose  from  the  breakfast  table  (8  o'clock  in 
winter)  the  driver  was  waiting  with  horses  and  dogs,  eager  for 
the  drive,  and  as  punctually  we  returned  by  2  o'clock,  the  dinner 
hour,  as  the  family  were  never  kept  waiting. 

The  old  Rocky  Run  mansion  was  destroyed  by  fire  many 
years  since,  and  the  place  has  shared  the  fate  of  all  others  on 
the  Northeast  and  fallen  into  stranger  hands. 

The  next  two  places  below  on  the  river  were  Rose  Hill,  the 
residence  of  the  Quince  family,  and  Rock  Hill,  of  the  Davises, 
two  rather  inconsiderable  and  inferior  rice  plantations.  The 
Quinces  were  among  the  earliest  of  the  gentry  settlers  on  the 
Cape  Fear.  I  have  heard  an  old  story  related  about  a  Mr. 
Parker  Quince,  somewhat  characteristic,  I  presume,  of  himself 
and  his  times.  It  seems  that  he  was  a  merchant  and  quite  a 
trafficker.  In  sending  an  order  for  goods  on  one  occasion  to 
London   (from  whence  most  all  importations  were  made)   a 


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74  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

dozen  cheeses  were  included  and  several  gross  of  black  tacks. 
Instead  of  the  cheeses,  they  sent  a  dozen  English  chaises,  and 
for  the  tacks  there  was  sent  an  immense  number  of  black  jacks, 
as  they  were  called,  a  kind  of  japanned-tin  drinking  mug;  his 
correspondent  apologizing  for  not  completing  the  order  as  to  the 
cups,  as  he  had  bought  up  all  that  could  be  found  in  the  shops 
of  London.  Mr.  Quince  either  spelled  badly  or  wrote  illegibly, 
probably  a  little  of  both. 

There  was  one  of  the  Quinces,  who,  for  some  family  reason 
or  other,  adopted  the  name  of  Hasell — ^William  Soranzo 
Hasell.^  He  was  much  esteemed  and  the  intimate  friend  of 
many  of  the  gentlemen  of  his  day.  When  party  politics  ran 
high  between  the  old  Federalists  and  Republicans  he  edited  a 
paper  called  The  Minerva^  advocating  the  principles  of  the 
Federal  party,  and  was  well  sustained  and  caressed  by  his 
friends.  He  must  have  been  a  man  of  fine  literary  taste,  judg- 
ing from  the  number  of  old  volumes  of  the  best  English  litera- 
ture with  his  name  and  coat  of  arms  inscribed  on  them,  which 
I  have  come  across  in  the  old  libraries. 

Rock  Hill  was  handsomely  located  on  a  bluff  commanding  a 
fine  view  of  the  river.  It  was  in  olden  times  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Jehu  Davis,  and  more  lately  of  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Davis,  his 
son.  The  name  of  Davis,  both  in  early  and  later  times  on  the 
Cape  Fear,  has  always  been  associated  with  all  that  was  highly 
respectable  and  honorable,  and  it  has  been  most  eminently  sus- 
tained in  the  person  of  Hon.  George  Davis,  of  Wilmington,  and 
the  late  Bishop  Davis,  of  South  Carolina. 

Proceeding  farther  down,  but  not  immediately  on  the  river, 
was  once  a  place  known  as  Nesces  Creek,  on  a  creek  of  that 
name,  which  before  the  Revolution  was  the  residence  of  Arthur 
Mabson,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  noted  for  his  great  energy  and  indus- 
try, by  which  he  had  accumulated  a  considerable  estate,  but  he 
died  die  first  year  of  the  war,  at  the  early  age  of  forty.  This 
place  was  long  ago  abandoned,  and  I  do  not  suppose  there  is  a 
vestige  of  its  improvements  left. 

Crossing  Nesces  Creek  and  going  a  mile  or  so  farther  on,  we 
come  to  where  once  stood  Fair  Fields,  also  gone  totally  to  ruin. 
Here  lived  Mr.  John  Hill,  a  gentleman  of  note  in  his  day,  fre- 
quently representing  the  county  in  the  Legislature.  He  had 
been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  entered  the  army  while  quite 

^He  took  the  name  of  his  mother,  who  was  Susannah  HaseU,  a  grand- 
daughter of  Chief  Justice  HaselL 


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young,  and  served  with  General  Greene  in  his  southern  cam- 
paigns. 

Passing  on,  we  come  to  Sans  Souci.  Of  the  early  history  of 
this  place  the  writer  knows  nothing.  For  many  years  past  it 
has  been  the  residence  of  the  late  Mr.  Arthur  J.  Hill. 

Crossing  Smith's  Creek,  we  come  to  Hilton.  This  was  the 
residence  of  Cornelius  Harnett,  Esq.,  and  the  old  mansion  was 
erected  by  him.  It  is  not  surprising  that  this  point  should  have 
attracted  the  admiration  of  those  who  first  selected  it  and  built 
upon  it.  A  fine  bluff,  near  the  junction  of  Smith's  Creek  with 
the  river,  it  has  a  commanding  and  extensive  view  up  and  down 
the  stream.  Although  much  out  of  repair  and  the  grounds 
mutilated  by  the  deep  cut  of  a  railroad  passing  through  them, 
it  is  still  the  most  attractive  spot  near  the  city  of  Wilmington. 

Cornelius  Harnett  was  about  the  most  noted  and  conspicuous 
personage  of  his  day  in  the  whole  Cape  Fear  region.  No  man 
more  entirely  commanded  the  confidence  and  admiration  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lived. 

Either  on  account  of  feeble  health  or  advanced  life,  Mr, 
Harnett  was  not  an  active  participant  as  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution ;  both  heart  and  means  were  nevertheless  en- 
listed in  the  cause,  and  after  Wilmington  was  occupied  by  the 
British,  he  was  wrested  from  a  sick  bed  and  confined  in  their 
prison,  where  he  died  in  consequence  of  their  harsh  and  brutal 
treatment. 

Mr.  Harnett,  I  believe,  left  no  descendants,  and  in  after  times 
Hilton  became  the  property  and  the  residence  of  William  H. 
Hill,  Esq.  This  gentleman  was  said  to  have  possessed  fine 
qualities  of  both  head  and  heart.  Genial  of  temper  and  fond  of 
conviviality,  he  attracted  many  friends  around  him,  and  was 
always  the  life  of  his  company.  He  was  a  leading  spirit  among 
the  gentlemen  of  the  Federal  party,  when  politics  ran  high,  and 
represented  the  Wilmington  district  in  Congress  during  the 
administration  of  the  elder  Adams. 


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SOCIAL  CONDITIONS. 

In  McRee's  valuable  Life  and  Correspondence  of  James  Ire- 
dell, that  gifted  Wilmingtonian  says: 

"Mr.  Hooper  was  nine  year  Mr.  Iredell's  senior,  and  already 
a  man  of  mark  at  the  bar  and  in  the  Assembly.  To  estimate  at 
its  full  value  his  deference  to  Iredell,  these  facts  must  be  borne 
in  mind.  Mr.  Hooper  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  a  graduate 
of  Cambridge,  Mass.  After  studying  law  with  James  Otis,  he 
removed  to  North  Carolina,  in  1764.  He  became  a  citizen  of 
Wilmington.  That  town  and  its  vicinity  was  noted  for  its  un- 
bounded hospitality  and  the  elegance  of  its  society.  Men  of 
rare  talents,  fortune,  and  attainment,  united  to  render  it  the 
home  of  politeness,  and  ease,  and  enjoyment.  Though  the  foot- 
print of  the  Indian  had,  as  yet,  scarcely  been  effaced,  the  higher 
civilization  of  the  Old  World  had  been  transplanted  there,  and 
had  taken  vigorous  root.  There  were  Col.  John  Ashe  (subse- 
quently General  Ashe),  the  great  popular  leader,  whose  address 
was  consummate,  and  whose  quickness  of  apprehension  seemed 
intuition,  the  very  Rupert  of  debate ;  Samuel  Ashe,  of  stalwart 
frame,  endowed  with  practical  good  sense,  a  profound  knowl- 
edge of  hmnan  nature,  and  an  energy  that  eventually  raised  him 
to  the  bench  and  the  post  of  governor;  Harnett,  afterwards 
president  of  the  Provincial  Council,  Vho  could  boast  a  genius 
for  music  and  a  taste  for  letters,'  the  representative  man  of  the 
Cape  Fear ;  Dr.  John  Eustace,  the  correspondent  of  Sterne,  Vho 
united  wit,  and  genius,  and  learning,  and  science' ;  Col.  Thomas 
Boyd  'gifted  with  talents,  and  adorned  with  classical  literature' ; 
Howe  (afterwards  General  Howe),  Vhose  imagination  fasci- 
nated, whose  repartee  overpowered,  and  whose  conversation  was 
enlivened  by  strains  of  exquisite  raillery' ;  Dr.  John  Fergus,  of 
stately  presence,  with  velvet  coat,  cocked  hat,  and  gold-headed 
cane,  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh,  and  an  excellent  Latin  and 
Greek  scholar ;  William  Pennington,  comptroller  of  the  customs 
and  afterwards  master  of  the  ceremonies  at  Bath,  'an  elegant 
writer,  admired  for  his  wit,  and  his  highly  polished  urbanity' ; 
Judge  Maurice  Moore,  of  Versatile  talents,  and  possessed  of 
extensive  information,  as  a  wit,  always  prompt  in  reply ;  as  an 
orator,  always  daring  the  mercy  of  chance' ;  Maclaine,  irascible, 
but  intellectual,  who  trod  the  path  of  honor  early  pari  passu 
with  Iredell,  Hooper,  and  Johnston,  and  'whose  criticisms  on 


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Shakespeare  would,  if  they  were  published,  give  him  fame  and 
rank  in  the  republic  of  letters' ;  William  Hill,  *a  most  sensible, 
polite  gentleman,  and  though  a  Crown  officer,  replete  with  senti- 
ments of  general  liberty,  and  warmly  attached  to  the  cause  of 
American  freedom' ;  Lillington,  destined  soon  at  Moore's  Creek 
to  render  his  name  historic;  James  Moore,  subsequently  ap- 
pointed a  brigadier  general,  whose  promises  of  a  brilliant 
career  were  soon  to  be  terminated  by  a  premature  death ;  Lewis 
Henry  DeRosset,  member  of  the  Council,  a  cultivated  and  ele- 
gant gentleman ;  Adam  Boyd,  editor  of  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury 
(subsequently  chaplain  to  the  Continental  Line),  *who,  without 
pretensions  to  wit  or  humor,  possessed  the  rare  art  of  telling  a 
story  with  spirit  and  grace,  and  whose  elegiac  numbers  afforded 
a  striking  contrast  to  the  vivid  brilliancy  of  the  scenes  in  which 
he  figured' ;  Alfred  Moore,  subsequently  an  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States ;  Timothy  Bloodworth, 
stigmatized  by  his  enemies  as  an  impracticable  radical,  'every- 
thing by  turns,'  but  withal  a  true  exponent  of  the  instincts  and 
prejudices,  the  finest  feelings  and  the  noblest  impulses  of  the 
masses.  These  were  no  ordinary  men.  They  were  of  the  remark- 
able class  that  seem  ever  to  be  the  product  of  crises  in  human 
affairs.  Though  inferior  to  many  of  them  in  the  influence  that 
attends  years,  opulence,  and  extensive  connections,  yet  in  schol- 
arship and  genius,  Mr.  Hooper  was  preeminent.  I  use  the  word 
genius  in  contradistinction  to  talent.  He  had  much  nervous  irri- 
tability, was  imaginative  and  susceptible.  With  a  well-disci- 
plined mind,  and  of  studious  habits,  he  shone  with  lustre  when- 
ever he  pleased  to  exert  himseK." 

To  the  above  we  add  the  name  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Godfrey, 
who,  having  served  in  the  war  against  the  French  at  the  North 
in  the  Pennsylvania  forces,  moved  from  Philadelphia  and 
settled  in  Wilmington.  He  possessed  the  creative  faculty  in  an 
eminent  degree  and  many  of  his  poems  have  remarkable  beauty. 
The  writer  has  been  fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  copy  of  his 
poetical  works,  prefaced  by  some  account  of  the  author  and  his 
writings.  This  volume  was  published  in  Philadelphia  in  1765 
and  contains  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pages.  Its  publica- 
tion could  only  be  made  by  subscription,  and  of  the  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  subscribers  it  is  gratifying  to  observe  that 
twenty-four  were  North  Carolinians.  Their  names  are  given 
as  follows:  William  Bartram,  jr.,  James  Bailey,  William 
Campbell,    Alexander    Chapman,    Kobert    Cochran,    William 


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78  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Davis,  Col.  Caleb  Grainger,  Benjamin  Heron,  Alexander  Dun- 
can, Walter  DuBois,  Cornelius  Harnett,  Obediah  Holt,  Robert 
Johnson,  Col.  James  Moore,  Archibald  Maclaine,  Archibald 
McDuffie,  Alexander  Martin,  Mrs.  Anne  Nissfield,  William 
Purviance,  John  Robeson,  Robert  Schaw,  Patrick  Stewart, 
James  Stewart,  and  William  Watkins.  Nearly  all  of  these 
names  are  familiar  to  us,  and  it  is  apparent  that  the  poet  was 
appreciated  during  his  life  in  Wilmington  and  numbered  among 
his  friends  men  of  the  first  consequence  in  our  community, 
doubtless  having  congenial  associations  with  Harnett,  Maclaine, 
Moore,  and  others  of  like  distinction. 

The  rare  old  volume,  yellowed  by  age  and  procured  only  after 
years  of  search,  says:  "Mr.  Thomas  Godfrey,  the  Author  of 
the  following  Poems,  was  bom  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  year 
1736.  His  Father,  who  was  of  the  same  name,  was  a  Glazier 
by  trade,  and  likewise  a  Citizen  of  Philadelphia — ^a  person 
whose  great  natural  capacity  for  Mathematics  has  occasioned 
his  name  to  be  known  in  the  learned  world,  being  (as  has  been 
heretofore  shown  by  undeniable  evidences)  the  original  and  real 
inventor  of  the  very  useful  and  famous  Sea-Quadrant,  which 
has  been  called  Hadley's.  He  died  when  his  son  was  very 
young  and  left  him  to  the  care  of  his  Relations,  by  whom  he 
was  placed  to  an  English  school,  and  there  received  *a  common 
education  in  his  mother  tongue' ;  and  without  any  other  advan- 
tage than  that,  a  natural  genius,  and  an  attentive  perusal  of  the 
works  of  our  English  Poets,  he  soon  exhibited  to  the  world  the 
strongest  proofs  of  poetical  capacity.'' 

Besides  his  talent  for  poetry,  he  is  said  to  have  possessed  a 
fine  ear  for  music  and  a  strong  inclination  towards  painting, 
desiring  to  have  lessons  in  the  latter;  but  his  relatives  had 
other  plans,  and  his  biographer,  continuing,  says:  "He  was 
put  to  a  watch-maker  in  this  city,  but  still  the  muses  and 
graces,  poetry  and  painting  stole  his  attention.  He  devoted 
therefore  all  his  private  hours  to  the  cultivation  of  his  parts, 
and  towards  the  expiration  of  his  time  he  composed  those  per- 
formances that  were  published  with  so  much  favorable  notice." 

At  length  he  quitted  the  business  of  watch-making  and  got 
himseK  recommended  for  a  lieutenant's  commission  in  the 
Pennsylvania  forces,  raised  in  the  year  1758,  for  the  expedi- 
tion against  Fort  DuQuesne,  in  which  station  he  continued 
until  the  campaign  was  over  and  the  provincial  troops  dis- 
banded. 


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The  succeeding  spring  he  had  an  offer  made  him  of  settling 
as  a  factor  in  North  Carolina,  and,  being  unemployed,  he  ac- 
cepted the  proposal  and  presently  embarked  for  Wilmington, 
where  he  lived  more  than  three  years.  In  Wilmington  he  com- 
pleted the  dramatic  poem  the  Prince  of  Parthia,  as  appears  by 
a  letter  dated  November  17,  1759.  '^y  the  last  vessel  from 
this  place,"  says  Godfrey  in  this  letter,  "I  sent  you  the  copy  of 
a  Tragedy  I  finished  here,  and  desired  your  interest  in  bringing 
it  on  the  stage.  I  have  not  yet  heard  of  the  vessel's  arrival,  and 
believe,  if  she  is  safe,  it  will  be  too  late  for  the  Company  now  at 
Philadelphia."  He  was  but  twenty-two  years  of  age  when  this 
drama  was  completed. 

On  the  death  of  his  employer,  Godfrey  left  North  Carolina 
and  returned  to  Philadelphia;  but  finding  no  advantageous 
opening  there  he  determined  to  make  another  voyage  abroad, 
and  procuring  some  small  commissions  went  as  a  supercargo  to 
the  island  of  New  Providence,  where  he  was  for  some  months. 
From  New  Providence,  led  as  it  were  by  some  sad  fatality,  he 
sailed  once  more  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  "where,  a  few 
weeks  after  his  arrival,"  says  his  biographer,  ^Tie  was  unex- 
pectedly summoned  to  pay  the  debt  of  nature,  and  death  put  a 
stop  to  his  earthly  wanderings  by  hurrying  him  off  this  shadowy 
state  into  boundless  eternity.  He  happened  one  very  hot  day 
to  take  a  ride  into  the  country,  and  not  being  accustomed  to  this 
exercise  and  of  a  corpulent  habit  of  body,  it  is  imagined  that 
the  heat  overcame  him,  for  the  night  following  he  was  seized 
with  a  violent  vomiting  and  malignant  fever,  which  continued 
seven  or  eight  days,  and  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  the  third  of 
August,  1763,  put  a  period  to  his  life  in  the  twenty-seventh  year 
of  his  age. 

"Thus  hastily  was  snatched  off  in  the  prime  of  manhood  this 
promising  genius,  beloved  and  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  sweet,  amiable  disposition,  his  integrity  of  heart,  his  en- 
gaging modesty  and  diffidence  of  manners,  his  fervent  and  dis- 
interested love  for  his  friends  endeared  him  to  all  those  who 
shared  his  acquaintance  and  have  stamped  the  image  of  him  in 
indelible  characters  on  the  hearts  of  his  more  intimate  friends." 
He  was  interred  in  the  burial  ground  attached  to  St.  James's 
Church  in  Wilmington  and  a  tombstone  marks  the  spot. 

McRee,  referring  to  him  in  his  Imperfect  Sketch  of  the  His- 
tory of  the  Town  of  Wilmington,  published  in  the  Wilmington 
Chronicle  of  September  16,  1846,  says:     "He  wrote  several 


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80  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

pieces  descriptive  of  the  vicinity  where  he  dwelt.  One  was  on 
Masonboro  Sound,  and  possessed  great  beauty,  being  remarkable 
for  its  felicity  of  diction  and  thought  and  its  graphic  excellence. 
"The  verses  of  this  poet,"  he  adds,  "were  once  greatly  in  vogue 
in  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  selected  a  home  and  found 
friends  warm  and  steady;  and  there  were  but  few  gentlemen 
who  could  not  repeat  from  memory  some  passages  from  his  pen." 

His  works  were  first  published  by  the  American  Magazine^ 
and  later  some  were  copied  in  the  English  magazines.  His 
American  publishers  gave  the  highest  praise  to  his  efforts  and 
were  also  much  interested  in  proclaiming  his  father's  genius. 
"Nature,"  say  they,  "seems  not  to  have  designed  the  father  for 
a  greater  mathematician  than  the  son  for  a  poet."  In  publish- 
ing his  Court  of  Fancy  in  1762,  they  say :  "What  shall  place 
him  high  in  the  lists  of  poets  is  a  poem  of  considerable  length 
called  the  Court  of  Fancy,  in  managing  which  he  shines  in  all 
the  spirit  of  true  creative  poetry." 

His  last  publication.  The  Victory,  which  is  designated  as  a 
"nervous  and  noble  song  of  triumph,"  appeared  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette  in  1763.  The  Prince  of  Parthia  is  regarded  as 
the  first  attempt  in  America  at  dramatic  composition,  and  is 
spoken  of  as  "no  inconsiderable  effort  towards  one  of  the  sub- 
limest  species  of  poetry,  and  no  mean  instance  of  the  author's 
strong  inherited  genius."  Of  his  published  writings  his  biog- 
rapher says:  "Upon  the  whole,  I  persuade  myself  that  the 
severest  critic,  looking  over  smaller  matters,  will  allow  these 
writings  of  Mr.  Godfrey  to  be  aptly  characterized  in  the  follow- 
ing lines  from  the  Court  of  Fancy: 

'Bold  Fancy's  hand  th'  amazing  pUe  uprears, 
In  every  part  stupendous  skill  appears; 
In  beautiful  disorder,  yet  complete, 
The  structure  shines  irregularly  great/  " 


LIBRAEIES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

It  is  to  be  much  regretted  that  so  few  memorials  of  the  social 
and  intellectual  life  of  the  old  Cape  Fear  people  have  been  pre- 
served. They  enjoyed  the  elegance  that  attends  wealth  and 
they  possessed  libraries  that  bespeak  culture. 

When  Edward  Moseley  was  passing  through  Charleston  in 
1703,  he  was  employed  to  make  a  catalogue  of  the  library  books 
there ;  and,  on  locating  in  Albemarle,  he  at  once  began  the  col- 


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Permanent  Settlement  81 

lection  of  a  library.  Later,  he  presented  a  library  to  the  town 
of  Edenton.  When,  about  1735,  he  removed  to  Eocky  Point 
and  built  Moseley  Hall,  he  brought  his  library  with  him. 

But  perhaps  superior  to  Moseley's  was  the  library  of  Eleazar 
Allen,  at  Lilliput.  The  inventory  of  this  collection  of  books  has 
been  preserved.  Made  at  his  death,  about  1749,  it  shows  over 
three  hundred  volumes  in  English  and  Latin,  including  the 
standard  works  of  that  era — the  classics,  poetry,  history,  works 
of  fiction,  as  well  as  works  of  a  religious  nature ;  and,  besides, 
some  fifty  in  French,  not  only  histories,  travels,  poetry,  and 
fiction,  but  also  French  translations  of  the  most  celebrated  Latin 
authors.  One  finds  in  that  atmosphere  a  culture  unsurpassed 
elsewhere  in  America. 

The  Hasells  likewise  had  a  good  library ;  also  Judge  Maurice 
Moore;  and  Gen.  John  Ashe  had  one  he  prized  so  highly  that 
he  made  special  efforts  to  preserve  it,  but  unfortunately  it  was 
destroyed  during  the  last  year  of  the  Kevolutionary  War. 

While  there  were  libraries  at  the  homes  of  the  gentlemen  in 
the  country,  at  Wilmington  there  was  the  Cape  Fear  Library, 
one  volume  of  which,  at  least,  has  been  preserved — a  volume  of 
Shakespeare,  with  notes  made  by  Archibald  Maclaine,  of  Wil- 
mington, a  nephew  of  the  historian  Mosher,  which  are  of  un- 
usual merit.  Many  of  the  Rocky  Point  books  appear  to  have 
been  collected  at  Lillington  Hall,  and  others  have  been  preserved 
in  the  Hasell  collection.  A  part  of  the  Hasell  collection,  em- 
bracing books  of  Moseley  printed  before  1700,  of  Alexander 
Lillington,  and  of  others,  has  been  placed  in  the  State  Library 
at  Raleigh. 


COLONIAL  GOVERNORS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

(Extracts  from  an  address  delivered  by  Mr.  John  Jay  Blair  before  the  North 
Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames  at  Brunswick,  N.  C.) 

I  have  selected  for  my  subject  the  governors  who  resided  here 
on  the  Cape  Fear,  with  a  view  to  the  formulating  of  a  connected 
story  of  their  respective  administrations,  together  with  a  refer- 
ence to  events  in  the  province  which  are  of  sufficient  importance 
to  have  any  bearing  upon  its  life. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  1731,  Burrington,  who  had  just 
arrived  in  the  colony,  took  the  oath  of  office  before  the  Council, 
assembled  at  Edenton. 

Probably  the  fairest  estimate  of  Burrington  is  that  given  by 


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82  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

William  Saunders  in  his  prefatory  notes  to  the  third  volume 
of  the  Colonial  Records:  "Historians  have  fallen  into  grave 
errors  in  regard  to  Governor  Burrington.  They  go  on  to  state, 
but  upon  what  evidence  is  not  known,  that  he  ended  his  life 
after  rioting  in  his  usual  manner  all  night  in  the  Bird  Cage 
Walk  in  the  comer  of  St.  James's  Park  in  London;  and  the 
impression  is  created  that  his  disgraceful  death  occurred  soon 
after  his  return  to  London.  The  statement  is  certainly  untrue 
in  several  material  points.  Precisely  when  he  returned  to  Eng- 
land does  not  appear,  but  from  an  entry  in  the  journal  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  it  is  shown  that  he  was  there  on  the  10th  of 
June,  1735.  Other  entries  and  communications  show  that  he 
was  in  frequent  commimication  from  that  time  until  Decem- 
ber, 1736,  after  which  no  reference  is  made  to  him." 

That  he  was  a  man  of  violent  temper,  of  a  contentious  dispo- 
sition, overbearing  and  domineering  towards  his  subordinates 
is  sustained  without  question  by  the  historical  records  of  the 
times.  It  is  known  that  he  was  ordered  to  appear  before  the 
court  and  that  three  distinct  warrants  for  his  arrest  were  issued. 
The  papers,  however,  were  never  served,  an  entry  having  been 
made  on  the  court  record  that  the  indictment  was  quashed.  It 
is  said  that  he  escaped  from  the  colony  on  a  pretext  of  visiting 
South  Carolina,  but  sailed  for  England  immediately  upon 
reaching  Charleston. 

What,  then,  in  view  of  all  the  conflicting  statements,  is  the 
real  character  of  Burrington? 

1.  Previously  he  had  been  governor  of  the  province  under  the 
Lords  Proprietors,  his  reappointment  serving  as  imdoubted  evi- 
dence of  his  ability. 

2.  His  official  papers  are  well  written  and  show  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  country  and  of  measures  best  adapted  to  pro- 
mote its  development. 

3.  He  is  known  to  have  been  a  scientist  of  considerable  abil- 
ity, having  made  a  study  of  the  animal  and  vegetable  life  of  the 
Cape  Fear. 

4.  Considerable  attention  was  given  by  him  to  making  sound- 
ings and  surveying  rivers  and  harbors  in  the  interest  of  naviga- 
tion. 

At  this  point  an  extract  from  some  of  his  letters  can  be  in- 
troduced with  propriety :  "North  Carolina  was  little  known  or 
mentioned  before  I  was  governor  for  the  Proprietors  (1725). 
When  I  first  came  I  found  the  inhabitants  few  and  poor.     I 


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took  all  methods  I  thought  would  induce  people  from  other 
coimtries  to  settle  themselves  in  this.  Perfecting  a  settlement 
on  the  Cape  Fear  River  cost  me  a  great  sum  of  money  and 
infinite  trouble.  I  endured,  the  first  winter  I  spent  there,  all 
the  hardships  that  could  happen  to  a  man  destitute  of  a  house 
to  live  in ;  that  was  above  a  hundred  miles  from  a  neighbor  in 
a  pathless  country  and  was  obliged  to  have  all  provisions  brought 
by  sea  at  a  great  expense  to  support  the  number  of  men  I  carried 
there,  paid,  and  maintained  at  my  sole  expense. 

"It  can  hardly  be  imagined  what  pains  I  took  sounding  the 
inlets,  bars,  and  rivers  of  this  province,  which  I  performed  no 
less  than  four  times.  I  discovered  and  made  known  the  chan- 
nels of  the  Cape  Fear  River  and  Port  Beaufort  and  Topsail 
Inlet,  before  unused  and  unknown.  In  attempting  these  and 
other  discoveries  by  land  and  water,  I  often  ran  the  hazard  of 
drowning  and  starving;  and  never  retained  any  other  reward 
or  gratification  but  the  thanks  of  two  assemblies  in  this  country 
for  all  the  pains  I  took  and  the  money  I  expended  in  carrying 
on  and  completing  these  enterprises.^^ 

In  the  light  of  history,  Burrington,  then,  must  stand  out  as 
a  man  of  ability,  but  possessing  grievous  faults  of  such  a  nature 
as  to  disqualify  him  for  the  position  which  he  occupied.  One 
writer  says  he  was  a  wiser  ruler  than  his  predecessor,  Everard, 
and  possessing  no  more  faults ;  he  was,  too,  to  say  the  least,  as 
wise  as  his  successor,  Gabriel  Johnston,  and  no  more  arbitrary. 

Events  of  Burrington's  administration : 

1.  Marking  the  boimdary  line  between  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia. 

2.  Laying  out  roads,  building  bridges,  and  establishing  fer- 
ries. From  Edenton  to  Wilmington  a  road  was  run  nearly  two 
hundred  miles,  with  three  long  ferries  to  cross. 

The  next  administration,  that  of  Gabriel  Johnston,  beginning 
in  1734  and  extending  over  a  period  of  nearly  twenty  years, 
was  marked  by  many  incidents  and  events  which  had  important 
and  vital  bearing  upon  the  future  destiny  of  the  colony. 

The  fact  that  Gabriel  Johnston  had  resided  upon  the  Cape 
Fear  is  not  generally  recognized.  His  immediate  place  of  resi- 
dence and  incidents  connected  with  his  life  have  both  been  ob- 
scured and  subordained  by  matters  of  graver  importance. 

He  has  come  down  to  us  with  the  reputation  of  having  done 
more  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  colony  than  all  the  other 


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84  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

colonial  governors  put  together.  One  historian  says  he  deserves 
the  gratitude  of  every  citizen  of  the  State ;  another  lauds  him  as 
a  benefactor,  a  paragon  of  learning  and  of  education;  another 
states  that  he  was  the  ablest  of  all  the  colonial  governors.  As  a 
mark  of  honor  a  noted  fort  and  a  county  in  the  State  have 
borne  his  name. 

An  incident  in  his  administration  which  can  properly  be 
introduced  here,  is  a  record  of  events  which  led  to  the  removal 
of  the  county  seat  from  Bnmswick  to  Wilmington.  The  legis- 
lative records  show  that  the  discussion  extended  over  a  long 
period  of  time,  but  was  finally  accomplished  during  his  admin- 
istration, the  name  Wilmington  being  given  to  the  new  seat  of 
government  in  honor  of  his  patron,  Spencer  Compton,  Earl  of 
Wilmington  and  Viscount  Pevensey.  The  records  show  his 
course  in  this  matter  to  have  been  harsh  and  arbitrary. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  he  discloses  some 
interest  in  the  country's  industrial  progress.  He  condemns  the 
method  of  manufacturing  tar,  encourages  the  raising  of  hemp, 
refers  to  the  colonists  planting  mulberries  for  the  raising  of  raw 
silks  and  cultivating  the  vine  for  the  production  of  wines.  He 
refers  to  the  making  of  oil  from  the  olive  and  from  nuts  and 
seeds  which  grow  spontaneously  here,  and  says  the  collector's 
books  show  that  forty-two  ships  were  loaded  from  the  Cape  Fear 
within  twelve  months.  A  letter  from  the  Board  of  Trade  in 
reply  to  this  says :  "When  you  mentioned  forty-two  ships  that 
went  from  the  Cape  Fear  River,  you  ought  to  have  sent  us  a 
more  particular  account  thereof,  as  likewise  what  the  said  ships 
were  loaded  with.  It  is  with  pleasure  we  read  the  account  you 
have  given  us  of  the  people  settled  on  the  Cape  Fear  River." 

Events  of  Johnston's  administration : 

1.  A  fort  built  as  a  protection  against  the  Spaniards  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  called  in  honor  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, Fort  Johnston. 

2.  A  printing  press  was  imported  into  the  province  from 
Virginia  by  James  Davis. 

3.  In  1749  emigrants  from  Scotland  flocked  to  the  Cape  Fear. 

4.  In  1752,  September  2  was  reckoned  the  14th,  omitting 
eleven  days. 

5.  In  1738,  the  division  of  the  province  into  three  counties, 
Albemarle,  Bath,  and  Clarendon,  was  abolished,  the  precincts 
now  being  called  counties,  with  a  sheriff  appointed  for  each. 


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6.  In  1740,  England  having  declared  war  against  Spain,  400 
men  were  raised  in  the  colony. 

7.  The  population  of  North  Carolina  at  the  beginning  of 
Johnston's  administration  was  nearly  50,000  in  all,  and  at  the 
close  about  90,000. 

8.  Kecords  show  that  emigrants  followed  the  streams  in 
forming  their  settlements,  searching  for  ^Twttom  lands."  • 

The  next  governor  appointed  by  the  Crown  was  Arthur 
Dobbs,  who  arrived  in  New  Bern  in  the  fall  of  1754  and  as- 
sumed control  of  the  government. 

His  term  of  office  is  known  to  have  been  marked  by  consid- 
erable contention  and  discord,  frequently  on  matters  which  were 
frivolous  and  unimportant. 

For  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  resided  at  Brunswick  and 
in  the  Old  Town  Creek  settlement.  Numerous  allusions  were 
made  in  his  letters  to  the  building  of  churches  in  Brunswick  and 
Wilmington. 

Without  some  extended  reference  to  St.  Philip's  Church  and 
the  related  ecclesiastical  status  of  the  colony  during  Burrington's 
and  Dobbs's  administrations  this  record  would  be  incomplete. 

In  a  letter  to  the  bishop  of  London,  April  23,  1734,  John 
LaPierre  writes  from  "New  Hanover,  alias  Cape  Fear,''  "I  was 
the  first  minister  of  the  Church  of  England  that  came  to  these 
places  to  preach,  which  I  did  during  three  years  and  a  haK." 

In  a  letter  of  July  7,  1735,  Richard  Marsden  wrote  to  the 
bishop  of  London:  "I  have  been  at  Cape  Fear  near  seven 
years,  and  can  truly  say  that  I  have  from  my  heart  and  soul 
done  my  utmost  to  promote  the  glory  of  God." 

On  April  7,  1760,  during  Dobbs's  term  of  office,  the  church 
wardens  and  vestry  "begged  to  recommend  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Dowell as  a  good  minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  has 
been  in  this  province  since  1754,  and  officiated  in  our  neighbor- 
ing parish  of  St.  James  until  May,  1757,  and  the  next  year  in 
Brunswick  and  Wilmington,  and  from  that  time  our  minister 
in  this  parish. 

"We  are  building  a  very  large  brick  church,  which  is  near 
done,  and  hope  soon  to  have  a  glebe,  but  at  present  we  are  a  poor 
parish,  very  heavily  taxed  on  occasion  of  the  present  war  with 
the  French  and  Indians,  therefore  can't  afford  to  give  a  compe- 
tency so  as  to  maintain  him  and  his  young  family  in  a  decent 


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86  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Pear  River 

An  extract  from  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  John  McDowell  in  1760, 
to  the  bishop  of  London,  gives  the  following  information: 
"Nothing  can  give  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  hear  that  my 
conduct  is  approved.  I  have  been  south  as  far  as  the  borders 
of  South  Carolina  assembling  a  great  nimiber  of  people  from 
both  provinces,  and  we  were  obliged  to  assemble  under  the  shady 
trees.  I  baptized  one  day  on  that  visit  thirty-two  children  and 
adults,  among  them  five  free  mulattoes. 

"It  is  impossible  for  me  to  live  here  where  my  salary  is  so 
small  and  everything  so  dear.  I  could  not  have  continued  so 
long  had  I  not  had  some  fortune  with  my  wife,  which,  if  I 
continue  here  much  longer,  must  go.  I  was  obliged  to  sell  a 
slave  last  year  to  help  us  to  subsist,  though  no  persons  ever 
lived  in  a  more  frugal  manner." 

April  15,  1760,  Governor  Dobbs  recommended  McDowell 
fixed  in*this  parish:  "I  therefore  join  with  them  in  these 
applications,  as  it  is  the  parish  I  reside  in,  and  propose  when 
the  church  is  finished,  which  is  now  roofing,  to  be  His  Majesty's 
chapel  in  this  government,  to  which  he  has  been  pleased  to  give 
the  communion  plate,  surplice,  and  furniture  for  the  communion 
table  and  pulpit,  Bible  and  Common  Prayer-books,  to  have  the 
service  performed  with  decency.  This  church  will  be  the  larg- 
est and  most  complete  in  this  province,  and  may  be  an  exemplar 
for  building  other  churches." 

April  17,  1760,  McDowell  writes :  "It  is  with  great  pleasure 
that  I  can  acquaint  society  that  my  parishioners  of  Brunswick 
have  a  fine  large  church,  by  far  the  largest  in  the  province,  in 
great  forwardness — ^the  brickwork  is  done  and  a  great  part  of 
the  roof  up.  We  hope  to  have  the  church  covered  and  fit  for 
the  purpose  of  divine  service  this  ensuing  summer,  and  a  par- 
sonage house  to  be  actually  built  and  a  glebe  purchased  for  me. 

"His  Excellency,  Governor  Dobbs,  will  put  up  a  pew  for 
himself,  a  chancel-rail,  a  pulpit,  and  a  reading  desk;  and  will 
give  a  carpet  for  the  communion  table,  plate  and  linen  for  the 
communion  service,  and  a  surplice-  for  the  minister."  This 
was  his  seventh  year  of  service. 

April  16,  1761,  McDowell  writes:  "The  roof  of  the  new 
church  at  Brunswick  is  all  fallen  down  again.  It  was  struck 
with  lightning  last  July,  and  afterwards  a  prodigious  and  im- 
moderate amount  of  rain  falling  on  it  made  it  all  tumble  down ; 
and  there  it  lies  just  as  it  fell ;  the  chapel  is  a  most  miserable 
old  house,  only  24  by  12,  and  every  shower  or  blast  of  wind 
blows  through  it." 


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The  principal  event  of  Dobbs's  administration  was  the  aoces- 
flion,  in  1761,  of  Gteorge  III.  to  the  throne. 

Mr.  Haywood,  in  the  preface  of  his  book  on  Governor  Tryon, 
makes  the  following  suggestive  observation :  "Ever  since  I  have 
learned  to  rely  more  upon  documentary  evidence  than  upon  the 
individual  opinions  of  writers,  I  have  been  convinced  that  his- 
tory has  dealt  too  harshly  with  the  memory  of  Governor  Tryon.'^ 

Governor  Tryon  was  bom  in  the  handsome  family  residence 
in  Surrey  in  the  year  1729.  He  arrived  in  the  province  at  Cape 
Fear  on  Wednesday,  October  10,  1764,  and  next  day  waited  on 
Governor  Dobbs,  who  had  already  been  apprised  of  his  coming. 
Dobbs  refused  to  relinquish  the  office  at  once,  which  was  a  bitter 
disappointment  to  Tryon,  who  wanted  to  put  into  immediate 
effect  the  policies  which  he  had  outlined. 

The  Governor's  mansion  being  still  in  possession  of  the  in- 
cumbent in  office,  Tryon  experienced  great  inconvenience  in 
securing  accommodations  for  himself  and  his  family,  who  ac- 
companied  him. 

The  venerable  Governor  Dobbs  was  destined  never  to  leave 
North  Carolina,  for,  on  the  28th  of  March  following,  death 
brought  relief  to  the  aged  ruler,  and  when  his  remains  were  laid 
to  rest  on  the  Town  Creek  Plantation,  there  being  not  a  clergy- 
man within  a  hundred  miles  of  Brunswick,  the  burial  service 
had  to  be  conducted  by  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

One  of  the  first  official  acts  of  Governor  Tryon  was  to  arrange 
for  the  establishment  of  a  seat  of  government  at  New  Bern, 
with  the  result  that  the  town  began  to  prosper. 

The  third  session  of  the  Legislature  having  met  on  the  3d 
of  May,  after  a  short  encomium  on  his  predecessor's  administra- 
tion, he  advised  the  houses  to  improve  the  hour  of  tranquillity  in 
promoting  the  internal  polity  of  the  province,  making  the  fol- 
lowing recommendations:  "The  establishment  of  a  clergyman 
in  each  parish,  whose  salary  should  be  paid  out  of  the  public 
treasury.  That  they  reflect  upon  the  present  state  of  the 
Church  that  it  might  no  longer  suffer  from  so  great  neglect ;  that 
provision  be  made  to  enable  the  postmaster  general  to  establish 
a  line  of  post  roads  through  the  province  of  North  Carolina, 
also  a  committee  appointed  to  contract  for  conveying  the  mail 
from  Suffolk,  Va.,  to  South  Carolina. 

The  most  noteworthy  event  of  this  decade  was  the  passage  by 
Parliament  of  the  notorious  Stamp  Act.     An  attempt  on  the 


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88  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

part  of  the  Governor  was  made  to  pacify  the  people  of  Wil- 
mington, but  their  opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act  was  persistent, 
and  on  the  26th  of  June,  the  mayor,  recorder,  and  aldermen  of 
Wilmington  presented  an  address  to  Governor  Tryon  congratu- 
lating him  on  its  repeal  and  on  the  happy  prospect  of  the  union 
and  harmony  thereby  established  between  the  colony  and  the 
mother  country. 

"In  1767,  on  the  rise  of  the  Legislature,"  says  Martin,  "Gov- 
ernor Tryon  lost  no  time  in  carrying  into  effect  his  darling 
scheme  of  building  a  palace,  having  exerted  all  his  influence  to 
obtain  the  passage  of  the  bill  for  its  erection.  This  measure 
was  thought  by  many  to  have  laid  the  foundation  of  the  series 
of  disorders  and  commotions  which  terminated  in  the  Battle  of 
Alamance.  However,  it  afforded  him  an  opportimity  of  leaving 
behind  an  elegant  monument  of  his  taste  in  building  and  giving 
the  ministry  an  instance  of  his  great  influence.  For  the  plan 
of  a  governor's  house  was  substituted  that  of  a  palace  worthy  of 
the  residence  of  a  prince  of  the  blood.  The  purchase  of  the 
groimd  and  the  erection  of  the  foundation  absorbed  the  sum 
which  the  Legislature  had  been  pleased  to  bestow,  which  waa 
an  ample  appropriation  for  the  completion  of  the  building." 

The  last  years  of  colonial  rule,  under  Gov.  Josiah  Martin, 
were  filled  with  incidents  of  thrilling  and  dramatic  interest. 
A  dark  cloud  of  uncertainty  and  doubt  seemed  to  hang  over  the 
destinies  of  our  country.  This  period  can  not  be  passed  over 
without  reference  to  an  event  of  such  momentous  import  and 
immortal  significance  as  to  deserve  forever  a  place  upon  the 
banner  of  our  Commonwealth.  I  refer  to  the  date,  April  12, 
1776,  and  the  accompanying  resolution : 

"Resolved,  That  the  delegates  of  this  colony  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress be  empowered  to  concur  with  the  delegates  of  the  other  colonies 
In  declaring  Independence/' 

After  a  period  of  nearly  two  hundred  years  the  flag  which 
had  been  planted  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina  began  to  wane, 
the  unfitness  of  England  to  govern  her  colonies  had  become 
more  and  more  obvious,  and  amid  the  commotions  and  excite- 
ment of  an  indignant  nation  an  American  independence  was  at 
last  asserted  by  the  people  of  Mecklenburg.  So  this  dramatic 
chapter  can  be  closed  with  a  sentence  from  Jones's  Memorials  of 
North  Carolina:    "It  is  curious  to  observe  that  the  annals  of  a 


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single  State  should  contribute  the  two  great  events  in  the  history 
of  the  present  age — ^the  alpha  and  omega  of  the  dominion  of 
England  over  her  old  North  American  colonies." 


COLONIAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY. 

(Comikiled  by  the  North  Carolizxa  Historioal  Commiasion.) 

Borough  Members  from  Wilmington. 


1739  (40)1740 

William  Farris 

1742-1743 

William  Parris 

1744-1746 

William  Parris 

1746 

Thomas  Clark 

1746  (47)-1764 

Lewis  DeRosset 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1764-1760 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1760 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1761 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1762  (AprU) 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1762  (November) 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1764-1766 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1766-1768 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1769 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1770-1771 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1773  (January) 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1773-1774 

Cornelius  Harnett 

1776 

Cornelius  Harnett 

New  Hanover  County  Members. 

1734 

John  Swann 

Job  Howe 

Maurice  Moore 

1736 

Maurice  Moore 

John  Swann 

17381739 

Nathaniel  Moore 

John  Swann 

1739-1740 

John  Swann 

Maurice  Moore 

1744-1746 

John  Swann 

George  Moore 

1746 

Samuel  Swann 

Rufus  Marsden 

John  Swann 

1746-1764 

Rufus  Marsden 

John  Swann 

John  Ashe 

1764-1760 

George  Moore 

John  Ashe 

1760 

George  Moore 

John  Ashe 

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90  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

1761  George  Moore 

John  Ashe 

1762  (April)  George  Moore 

John  Ashe 
1762  (November)  John  Ashe 

Alexander  Lillington 
1764-1765  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1766-1768  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1769  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1770-1771  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1773  (January)  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1773-1774  John  Ashe 

William  Hooper 
1775  John  Ashe 

William  Hooper 

PROVINCIAL  CONGRESSES. 

Borough  Members  from  Wilmington. 

Aug.  1774  Francis  Clay  ton 

April  1775  Cornelius  Harnett 

Aug.  1775  Cornelius  Harnett 

Archibald  Maclaine 
April  1776  Cornelius  Harnett 

Nov.   1776  William  Hooper 

New  Hanover  County  Members. 

Aug.  1774  John  Hooper 

William  Hooper 

April  1775  William  Hooper 

John  Ashe 

Aug.  1775  George  Moore 

Alexander  Lillington 
Samuel  Ashe 
William  Hooper 
James  Moore 
John  Ashe 

April  1776  John  Ashe 

John  Devane 
Samuel  Ashe 
Sampson  Moseley 
John  HoUingsworth 

Nov.   1776  John  Ashe 

Samuel  Ashe 
John  Devane 
Sampson  Moseley 
John  HoUingsworth 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution 

THE  STAMP  ACT  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

(Extracts  from  an  address  delivered  by  Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe  before  the  North  Carolina 
Society  of  Colonial  Dames  at  Old  Brunswick,  N.  C.) 

When  the  next  year  [1765]  a  bill  was  introduced  to  carry  the 
resolution  into  effect,  it  met  with  considerable  opposition  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  for  the  protests  of  the  colonists  were  not 
unheeded.  Still,  the  ministry,  imder  Lord  Bute,  persisted,  and 
the  measure  was  carried.  All  America  was  at  once  stirred. 
Bold  and  courageous  action  was  taken  in  every  colony,  but  in 
none  was  a  more  resolute  spirit  manifested  than  here  upon  the 
Cape  Fear.  The  governor  was  Tryon,  who  had  but  lately  suc- 
ceeded to  that  office.  He  was  an  officer  of  the  army,  a  gentle- 
man by  birth  and  education,  a  man  calculated  by  his  accom- 
plishments and  social  qualities  to  shine  in  any  community.  He 
sought  the  speaker  of  the  House,  and  asked  him  what  would  be 
the  action  of  the  people.  "Resistance  to  the  death,"  was  the 
prompt  reply.  That  was  a  warning  that  was  full  of  meaning. 
It  pledged  tiie  speaker  to  revolution  and  war  in  defense  of  the 
people's  rights. 

The  Assembly  was  to  meet  in  May,  1765.  But  Tryon  astutely 
postponed  the  meeting  imtil  November,  and  then  dissolved  the 
Assembly.  He  did  not  wish  the  members  to  meet,  confer,  con- 
sult, and  arrange  a  plan  of  opposition.  He  hoped  by  dealing 
with  gentlemen,  not  in  an  official  capacity,  to  disarm  their  an- 
tagonism and  persuade  them  to  a  milder  course.  Vain  delu- 
sion !  The  people  had  been  too  long  trained  to  rely  with  confi- 
dence on  their  leaders  to  abandon  them  now,  even  though  Par- 
liament demanded  their  obedience. 

The  first  movement  was  not  long  delayed.  Within  two 
months  after  the  news  had  come  that  the  odious  act  had  been 
passed,  the  people  of  North  Carolina  discarded  from  their  use 
aU  clothes  of  British  manufacture  and  set  up  looms  for  weav- 
ing their  own  clothes.  Since  Great  Britain  was  to  oppress 
them,  they  would  give  the  world  an  assurance  of  the  spirit  of 
independence  that  would  sustain  them  in  the  struggle.  In 
October  information  was  received  that  Dr.  Houston,  of  Duplin 
Coimty,  had  been  selected  in  England  as  stamp  master.     At 

[91] 


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92  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

once  proceedings  were  taken  to  nullify  the  appointment.  At 
that  time  Wilmington  had  less  than  500  white  inhabitants,  but 
her  citizens  were  very  patriotic  and  very  resolute. 

Rocky  Point,  fifteen  miles  to  the  northward,  had  been  the 
residence  of  Maurice  Moore,  Speaker  Moseley,  Speaker  Swann, 
Speaker  Ashe,  Alexander  Lillington,  John  Swann,  George 
Moore,  John  Porter,  Colonel  Jones,  Colonel  Merrick,  and  other 
gentlemen  of  influence.  It  was  the  center  from  which  had 
radiated  the  influences  that  directed  popular  movements. 
Nearer  to  Onslow,  Duplin,  and  Bladen  than  Wilmington  was, 
and  the  residence  of  the  speaker  and  other  active  leaders,  it  was 
doubtless  there  that  plans  were  considered,  and  proceedings 
agreed  upon  that  involved  the  imited  action  of  all  the  neighbor- 
ing counties.  At  Wilmington  and  in  its  vicinity  were  Harnett, 
DeRosset,  Toomer,  Walker,  Clayton,  Gregg,  Purviance,  Eus- 
tace, Maclaine,  and  DuBois,  while  near  by  were  Howe,  Smith, 
Davis,  Grange,  Ancrum,  and  a  score  of  others  of  the  loftiest 
patriotism.  All  were  in  full  accord  with  the  speaker  of  the 
Assembly;  all  were  nerved  by  the  same  spirit;  all  resolved  to 
carry  resistance,  if  need  be,  to  the  point  of  blood  and  death. 

We  fortunately  have  a  contemporaneous  record  of  some  of 
their  proceedings.  The  North  Carolina  Gazette,  published  at 
Wilmington,  in  its  issue  of  November  20,  1765,  says : 

On  Saturday,  the  19th  of  last  month,  about  7  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
.near  five  hundred  people  assembled  together  in  this  town  and  exhibited 
the  effigy  of  a  certain  honorable  gentleman;  and  after  letting  it  hang  by 
the  neck  for  some  time,  near  the  courthouse  they  made  a  large  bonfire 
with  a  number  of  tar  barrels,  etc.,  and  committed  it  to  the  flames.  The 
reason  assigned  for  the  people's  dislike  to  that  gentleman  was  from 
being  informed  of  his  having  several  times  expressed  himself  much  in 
favor  of  the  stamp  duty.  After  the  effigy  was  consumed,  they  went  to 
every  house  in  town  and  brought  all  the  gentlemen  to  the  bonfire,  and 
insisted  on  their  drinking  "Liberty,  Property,  and  No  Stamp  Duty,"  and 
"Confusion  to  Lord  Bute  and  All  His  Adherents,"  giving  three  huzzahs 
at  the  conclusion  of  each  toast  They  continued  together  until  12  of 
the  clock,  and  then  dispersed  without  doing  any  mischief. 

Doubtless  it  was  a  very  orderly  crowd,  since  the  editor  says 
so.  A  very  orderly,  harmless,  inoffensive  gathering;  patriotic, 
and  given  to  hurrahing ;  but  we  are  assured  that  they  dispersed 
without  any  mischief. 

And  continues  the  same  paper: 

On  Thursday,  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  in  the  evening,  a  great 
number  of  people  assembled  again,  and  produced  an  effigy  of  Liberty, 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  93 

which  they  put  in  a  coffin  and  marched  in  solemn  procession  with  it  to 
the  churchyard,  a  drum  in  mourning  beating  before  them,  and  the  town 
bell,  muffled,  ringing  a  doleful  knell  at  the  same  time;  but  before  they 
committed  the  body  to  the  ground,  they  thought  it  advisable  to  feel  its 
pulse,  and,  finding  some  remains  of  life,  they  returned  back  to  a  bon- 
fire ready  prepared,  placed  the  effigy  before  it  in  a  large  two-armed 
chair,  and  concluded  the  evening  with  great  rejoicings  on  finding  that 
Liberty  had  still  an  existence  in  the  colonies. 
Not  the  least  injury  was  offered  to  any  person. 

The  editor  of  that  paper,  Mr.  Stewart,  was  apparently  anx- 
ious to  let  his  readers  know  that  the  people  engaged  in  these  pro- 
ceedings were  the  very  soul  of  order  and  the  essence  of  modera- 
tion. So  far  they  had  done  no  mischief  and  offered  no  injury 
to  any  one.  But  still  they  had  teeth,  and  they  could  show  them. 
The  next  item  reads: 

Saturday,  the  16th  of  this  instant,  that  is  November:  WiUiam  Hous- 
ton, Esq.,  distributor  of  stamps  for  this  province,  came  to  this  town; 
upon  which  three  or  four  hundred  people  immediately  gathered  to- 
gether, with  drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  and  repaired  to  the  house 
the  said  stamp  master  put  up  at,  and  insisted  upon  knowing  "Whether 
he  intended  to  execute  his  said  office  or  not."  He  told  them,  "He  should 
be  very  sorry  to  execute  any  office  disagreeable  to  the  people  of  this 
province."  *But  they,  not  content  with  such  declaration,  carried  him 
into  the  courthouse,  where  he  signed  a  resignation  satisfactory  to  the 
whole.  They  then  placed  .the  stamp  master  in  an  armchair,  carried  him 
around  the  courthouse,  giving  at  every  comer  three  loud  huzzahs,  and 
finally  set  him  down  at  the  door  of  his  lodging,  formed  a  circle  around 
him,  and  gave  three  cheers.  They  then  escorted  him  into  the  house, 
where  were  prepared  the  best  liquors,  and  treated  him  very  genteelly. 
In  the  evening  a  large  bonfire  was  made  and  no  person  appeared  on  the 
streets  without  having  "Liberty"  in  large  letters  on  his  hat.  They  had 
a  table  near  the  bonfire  well  furnished  with  several  sorts  of  liquors, 
where  they  drank,  in  great  form,  all  the  favorite  American  toasts,  giv- 
ing three  cheers  at  the  conclusion  of  each. 

"The  whole  was  conducted,"  says  the  editor,   "with  great 
decorum,  and  not  the  least  insult  offered  to  any  person." 
This  enforced  resignation  of  the  stamp  master  was  done  under 

*It  is  not  to  be  inferred  from  Dr.  Houston's  action  in  this  matter,  in 
1765,  that  he  was  in  favor  of  taxation  of  the  colonies  by  Great  Britain. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  then  the  agent  of  several  of  the  colonies  in  Lon- 
don, assumed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that  the  Stamp  Act  would  be  oper- 
ative, and  he  recommended  some  of  his  friends  to  accept  the  office  of 
stamp  master.  Dr.  Houston  did  not  apply  for  the  appointment,  and 
when  the  people  arrayed  themselves  against  it,  he  did  not  oppose  them. 
Also,  when,  ten  years  later,  the  Revolution  began,  he  was  in  full  sym- 
pathy with  other  patriots  in  North  Carolina  and  was  a  friend  of  inde- 
pendence and  separation. 


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94  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  direction  of  Alderman  DeKosset,  who  received  from  Hous- 
ton his  commission  and  other  papers,  and  necessarily  it  was  a 
very  orderly  performance.  The  ringing  huzzas,  the  patriotic 
toasts,  the  loud  acclaim,  echoing  from  the  courthouse  square, 
reverberated  through  the  streets  of  the  town,  but  Mr.  Stewart 
is  quite  sure  that  no  mischief  was  done,  and  not  the  least  insult 
was  offered  to  any  person.  These  and  other  similar  proceedings 
led  the  Governor  to  send  out  a  circular  letter  to  the  principal  in- 
habitants of  the  Cape  Fear  region,  requesting  their  presence  at 
a  dinner  at  his  residence  at  Brunswick  on  Tuesday,  the  19th  of 
November,  three  days  after  Dr.  Houston  resigned ;  and  after  the 
dinner,  he  conferred  with  these  gentlemen  about  the  Stamp  Act. 
He  found  them  fully  determined  to  annul  the  act  and  prevent 
its  going  into  effect.  He  sought  to  persuade  them,  and  begged 
them  to  let  it  be  observed  at  least  in  part.  He  pleaded  that  if 
they  would  let  the  act  go  into  partial  operation  in  the  respects  he 
mentioned,  he  himself  would  pay  for  all  the  stamps  necessary. 
It  seems  that  he  liked  the  people,  and  they  liked  and  admired 
him,  and  difficult  indeed  was  his  position.  He  was  charged  with 
the  execution  of  a  law  which  he  knew  could  not  be  executed,  for 
there  was  not  enough  specie  in  the  province  to  buy  the  necessary 
stamps,  even  if  the  law  could  be  enforced ;  but,  then,  the  people 
were  resolved  against  recognizing  it  in  any  degree.  The  au- 
thority of  the  King  and  of  the  Parliament  was  defied,  and  he, 
the  representative  of  the  British  Government,  was  powerless  in 
the  face  of  this  resolute  defiance.  While  still  maintaining  dig- 
nity in  his  intercourse  with  the  people,  the  Governor  wrote  to  his 
superiors  in  London  strongly  urging  the  repeal  of  the  law.  A 
week  later  the  stamps  arrived  in  the  sloop  of  war  Diligence, 
They  remained  on  the  sloop  and  were  not  landed  at  that  time. 

Now  was  there  a  lull;  but  the  quietude  was  not  to  remain 
imbroken.  In  January  two  merchant  vessels  arrived  in  the 
harbor,  the  Patience  and  the  Dobbs.  Their  clearance  papers 
were  not  stamped  as  the  act  required.  The  vessels  were  seized 
and  detained  while  the  lawfulness  of  their  detention  was  re- 
ferred to  Attorney  Gteneral  Robert  Jones,  then  absent  at  his 
home  on  the  Roanoke.  But  the  leaders  of  the  people  were  de- 
termined not  to  submit  to  an  adverse  decision.  They  held 
meetings  and  agreed  on  a  plan  of  action. 

In  view  of  the  crisis,  on  January  20,  the  mayor  of  the  town 
retired  to  give  place  to  Moses  John  DeRosset,  who  had  been  the 
foremost  leader  in  the  action  previously  taken  by  the  town. 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  95 

One  whose  spirit  never  quailed  was  now  to  stand  forth  as  the 
head  of  the  Corporation. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  Captain  Lobb,  in  command  of  the 
Yiper,  had  made  a  requisition  for  an  additional  supply  of  pro- 
visions, and  Mr.  Dry,  the  contractor,  sent  his  boat  to  Wilming- 
ton to  obtain  them.  The  inhabitants,  led  by  the  mayor,  at  once 
seized  the  boat,  threw  the  crew  into  the  jail,  and,  in  a  wild 
tumult  of  excitement,  placed  the  boat  on  a  wagon  and  hauled 
it  through  the  streets  with  great  demonstration  of  fervid  patriot- 
ism. The  British  forces  on  the  river  were  to  receive  no  supplies 
from  Wilmington;  their  provisions  were  cut  off,  and  they  were 
treated  as  enemies — ^not  friends — so  long  as  they  supported  the 
odious  law  of  Parliament.  Ten  days  later  came  the  opinion  of 
Attorney  General  Jones  to  the  effect  that  the  detained  merchant- 
men were  properly  seized  and  were  liable  to  be  confiscated 
under  the  law.  This  was  the  signal  for  action.  The  news  was 
spread  throughout  the  counties,  and  the  whole  country  was  astir. 
Every  patriot  "was  on  his  legs."  There  was  no  halt  in  carrying 
into  effect  the  plan  agreed  upon.  Immediately  the  people  be- 
gan to  assemble,  and  detachments,  imder  chosen  leaders,  took  up 
their  march  from  Onslow,  Bladen,  and  Duplin.  On  the  18th 
of  February,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape  Fear  counties,  being 
then  assembled  at  Wilmington,  entered  into  an  association, 
which  they  signed,  declaring  they  preferred  death  to  slavery; 
and  mutually  and  solemnly  they  plighted  their  faith  and  honor 
that  they  would  at  any  risk  whatever,  and  whenever  called  upon, 
unite,  and  truly  and  faithfully  assist  each  other,  to  the  best  of 
their  power,  in  preventing  entirely  the  operation  of  the  Stamp 
Act. 

The  crisis  had  now  arrived.  The  hand  of  destiny  had  struck 
with  a  bold  stroke  the  resounding  bell.  The  people,  nobly  re- 
sponding, had  seized  their  arms.  At  all  times,  when  some 
patriot  is  to  throw  himself  to  the  front  and  bid  defiance  to  the 
established  authority  of  government,  there  is  a  Rubicon  to  be 
crossed,  and  he  who  unsheathes  his  sword  to  resist  the  law  must 
win  success  or  meet  a  traitor's  doom.  But  the  leaders  on  the 
Cape  Fear  did  not  hesitate  at  the  thought  of  personal  peril. 
At  their  call,  the  people,  being  armed  and  assembled  at  Wil- 
mington, chose  the  men  who  were  to  guide,  govern,  and  direct 
them.  They  called  to  the  helm  John  Ashe,  the  trusted  speaker 
of  the  Assembly,  and  associated  with  him  Alexander  Lillington 
and  Col.  Thomas  Lloyd,  as  a  Directory  to  manage  their  affairs 


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96  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

at  this  momentous  crisis.  Their  movement  was  not  that  of  an 
irresponsible  mob.  It  was  an  orderly  proceeding,  pursuant  to  a 
determined  plan  of  action,  under  the  direction  of  the  highest 
officer  of  the  province,  who  was  charged  with  maintaining  the 
liberties  of  the  people.  In  effect,  it  was  the  institution  and 
ordaining  of  a  temporary  government. 

It  was  resolved  to  organize  an  armed  force  and  march  to 
Brunswick,  and  Col.  Hugh  Waddell  was  invested  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  military.  Let  us  pause  a  moment  and  take  a  view 
of  the  situation  at  that  critical  jimcture.  Close  to  Brimswick, 
in  his  mansion,  was  Governor  Tryon,  the  representative  of  the 
King;  no  coward  he,  but  resolute,  a  military  man  of  experience 
and  courage.  In  the  town  itseK  were  the  residences  and  offices 
of  Colonel  Dry,  the  collector  of  the  port,  and  of  other  officers 
of  the  Crown.  Off  in  the  river  lay  the  detained  merchant  ves- 
sels and  the  two  sloops  of  war,  the  Viper,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tian  Lobb,  and  the  Diligence,  commanded  by  Captain  Phipps, 
whose  bristling  guns,  26  in  number,  securely  kept  them ;  while 
Fort  Johnston,  some  miles  away,  well  armed  with  artillery,  was 
held  by  a  small  garrison.  At  every  point  flew  the  meteor  flag 
of  Great  Britain.  Every  point  was  protected  by  the  segis  of  His 
Sacred  Majesty.  For  a  subject  to  lift  his  hand  in  a  hostile 
manner  against  any  of  these  was  treason  and  rebellion.  Yes, 
treason  and  rebellion,  with  the  fearful  pimishment  of  attainder 
and  death — of  being  hanged  and  quartered. 

Well  might  the  eloquent  Davis  exclaim,  "Beware,  John  Ashe ! 
Hugh  Waddell,  take  heed !" 

Their  lives,  their  fortunes  were  at  hazard  and  the  dishonored 
grave  was  open  to  receive  their  dismembered  bodies!  But 
patriots  as  they  were,  they  did  take  care — ^not  for  themselves, 
but  for  the  liberties  of  their  country.  At  high  noon,  on  the  19th 
day  of  February,  the  three  directors,  the  mayor  and  other  offi- 
cers of  Wilmington,  the  embodied  soldiery,  and  the  prominent 
citizens,  moved  forward,  crossed  the  river,  passed  like  Csesar 
the  fateful  Rubicon,  and  courageously  marched  to  the  scene  of 
possible  conflict.  It  was  not  only  the  Governor  with  whom  thev 
had  to  deal,  but  the  ships  of  war  with  their  formidable  batteries 
that  held  possession  of  the  detained  vessels.  It  was  not  merely 
the  penalties  of  the  law  that  threatened  them,  but  they  courted 
death  at  the  cannon's  mouth,  in  conflict  with  the  heavily  armed 
sloops  of  war,  from  whose  power  they  had  come  to  wrest  the 
merchantmen.    But  there  was  neither  halt  nor  hesitation. 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  97 

Afl  they  crossed  the  river,  a  chasm  yawned  deep  and  wide, 
separating  them  from  their  loyal  past.  Behind  them  they  left 
their  allegiance  as  loyal  British  subjects;  before  them  was  re- 
bellion— open,  flagrant  war,  leading  to  revolution.  Who  could 
tell  what  the  ending  might  be  of  the  anticipated  conflict  I 

There  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  Cape  Fear  were  gathered,  in 
their  cocked  hats,  their  long  queues,  their  knee-breeches,  and 
shining  shoe  buckles.  Moimted  on  their  well-groomed  horses, 
they  made  a  famous  cavalcade  as  they  woimd  their  way  through 
the  somber  pine  forests  that  hedged  in  the  highway  to  old  Bruns- 
wick. Among  them  was  DeRosset,  the  mayor,  in  the  prime  of 
manhood,  of  French  descent,  with  keen  eye,  fine  culture,  and 
high  intelligence,  who  had  been  a  soldier  with  Innes  at  the 
North;  bold  and  resolved  was  he  as  he  rode,  surrounded  by 
Cornelius  Harnett,  Frederick  Gregg,  John  Sampson,  and  the 
other  aldermen  and  officers  of  the  town. 

At  the  head  of  a  thousand  armed  men,  arranged  in  companies 
and  marching  in  order,  was  the  experienced  soldier,  Hugh  Wad- 
dell,  not  yet  thirty-three  years  of  age,  but  already  renowned  for 
his  capacity  and  courage.  He  had  won  more  distinction  and 
honors  in  \he  late  wars  at  the  North  and  West  than  any  other 
Southern  soldier,  save  only  George  Washington;  and  now  in 
command  of  his  companies,  officered  by  men  who  had  been 
trained  in  discipline  in  the  war,  he  was  confident  of  the  issue. 
Of  Irish  descent,  and  coming  of  a  fighting  stock,  his  blood  was 
up,  and  his  heroic  soul  was  aflame  for  the  fray. 

Surrounded  by  a  bevy  of  his  kinsmen,  the  venerable  Sam  and 
John  Swann;  his  brothers-in-law,  James,  George,  and  Maurice 
Moore ;  his  brother,  Sam  Ashe,  and  Alexander  Lillington,  whose 
burly  forms  towered  high  above  the  others;  by  Howe,  Davis, 
Colonel  Lloyd,  and  other  gallant  spirits,  was  the  speaker,  John 
Ashe,  now  just  forty-five  years  of  age,  on  whom  the  responsi- 
bility of  giving  directions  chiefly  lay.  Of  medium  stature,  well 
knit,  with  olive  complexion  and  a  lustrous  hazel  eye,  he  was 
full  of  nervous  energy — an  orator  of  surpassing  power,  of  ele- 
gant carriage  and  commanding  presence.  Of  him  Mr.  Strud- 
wick  has  said :  "That  there  were  not  four  men  in  London  his 
intellectual  superior,"  and  that  at  a  time  when  Pitt,  Fox, 
Burke,  and  otl^ers  of  that  splendid  galaxy  of  British  orators  and 
statesmen  gave  lustre  to  British  annals. 

How,  on  this  momentous  occasion,  the  spirits  of  these  men 
and  of  their  kinsmen  and  friends  who  gathered  around,  must 


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98  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

have  soared  as  they  pressed  on,  resolved  to  maintain  the  char- 
tered rights  of  their  country  I  Animated  by  the  noble  impulses 
of  a  lofty  patriotism,  with  their  souls  elevated  by  the  inspiring 
emotions  of  a  perilous  struggle  for  their  liberties,  they  moved 
forward  with  a  resolute  purpose  to  sacrifice  their  lives  rather 
than  tamely  submit  to  the  oppressive  and  odious  enactments  of 
the  British  Parliament. 

It  was  nightfall  before  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  Bruns- 
wick, and  George  Moore  and  Cornelius  Harnett,  riding  in  ad- 
vance, presented  to  Governor  Tryon  a  letter  from  the  governing 
Directory,  notifying  him  of  their  purpose.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  Governor's  residence  was  surrounded,  and  Captain  Lobb 
was  inquired  for,  but  he  was  not  there.  A  party  was  then  dis- 
patched towards  Fort  Johnston,  and  thereupon  Tryon  notified 
the  British  naval  commanders  and  requested  them  to  protect  the 
fort,  repelling  force  with  force.  In  the  meantime,  a  party  of 
gentlemen  called  on  the  collector,  Mr.  Dry,  who  had  the  papers 
of  the  ship  Patience;  and  in  his  presence  broke  open  his  desk 
and  took  them  away.  This  gave  an  earnest  of  the  resolute  pur- 
pose of  the  people.  They  purposed  to  use  all  violence  that  was 
necessary  to  carry  out  their  designs.  Realizing  the  full  import 
of  the  situation,  the  following  noon  a  conference  of  the  King's 
officers  was  held  on  the  Viper,  and  Captain  Lobb,  confident  of 
his  strength,  declared  to  the  Governor  that  he  would  hold  the 
ship  Patience  and  insist  on  the  return  of  her  papers.  If  the 
people  were  resolved,  so  were  the  officers  of  the  government. 
The  sovereignty  of  Great  Britain  was  to  be  enforced.  There 
was  to  be  no  temporizing  with  the  rebels.  The  honor  of  the 
government  demanded  that  the  British  flag  should  not  droop  in 
the  face  of  this  hostile  array.  But  two  short  hours  later  a 
party  of  the  insurgents  came  aboard  and  requested  to  see  Cap- 
tain Lobb.  They  entered  the  cabin,  and  there,  under  the  royal 
flag,  surrounded  by  the  King's  forces,  they  demanded  that  all 
efforts  to  enforce  the  Stamp  Act  cease.  They  would  allow  no 
opposition.  In  the  presence  of  Ashe,  Waddell,  DeRosset,  Har- 
nett, Moore,  Howe,  and  Lillington,  the  spirit  of  Captain  Lobb 
quailed.  The  people  won.  In  the  evening  the  British  com- 
mander, much  to  the  Governor's  disgust,  reported  to  that  func- 
tionary that  "all  was  settled."  Yes.  All  had  been  settled. 
The  vessels  were  released ;  the  grievances  were  redressed.  The 
restrictions  on  the  commerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  were  removed. 
The  attempt  to  enforce  the  Stamp  Act  had  failed  before  the 


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Resistance  Befpre  the  Revolution  99 

prompt,  vigorous,  and  courageous  action  of  the  inhabitants. 
After  that,  vessels  could  come  and  go  as  if  there  had  been  no  act 
of  Parliament.  The  people  had  been  victorious  over  the  King's 
ships ;  with  arms  in  their  hands,  they  had  won  the  victory. 

But  the  work  was  not  all  finished.  There,  on  the  Diligence, 
were  obnoxious  stamps,  and  by  chance  some  loyal  officer  of  the 
government  might  use  them.  To  guard  against  that,  the  officers 
were  to  be  forced  to  swear  not  to  obey  the  act  of  Parliament, 
but  to  observe  the  will  of  the  people.  Mr.  Pennington  was  His 
Majesty's  controller,  and,  imderstanding  that  the  people  sought 
him,  he  took  refuge  in  the  Governor's  mansion  and  was  given 
a  bed  and  made  easy,  but  early  the  next  morning  Col.  James 
Moore  called  to  get  him.  The  Governor  interfered  to  prevent ; 
and  immediately  the  mansion  was  surrounded  by  the  insurgent 
troops,  and  the  Directory  notified  the  Governor,  in  writing, 
that  they  requested  His  Excellency  to  let  Mr.  Pennington  ap- 
pear, otherwise  it  would  not  be  "in  the  power  of  the  directors 
appointed  to  prevent  the  ill  consequences  that  would  attend  a 
refusal."  In  plain  language,  said  John  Ashe,  "Persist  in  your 
refusal,  and  we  will  come  and  take  him."  The  Governor  de- 
clined to  comply.  In  a  few  moments  he  observed  a  body  of 
nearly  five  himdred  men  move  towards  his  house.  A  detach- 
ment of  sixty  entered  his  avenue.  Cornelius  Harnett  accom- 
panied them  and  sent  word  that  he  wished  to  speak  with  Mr. 
Pennington.  The  Governor  replied  that  Mr.  Pennington  was 
protected  by  his  house.  Harnett  thereupon  notified  the  Gov- 
ernor that  the  people  would  come  in  and  take  him  out  of  the 
house,  if  longer  detained.  Now  the  point  was  reached.  The 
people  were  ready;  the  Gt)vemor  was  firm.  But  Pennington 
wisely  suggested  that  he  would  resign,  and  immediately  wrote 
his  resignation  and  delivered  it  to  the  Governor — and  then  he 
went  out  with  Harnett  and  was  brought  here  to  Brunswick,  and 
required  to  take  an  oath  never  to  issue  any  stamped  paper  in 
North  Carolina;  so  was  Mr.  Dry,  the  collector;  and  so  all  the 
clerks  of  the  Coimty  Courts,  and  other  public  officers.  Every 
officer  in  all  that  region,  except  alone  the  Governor,  was  forced 
to  obey  the  will  of  the  people  and  swear  not  to  obey  the  act  of 
Parliament. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  first  assemblage  at  Wilmington, 
on  the  18th,  the  directors,  having  completed  their  work  at 
Brunswick,  took  up  the  line  of  march  to  return.  With  what 
rejoicing  they  turned  their  backs  on  the  scene  of  their  blood- 


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100  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

less  triumph.  It  had  been  a  time  of  intense  excitement.  It  had 
been  no  easy  task  to  hold  more  than  a  thousand  hot  and  zealous 
patriots  well  in  hand,  and  to  accomplish  their  purposes  without 
bloodshed.  Wisdom  and  courage  by  the  directors,  and  prudence, 
foresight,  and  sagacity  on  the  part  of  the  military  officers  were 
alike  essential  to  the  consummation  of  their  design.  They  now 
returned  in  triimiph,  their  purposes  accomplished.  The  odious 
law  was  annulled  in  North  Carolina.  After  that,  merchant  ves- 
sels passed  freely  in  and  out  of  port,  without  interference.  The 
stamps  remained  boxed  on  shipboard,  and  no  further  effort  was 
made  to  enforce  a  law  which  the  people  had  rejected. 

Two  months  after  these  events  on  the  Cape  Fear,  Parliament 
repealed  the  law,  and  the  news  was  hurried  across  the  Atlantic 
in  the  fleetest  vessels.  The  victory  of  the  people  was  complete. 
They  had  annulled  an  act  of  Parliament,  crushed  their  enemies, 
and  preserved  their  liberties.  Thus  once  more  were  the  cour- 
ageous leaders  of  the  Cape  Fear,  in  their  measures  of  opposition 
to  encroachments  on  the  rights  of  the  people,  sustained  by  the 
result.  On  former  occasions  they  had  triimiphed  over  their 
governors:  now,  in  cooperation  with  other  provinces,  they  had 
triumphed  over  the  British  Ministry  and  the  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain. 

While  in  every  other  province  the  people  resolutely  opposed 
the  Stamp  Act,  nowhere  else  in  America  was  there  a  proceeding 
similar  to  that  which  was  taken  at  Wilmington.  Nowhere  else 
was  the  standard  of  Liberty  committed  to  the  care  of  a  govern- 
ing board,  even  though  its  creation  was  for  a  temporary  pur- 
pose; nowhere  else  was  there  an  army  organized,  under  officers 
appointed,  and  led  to  a  field  where  a  battle  might  have  ensued. 
Had  not  His  Majesty's  forces  yielded  to  the  will  of  the  insur- 
gents, the  American  Revolution  would  probably  have  begun 
then — and  here — on  the  soil  of  Old  Brunswick. 


WILLIAM  HOUSTON,  THE  STAMP  AGENT— 
ANOTHER  VIEWPOINT. 

CEztraoto  from  an  addrees  delivered  by  Mr.  J.  O.  Carr  before  the  North  Carolina 
Society  of  Colonial  Damee  of  America,  at  Old  Brunswick,  Hay  5. 1915.) 

One  hundred  and  fifty  years  have  elapsed  since  the  Houston 
episode,  and  it  is  not  too  early  to  begin  to  do  justice  to  the  vic- 
tim ;  nor  will  it  detract  from  the  heroism  of  the  patriots  of  1765, 
who  were  inspired  by  a  righteous  indignation  against  every 
form  of  oppression. 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  101 

By  a  careftd,  discriminatmg  reading  of  all  the  subject-matter 
at  our  command,  it  will  be  easily  seen  that  the  indignation  of 
the  people  of  1765  was  not  directed  against  Houston,  nor 
against  any  conduct  of  his,  but  against  the  principle  of  the 
British  stamp  tax. 

In  order  to  get  a  comprehensive  view  of  Houston  as  a  man  it 
is  necessary  to  consider  him  before  1765  and  after  1765. 

Houston  Befobb  1765. 

William  Houston  did  not  live  in  Wilmington  nor  in  Bruns- 
wick, but  resided  in  Duplin  County  on  the  Northeast  River, 
about  sixty  miles  north  of  Wilmington,  in  a  direct  line.  He 
was  an  associate  of  Henry  McCulloch  in  his  attempt  to  colonize 
North  Carolina,  and  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  who  came 
to  this  community  some  time  between  1737  and  1748.  This 
locality  was  then  a  part  of  the  county  of  New  Hanover. 

Houston  was  a  man  of  unusual  ability  and  was  known  as  an 
'honorable  gentleman. '^  By  profession  he  was  a  surgeon  and 
apothecary.  A  tradition,  too  well  founded  in  the  community 
in  which  he  lived  to  be  seriously  disputed,  at  least  forms  the 
basis  for  a  well-established  belief  that  royal  blood  flowed  in  his 
veins.  The  General  Assembly  of  1749  and  1750  established 
the  county  of  Duplin  and  St.  Gabriel's  parish,  and  William 
Houston  was  named  as  a  member  of  the  vestry  of  that  parish. 
From  1751  to  1761,  inclusive,  he  was  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly  from  Duplin  County,  and  following  that  date  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  along  with  other  leading  citizens  of  his 
county ;  and  in  those  days  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  was 
a  position  of  considerable  importance. 

When  he  was  appointed  stamp  agent  for  the  port  of  Bnms- 
wick,  he  was  residing  on  his  farm  in  Duplin  Coimty,  on  a  high 
elevation  on  the  Northeast  River,  at  a  place  known  as  "So- 
racte" — so  called,  no  doubt,  from  the  moimtain  by  that  name  in 
Italy  on  which  was  built  the  ancient  Temple  of  Apollo. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1765,  after  he  had  been  appointed 
stamp  agent  and  notice  of  such  appointment  had  reached  Bruns- 
wick direct  from  England,  Houston  was  hanged  in  effigy  in  the 
town  of  Wilmington,  the  only  reason  given  for  such  action  be- 
ing that  the  several  hundred  citizens  who  participated  were  "in- 
formed of  his  having  several  times  expressed  himself  much  in 
favor  of  the  stamp  duty'' — and  it  is  possible  that  he  honestly 


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102  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

favored  such  a  tax,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  he  favored  it 
without  the  people's  consent. 

Again,  on  the  31st  of  October,  1765,  a  large  number  of  people 
met  in  Wilmington  and  placed  an  effigy  in  a  coffin  and  moved 
imder  the  beat  of  drums  to  the  churchyard — ^no  doubt  St. 
James's  Church — ^where  the  interment  was  to  take  place;  but 
after  feeling  its  pulse,  decided  that  Liberty  still  survived,  and 
no  burial  took  place.  Also,  Dr.  Houston  was  hanged  in  effigy 
at  New  Bern  and  at  Fayetteville  about  the  same  time. 

During  all  of  these  exhibitions  of  patriotism,  Dr.  Houston 
was  pursuing  his  duties  as  surgeon  and  apothecary  at  "Soracte," 
now  known  as  "Sarecta,"  and  he  afterwards  protested  that  he 
had  not  solicited  and,  did  not  even  know  of  his  appointment  as 
stamp  agent  at  the  time  of  such  demonstrations.  It  was  not 
until  Saturday,  the  16th  day  of  November,  nearly  a  month  after 
his  first  hanging  and  demise,  that  Dr.  Houston  came  to  town, 
where  three  hundred  people,  with  drums  beating  and  flags  fly- 
ing, proceeded  to  his  lodging-place  and  inquired  whether  he  in- 
tended to  execute  the  office  of  stamp  agent.  Without  hesitation 
he  informed  them  that  he  "should  be  sorry  to  execute  any  office 
disagreeable  to  the  people  of  the  province" ;  and  as  an  exhibition 
of  good  faith  volimtarily  signed  the  famous  promise,  which  was 
done  of  his  own  free  will  and  accord ;  and  he  was  not  even  re- 
quired to  take  an  oath,  as  has  been  generally  believed.  If  this 
promise  had  been  signed  under  force  or  duress,  he  would  hardly 
have  been  given  an  ovation ;  but  after  he  had  indicated  his  senti- 
ments on  this  matter  there  was  a  love  feast  and  he  was  put  in 
an  armchair  and  carried  aroimd  the  courthouse  and  around  one 
of  the  chief  squares  of  the  city  of  Wilmington  and  finally  put 
down  at  his  lodging-place. 

A  careful  and  discriminating  reading  of  the  entire  story  must 
convince  the  thinking  man  that  instead  of  a  riot  and  a  lynching 
in  the  city  when  Dr.  Houston  came  to  town,  there  was  something 
in  the  nature  of  a  banquet  in  his  honor,  on  the  discovery  by  the 
people  that  the  sentiments  of  the  man  selected  by  the  Crown  to 
sell  stamps  were  in  harmony  with  theirs;  and  no  doubt  Dr. 
Houston  enjoyed  the  eats  and  drinks  as  much  as  any  one,  though 
the  drought  in  those  days  around  "Soracte"  was  doubtless  not  as 
marked  as  it  is  today. 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  103 

Houston  Aftbb  1765. 

The  episode  in  Wilmington  did  not  in  any  way  affect  the 
standing  of  Dr.  Houston  in  his  own  county,  where  he  was 
highly  honored  and  respected  by  his  fellow-citizens.  In  1768 
he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Duplin  County,  and 
likewise  again  in  1771.  In  1777  he  was  chairman  of  the  "Court 
Martial"  in  Duplin  County,  whose  duties  were  to  himt  down 
Tories  and  deserters  and  to  bring  to  justice  Americans  who  were 
not  faithful  to  our  cause ;  and  together  with  James  Kenan  and 
Joseph  Dickson,  whose  names  were  synonymous  with  patriotism 
in  that  community,  he  acted  in  this  capacity,  and  as  chairman 
of  the  commission.  He  continued  to  serve  his  coimty  in  public 
positions,  and  as  late  as  1784  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
peace  by  Alexander  Martin,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for 
some  time  thereafter.  The  time  of  his  death  or  the  place  of  his 
burial  can  not  be  stated  with  certainty,  but  it  is  thought  that  he 
was  buried  in  the  community  in  which  he  lived.^  His  descend- 
ants to  this  day  have  exhibited  the  same  elements  of  brilliancy 
and  patriotism  seen  in  Dr.  Houston. 


RUSSELLBOROUGH— SCENE  OF  FIRST  ARMED 
RESISTANCE. 

About  half  a  mile  to  the  south  of  Orton  House,  and  within 
the  boundary  of  the  plantation,  are  the  ruins  of  Governor  Try- 
on's  residence,  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  United  States  as 
the  spot  upon  which  the  first  overt  act  of  violence  occurred  in 
the  War  of  American  Independence,  nearly  eight  years  before 
the  Boston  Tea  Party,  of  which  so  much  has  been  made  in 
Northern  history,  while  this  colonial  ruin,  the  veritable  cradle 
of  American  liberty,  is  probably  unknown  to  nine-tenths  of  the 
people  of  the  Cape  Fear  at  the  present  day. 

This  place,  which  has  been  eloquently  referred  to  by  two  of 
the  most  distinguished  sons  of  the  Cape  Fear,  both  direct  de- 

'Since  the  preparation  of  the  above  paper,  I  have  found  the  foUowing 
memorandum  among  my  historical  data:  "William  Houston  in  after 
life  moved  from  Duplin  County  to  Tennessee  and  then,  it  is  said,  to 
Texas.  He  had  a  number  of  sons,  the  youngest  of  whom  was  Samuel 
Houston,  who  spent  his  life  in  Duplin  County  and  was  the  father  of 
the  late  Capt.  William  J.  Houston,  Mrs.  George  W.  Carroll,  Mrs.  J.  N. 
StallingB,  and  Mrs.  Dates."  This  information  was  furnished  me  by  the 
family  of  Mrs.  George  W.  Carroll.  J.  O.  Cabb. 


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104  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

scendants  of  Sir  John  Yeamans,  the  late  Hon.  Greorge  Davis 
and  the  late  Hon.  A.  M.  Waddell,  and  which  was  known  as  Rus- 
sellboroiigh,  was  bought  from  William  Moore,  son  and  successor 
of  "King^^  Roger,  by  Capt.  John  Russell,  commander  of  His 
Britannic  Majesty^s  sloop  of  war  Scorpion,  who  gave  the  tract  of 
about  fifty-five  acres  his  own  name.  It  subsequently  passed  into 
the  possession  of  his  widow,  who  made  a  deed  of  trust,  and  the 
property  ultimately  again  became  a  part  of  Orton  Plantation. 
It  was  sold  March  31,  1758,  by  the  executors  of  the  estate  of 
William  Moore  to  the  British  governor  and  commander-in-chief, 
Arthur  Dobbs,  who  occupied  it  and  who  sold  it  or  gave  it  to  his 
son,  Edward  Bryce  Dobbs,  captain  of  His  Majesty's  Seventh 
Regiment  of  Foot  or  Royal  Fusileers,  who  conveyed  it  by  deed, 
dated  February  12,  1767,  to  His  Excellency,  William  Tryon, 
governor,  etc.  It  appears,  however,  that  Governor  Tryon  occu- 
pied this  residence  prior  to  the  date  of  this  deed,  as  is  shown  by 
the  following  official  correspondence  in  1766  with  reference  to 
the  uprising  of  the  Cape  Fear  people  in  opposition  to  the  Stamp 
Act: 

Bbunswick,  19  February,  1766, 

Eleven  at  Night 
Sm: — ^Between  the  hours  of  six  and  seven  o'clock  this  evening,  Mr. 
Geo.  Moore  and  Mr.  Cornelius  Harnett  waited  on  me  at  my  house,  and 
delivered  me  a  letter  signed  by  three  gentlemen.  The  inclosed  is  a  copy 
of  the  original.  I  told  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Harnett  that  I  had  no  fears 
or  apprehensions  for  my  person  or  property,  I  wanted  no  guard,  there- 
fore desired  the  gentlemen  might  not  come  to  give  their  protection 
where  it  was  not  necessary  or  required,  and  that  I  would  send  the  gen- 
tlemen an  answer  in  writing  tomorrow  morning.  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr. 
Harnett  might  stay  about  five  or  six  minutes  in  my  house.  Instantly 
after  their  leaving  me,  I  found  my  house  surrounded  with  armed  men 
to  the  number,  I  estimate,  at  one  hundred  and  fifty.  I  had  some  alter- 
cation with  some  of  the  gentlemen,  who  informed  me  their  business  was 
to  see  Captain  Lobb,  whom  they  were  informed  was  at  my  house;  Cap- 
tain Paine  then  desired  me  to  give  my  word  and  honor  whether  Captain 
Lobb  was  in  my  house  or  not  I  positively  refused  to  make  any  such 
declaration,  but  as  they  had  force  in  their  hands  I  said  they  might 
break  open  my  locks  and  force  my  doors.  This,  they  declared,  they  had 
no  intention  of  doing;  Just  after  this  and  other  discourse,  they  got  in- 
telligence that  Captain  Lobb  was  not  in  my  house.  The  majority  of  the 
men  in  arms  then  went  to  the  town  of  Brunswick,  and  left  a  number  of 
men  to  watch  the  avenues  of  my  house,  therefore  think  it  doubtful  if  I 
can  get  this  letter  safely  conveyed.  I  esteem  it  my  duty,  sir,  to  inform 
you,  as  Fort  Johnston  has  but  one  officer  and  five  men  in  garrison,  the 
fort  will  stand  in  need  of  all  the  assistance  the  Viper  and  Diligence 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  105 

sloops  can  give  the  commanding  officer  there,  should  any  insult  be 
offered  to  His  Majesty's  fort  or  stores,  in  which  case  it  is  my  duty  to 
request  of  you  to  repel  force  with  force,  and  take  on  board  His  Majesty's 
sloops  so  much  of  His  Majesty's  ordnance  stores  and  ammunition  out 
of  the  said  fort  as  you  shall  think  necessary  for  the  benefit  of  the 
service. 

I  am,  your  most  humble  servant,  Wm.  Tbton. 

To  the  Commanding  Officer,  either  of  the  Yiper  or  Diligence  slo(^s 
of  war. 

The  writer,  who  has  made  his  home  at  Orton,  had  often  in- 
quired for  the  precise  location  of  the  ruins  of  Governor  Tryon's 
Eussellborough  residence  without  success ;  but  about  fifteen  years 
ago,  acting  upon  Colonel  Waddell's  reference  to  its  site  on  the 
north  of  Old  Brunswick,  the  service  of  an  aged  negro  who  had 
lived  continuously  on  the  plantation  for  over  seventy  years  was 
engaged.  He,  being  questioned,  could  not  remember  ever  having 
heard  the  name  Eussellborough,  nor  of  Governor  Dobbs,  nor  of 
Governor  Tryon,  nor  of  an  avenue  of  trees  in  the  locality  de- 
scribed. He  said  he  remembered,  however,  hearing  when  he  was 
a  boy  about  a  man  named  "Governor  Palace,^'  who  lived  in  a 
great  house  between  Orton  and  Old  Brunswick. 

We  proceeded  at  once  to  the  spot,  which  is  approached  through 
an  old  field,  still  known  as  "Old  Palace  Field,"  on  the  other  side 
of  which,  on  a  bluff  facing  the  east  and  affording  a  fine  view  of 
the  river,  we  foimd  hidden  in  a  dense  imdergrowth  of  timber 
the  foimdation  walls  of  Tryon's  residence.  The  aged  guide 
showed  us  the  well-worn  carriage  road  of  the  Governor,  and  also 
his  private  path  through  the  old  garden  to  the  river  landing,  a 
short  distance  below,  on  the  south  of  which  is  a  beautiful  cove 
of  white  and  shining  sand,  known,  he  said,  in  olden  times,  as 
the  Govemor^s  Cove.  The  stone  foundation  walls  of  the  house 
are  about  two  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Some  sixty 
years  ago  the  walls  stood  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  high,  but 
the  material  was  unfortunately  used  by  one  of  the  proprietors 
for  building  purposes. 

The  old  servant  pointed  out  a  large  pine  tree  near  by,  upon 
which  he  said  had  been  carved  in  colonial  times  the  names  of 
two  distinguished  persons  buried  beneath  it,  and  which  in  his 
youthful  days  was  regarded  with  much  curiosity  by  visitors. 
The  rude  inscription  has  unhappily  become  almost  obliterated 
by  several  growths  of  bark,  and  the  strange  mysterious  record 
is  forever  hidden  by  the  hand  of  time. 


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106  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

A  careful  excavation  of  this  ruin  would  doubtless  reveal  some 
interesting  and  possibly  valuable  relics  of  Governor  Tryon's 
household.  Near  the  surface  was  found,  while  these  lines  were 
being  written,  some  fragments  of  blue  Dutch  tiling,  doubtless  a 
part  of  the  interior  decorations;  also  a  number  of  peculiarly 
shaped  bottles  for  the  favorite  sack  of  those  days,  which  Falstaff 
called  sherris  sack,  of  Xeres  vintage,  now  known  as  dry  sherry. 

In  recent  years  the  site  of  Governor  Tryon's  palace  upon  this 
spot  has  been  marked  by  a  substantial  monument  built  of  bricks 
and  stones  taken  from  the  foundation  of  the  building  and  suit- 
ably inscribed  by  the  North  Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames 
of  America. 


SONS  OF  LIBEETT  IN  NOETH  CAEOLINA.i 

South  Carolina  Gazette,  July  5,  1770. 

We  hear  that  in  consequence  of  a  letter  lately  addressed  to  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  in  North  Carolina,  under  cover  to  Col.  James 
Moore,  a  meeting  had  been  appointed,  and  held  on  the  2d  of  last 
month,  where  a  number  of  gentlemen  from  the  several  southern 
counties  in  that  province  were  chosen  as  a  committee  to  meet  at 
Wilmington  on  this  day,  to  consult  upon  such  measures  as  may 
appear  most  eligible  for  evincing  their  patriotism  and  loyalty 
in  the  present  critical  situation  of  affairs ;  which  committee  are. 
Col.  James  Lloyd,  Cornelius  Harnett,  Frederick  Gregg,  Wil- 
liam Campbell,  Esq.,  Messrs.  John  Robeson  and  William  Wil- 
kinson, for  the  town  of  Wilmington;  George  Mdore,  Frederick 
Jones,  Esq.,  Col.  James  Moore,  Messrs.  Samuel  Ashe  and  James 
Moran,  for  New  Hanover  County ;  Eichard  Quince,  sr.,  Eichard 
Quince,  jr.,  Esqrs.,  and  Mr.  John  Wilkinson,  for  the  town  of 
Brunswick;  John  and  William  Davis,  Esqrs.,  Messrs  Samuel 
Watters,  Thomas  Davis,  and  Samuel  Neale,  for  Brunswick 
County ;  Messrs.  John  and  George  Gibbs,  and  John  Grange,  jr., 
for  Bladen  County;  Col.  James  Sampson  and  Felix  Kenan, 
Esq.,  for  Duplin  County;  William  Cray,  Henry  Eoads,  and 
Eichard  Ward,  Esqrs.,  for  Onslow  County ;  and  Walter  Gibson, 
Farquhar  Campbell,  and  Eobert  Eowan,  Esqrs.,  for  Cumber- 
land Coimty. 


^The  Sons  of  Uberty  were  originally  formed  in  the  fall  of  1765. 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  107 

South  Carolina  Gazette,  July  26,  1770. 

We  are  informed  that  on  the  22d  of  last  month  the  Virginians 
extended  their  Economical  Plan  and  Non-Importation  Agree- 
ment, agreeable  to  those  of  this  province,  and  that  some  General . 
Resolutions  were  to  be  framed  last  week  by  the  inhabitants  of 
North  Carolina,  to  manifest  their  unanimity  with  the  rest  of 
the  colonies. 

South  Carolina  Gazette,  August  9,  1770. 

(WiLMiiq^GTON,  Cape  Feab),  July  11. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  the  Sons  of  Lib- 
erty upon  Cape  Fear,  in  Wilmington,  the  5th  day  of  July,  Cor- 
nelius Harnett,  Esq.,  was  chosen  chairman,  and  the  following 
resolution  unanimously  agreed  on,  viz. : 

I.  Resolved,  That  the  following  answer  to  the  letter  received  from  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  in  South  Carolina,  of  the  25th  of  April  last,  be  signed 
by  the  chairman  and  sent  by  the  first  conveyance. 

To  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  South  Carolina: — 

Gentlemen: — 

Tour  favour  of  the  25th  of  April  last  was  laid  before  the  Sons  of  Lib- 
erty upon  the  Cape  Fear,  at  a  general  meeting  in  this  town,  on  the 
second  of  last  month,  and  received  with  the  highest  satisfaction. 

We  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  many  of  the  principal  in- 
habitants of  six  large  and  populous  counties  attended,  when  it  was 
unanimously  agreed  to  keep  strictly  to  the  Non-Importation  Agreement 
entered  into  last  fall,  and  to  cooperate  with  our  sister  colonies  in  every 
legal  measure  for  obtaining  ample  redress  of  the  grievance  so  justly 
conii>lained  of. 

Happy  should  we  have  thought  ourselves  if  our  merchants  in  general 
would  have  followed  the  disinterested  and  patriotic  example  of  their 
brethren  in  the  other  colonies;  we  hope,  however,  their  own  interest 
wiU  convince  them  of  the  necessity  of  importing  such  articles,  and  such 
only,  as  the  planters  will  purchase. 

We  should  have  done  ourselves  the  pleasure  of  answering  your  letter 
much  sooner,  but  the  gentlemen  of  the  committee  living  at  such  a  dis- 
tance from  each  other  prevented  it. 

We  beg  to  assure  you  that  the  inhabitants  of  those  six  counties,  and 
we  doubt  not  of  every  county  in  this  colony,  are  convinced  of  the  neces- 
sity of  adhering  strictly  to  their  former  resolution,  and  you  may  de- 
pend they  are  as  tenacious  of  their  just  rights  as  any  of  their  brethren 
on  the  continent  and  firmly  resolved  to  stand  or  fall  with  them  in  sup- 
port of  the  common  cause  of  American  liberty. 

Worthless  men,  as  you  very  justly  observe,  are  the  production  of 
every  country,  and  we  are  also  so  unhappy  as  to  have  a  few  among  us 
"who  have  not  virtue  enough  to  resist  the  allurement  of  present  gain." 


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108  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Tet  we  can  venture  to  assert,  that  the  people  in  general  of  this  colony 
will  be  spirited  and  steady  in  their  support  of  their  rights  as  English 
subjects,  and  will  not  tamely  submit  to  the  yoke  of  oppression — ''But, 
if  by  the  iron  hand  of  power,"  they  are  at  last  crushed,  it  is  their  fixed 
resolution  either  to  fall  with  the  same  dignity  and  spirit  you  so  justly 
mention  or  transmit  to  their  posterity,  entire,  the  inestimable  blessing 
of  our  free  constitution. 

The  disinterested  and  public-spirited  behaviour  of  the  merchants  and 

other  inhabitants  of  your  colony  justly  merits  the  applause  of  every 

.  lover  of  liberty  on  the  continent    The  people  of  any  colony  who  have 

not  virtue  enough  to  follow  so  glorious  examples  must  be  lost  to  every 

sense  of  freedom  and  consequently  deserve  to  be  slaves.    We  are, 

With  great  truth,  gentlemen. 

Tour  affectionate  countr3rmen, 

Ck)BNELins  Habnbtt,  Chairman. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  General  Committee. 
Wilmington,  Cape  Fbab,  July  6,  1770. 

II.  Resolved,  That  we  will  strictly  and  inviolably  adhere  to  the  Non- 
Importation  Agreement  entered  into  on  the  30th  day  of  S^tember  last 
until  the  grievances  therein  mentioned  are  redressed. 

III.  Resolved,  That  we  will  not  on  any  pr^ense  whatever,  have  any 
dealings  or  connexion  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  of  Rhode 
Island,  who  contrary  to  their  solemn  and  voluntary  contract  have  vio- 
lated their  faith  pledged  to  the  other  colonies  and  thereby  shamefully 
deserted  the  comm6n  cause  of  American  liberty;  and  if  any  of  their 
vessels  or  merchants  shall  arrive  in  Cape  Fear  River  with  intention  to 
trade,  we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  by  all  legal  ways  and  means, 
prevent  any  person  buying  from,  or  selling  to  them,  any  goods  or  com- 
modities whatever,  unless  they  give  full  satisfaction  to  the  colonies  for 
their  base  and  unworthy  conduct. 

IV.  Resolved,  That  the  merchants  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  and  all 
others  on  the  continent  of  North  America,  who  will  not  comply  with 
the  Non-Importation  Agreement,  are  declared  enemies  to  their  country, 
and  ought  to  be  treated  in  the  most  contemptuous  manner. 

V.  Resolved,  That  we  will  not  purchase  any  kind  of  goods  or  mer- 
chandise whatever,  from  any  merchants  or  other  person  who  shall  im- 
port or  purchase  goods  for  sale  contrary  to  the  spirit  and  intention  of 
the  said  Agreement,  unless  such  goods  be  immediately  re^hipped  to 
the  place  they  were  imported  from  or  stored  under  the  inspection  and 
direction  of  the  committee. 

VL  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  committee  for  the  several 
counties  in  the  Wilmington  district,  and  particularly  those  for  the 
towns  of  Wilmington  and  Brunswick,  do  carefully  inspect  all  importa- 
tions of  goods,  and  if  any  shall  be  imported  contrary  to  the  true  intent 
and  meaning  of  the  said  Non-Importation  Agreement,  that  they  give 
public  notice  thereof  in  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury,  with  the  names  of  such 
importers  or  purchasers. 

VII.  Resolved,  That  copies  of  these  resolutions  be  immediately  trans- 
mitted to  all  the  trading  towns  in  this  colony.    The  Committee  of  the 


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Resistance  Before  the  Revolution  109 

Sons  of  Liberty  upon  Cape  Fear,  appointed  for  the  town  of  Wilmington 
to  inspect  into  all  goods  imported,  take  this  opportunity  to  inform  the 
public  that  Mr.  Arthur  Benning,  of  Duplin  County,  hath  imported  in 
the  sloop  Lancashire  Witch  from  Virginia  a  small  assortment  of  goods, 
several  articles  of  which  are  not  allowed  by  the  Non-Importation  Agree- 
ment But  it  appears  at  the  same  time  to  the  committee  those  goods 
were  expected  to  arrive  before  the  1st.  of  January  last,  having  been 
ordered  by  Mr.  Benning  some  time  in  July  last.  His  correspondent 
sent  them  to  Virginia,  where  they  have  lain  a  considerable  time  since. 
We  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  the  public,  that  Richard  Quince,  Esq., 
a  member  of  the  General  Committee  and  who  may  with  great  propriety 
be  deemed  a  principal  merchant,  hath  joined  heartily  in  the  Non-Impor- 
tation Agreement.  It  will,  no  doubt,  be  looked  upon  as  a  very  great 
misfortune  to  this  country  that  some  merchants  and  others  seem  re- 
solved not  to  follow  so  disinterested  an  example,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
are  daily  purchasing  wines  and  many  other  articles  contrary  to  the 
said  Agreement.  Should  those  gentlemen  still  persist  in  a  practice  so 
destructive  in  its  tendencies  to  the  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  colony, 
they  must  not  be  surprised  if  hereafter  the  names  of  the  importers  and 
purchasers  should  be  published  in  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury,  This  is  in- 
tended to  serve  as  a  friendly  admonition,  and,  it  is  hoped,  will  be 
received  as  such  and  have  its  due  effect. 


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The  Revolution 

THE  INSTITUTION  OF  THE  EEVOLUTIONAKT 
GOVEENMENT. 

On  July  21,  1774,  there  was  an  important  meeting  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Wihnington  district  held  at  Wilmington. 

It  being  understood  that  the  Governor  had  determined  that 
the  Legislature  shpuld  not  meet,  this  meeting  was  called  to  take 
steps  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  a  Revolutionary  Conven- 
tion. 

William  Hooper  presided;  and  Col.  James  Moore,  John 
Ancrum,  Fred  Jones,  Samuel  Ashe,  Robert  Howe,  Robert  Hogg, 
Frauds  Clayton,  and  Archibald  Maclaine  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  prepare  a  circular  letter  to  the  several  counties  of 
the  province,  requesting  them  to  elect  delegates  to  represent 
them  in  the  convention. 

This  was  the  first  movement  to  provide  for  a  Revolutionary 
Grovemment,  and  the  delegates  elected  were  the  first  elected  by 
the  people  in  any  province  in  right  of  the  sovereignty  of  the 
people.  It  was  at  this  same  meeting  that  the  cry,  "The  Cause 
of  Boston  is  the  Cause  of  All,"  arose.  Money  and  a  shipload  of 
provisions  were  at  once  subscribed  for  the  suffering  people  of 
Boston,  and  Parker  Quince  offered  his  vessel  to  carry  the  pro- 
visions and  himself  went  to  deliver  them. 

In  response  to  the  letter  sent  out  by  the  committee,  delegates 
were  chosen  in  every  county  except  five.  The  convention  met  at 
New  Bern  on  August  25,  1774,  and  a  Revolutionary  Govern- 
ment was  instituted. 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

(Eztraots  from  the  ProoeedingB  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  New  Hanover  County.) 

Wilmington,  November  23,  1774. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  in  the  courthouse  at  Wil- 
mington for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  Committee  of  said  town 
to  carry  more  eifectually  into  execution  the  resolves  of  the  late 
Congress  held  at  Philadelphia,  the  following  names  were  pro- 
posed and  universally  assented : 
[110] 


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The  Revolution  111 

Cornelius  Harnett,  John  Quince,  Francis  Clayton,  William 
Hooper,  Kobert  Hogg,  Archibald  Maclaine,  John  Robinson, 
James  Walker. 

Wednesday,  January  4,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  at  the  courthouse.  Present,  Cornelius 
Harnett,  Archibald  Maclaine,  John  Ancrum,  William  Hooper, 
and  John  Robinson. 

At  the  same  time  the  Freeholders  of  New  Hanover  County 
assembled  to  choose  a  committee  for  the  county  to  join  and  co- 
operate with  the  committee  of  the  town,  which  the  members 
present  agreed  to.  Then  the  Freeholders  present,  having  Cor- 
nelius Harnett  in  the  chair,  unanimously  chose  George  Moore, 
John  Ashe,  Samuel  Ashe,  James  Moore,  Frederick  Jones,  Alex- 
ander Lillington,  Sampson  Moseley,  Samuel  Swann,  George 
Merrick,  Esquires,  and  Messrs.  John  HoUingsworth,  Samuel 
Collier,  Samuel  Marshall,  William  Jones,  Thomas  Bloodworth, 
James  Wright,  John  Larkins,  Joel  Parrish,  John  Devane,  Tim- 
othy Bloodworth,  Thomas  Devane,  John  Marshall,  John  Calvin, 
Bishop  Dudley,  and  William  Robeson,  Esquires,  a  committee  to 
join  the  committee  of  Wilmington. 

Monday,  March  6,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  following  Association  was  agreed  on  by  the  Committee 
and  annexed  to  the  resolves  of  the  General  Congress,  to  be 
handed  to  every  person  in  this  county  and  recommended  to  the 
Committees  of  the  adjacent  counties,  that  those  who  acceded  to 
the  said  resolves,  may  subscribe  their  names  thereto. 

We,  the  subscribers,  in  testimony  of  our  sincere  approbation 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  to  the  an- 
nexed have  hereto  set  our  hands,  and  we  do  most  solemnly 
engage  by  the  most  sacred  ties  of  honor,  virtue,  and  love  of  our 
country,  that  we  will  ourselves  strictly  observe  every  part  of  the 
Association  recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress. 

Mr.  James  Kenan,  chairman  of  the  Duplin  Committee,  pur- 
suant to  a  letter  from  this  committee  at  its  last  meeting  attended. 

Resolved,  That  all  the  members  of  the  committee  now  present 
go  in  a  body  and  wait  on  all  housekeepers  in  town  with  the 
Association  before  mentioned  and  request  their  signing  it,  or 
declare  their  reasons  for  refusing,  that  such  enemies  to  their 
country  may  be  set  forth  to  public  view  and  treated  with  the 
contempt  they  merit. 


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112  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Kesolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee  that  all 
dances,  private  as  well  as  public,  are  contrary  to  the  spirit  of 
the  eighth  article  in  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  as  such  they  ought  to  be  discouraged,  and  that  all 
persons  concerned  in  any  dances  for  the  future  should  be  prop- 
.  erly  stigmatized. 

Mr.  Harnett  desired  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  respecting 
a  negro  fellow  he  bought  in  Rhode  Island  (a  native  of  that 
place)  in  the  month  of  October  last,  whom  he  designed  to  have 
brought  with  him  to  this  province,  but  the  said  negro  ran  away 
at  the  time  of  his  sailing  from  Rhode  Island.  The  question  was 
put  whether  Mr.  Harnett  may  import  said  negro  from  Rhode 
Island. 

Resolved  unanimously.  That  Mr.  Harnett  may  import  the 
said  negro  from  Rhode  Island. 

Tuesday,  March  7,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  three  members  of  this  committee  attend  the 
meeting  of  the  Committee  at  Duplin  on  the  18th  instant  Mr. 
Samuel  Ashe,  Mr.  Sampson  Moseley,  and  Mr.  Timothy  Blood- 
worth  were  accordingly  nominated  to  attend  the  said  Com- 
mittee. 

WHIGS  AND  TORIES. 

On  the  last  day  of  May,  1775,  Josiah  Martin,  the  royal  gov- 
ernor of  North  Carolina,  locked  his  palace  at  New  Bern  and 
fled  to  Fort  Johnston,  arriving  there  on  June  2.  Two  weeks 
later  he  issued  his  proclamation  warning  the  people  to  desist 
from  their  revolutionary  proceedings.    As  if  in  answer,  on  Jime 

19,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hanover,  having  assembled,  united 
in  an  association  "to  sacrifice  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  secure 
the  freedom  and  safety  of  our  country."     The  next  day,  June 

20,  the  committeemen  of  Duplin,  Bladen,  Onslow,  Brunswick, 
and  New  Hanover  met  at  Wilmington  and  adopted  the  New 
Hanover  Association,  which  was  also  signed,  later,  in  Cumber- 
land. Three  weeks  elapsed,  and  then  the  people  of  the  Lower 
Cape  Fear,  having  determined  to  dislodge  the  garrison  of  the 
fort,  on  the  18th  of  July  seized  and  burnt  the  fort,  the  Governor 
and  his  soldiers  taking  refuge  on  the  vessels. 

Knowing  that  there  was  a  large  number  of  loyal  adherents  in 
the  interior.  Governor  Martin  devised  a  plan  by  which  a  strong 


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The  Revolution  113 

British  force  was  to  be  sent  from  England  to  the  Cape  Fear, 
where  they  would  be  joined  by  the  Loyalists  from  the  upper 
counties  and  the  province  would  be  subjugated.  Accordingly, 
when  the  time  approached  for  the  British  fleet  to  arrive,  the 
Loyalists  began  to  embody,  the  first  movement  being  on  Feb- 
ruary 5,  with  instructions  to  concentrate  at  Campbellton.  As 
quickly  as  this  action  was  known,  the  news  was  hurried  to  Wil- 
mington and  other  points  throughout  the  province.  The  mes- 
sengers reached  Wilmington  on  the  9th  with  the  startling  in- 
telligence, and  the  greatest  excitement  prevailed. 

For  eighty  hours,  night  and  day,  there  was  severe,  unremit- 
ting service,  making  preparation  for  defense.  Companies  of 
troops  rushed  in  from  Onslow,  Duplin,  and  Brunswick,  the 
whole  country  being  aroused.  Colonel  Moore  with  his  Conti- 
nentals, Colonel  Lillington  with  his  corps  of  minute  men.  Col- 
onel Ashe  with  his  Independents,  hurried  to  the  vicinity  of 
Campbellton  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  Loyalists,  while  Col- 
onel Purviance,  in  command  of  the  New  Hanover  Militia,  re- 
mained at  Wilmington,  throwing  up  breastworks,  mounting 
swivels,  and  constructing  fire-rafts  to  drive  off  the  British  ves- 
sels should  they  attempt  to  seize  the  town.  The  sloop  of  war 
Cruizer  did  ascend  the  river,  but,  avoiding  Wilmington,  tried 
to  pass  up  the  Clarendon,  or  Brunswick,  Kiver.  She  was,  how- 
ever, driven  back  by  riflemen  who  lined  the  banks. 

The  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek^  followed  on  February  27,  and 
the  plan  of  the  Governor  was  defeated.  All  during  March  and 
April  British  vessels  came  into  the  harbor,  but  the  grand  fleet 
bearing  the  troops  from  England,  being  detained  by  storms,  did 
not  arrive  until  the  end  of  April,  when  there  were  more  than  a 
hundred  ships  in  the  river.  The  plan  of  the  Governor  having 
failed,  towards  the  end  of  May  the  fleet  sailed,  expecting  to  take 
possession  of  Charleston,  leaving  only  a  few  ships  in  the  river. 
Later,  these  likewise  were  withdrawn,  and  for  nearly  five  years 
the  people  of  Wilmington  were  left  undisturbed. 

'A  monument  commemorating  this  weU-known  battle  was  erected  by 
the  citizens  of  Wilmington  and  its  vicinity  in  1857.  Falling  into  decay, 
in  1907  it  was  repaired  by  the  Moore's  Creek  Monument  Association, 
aided  by  an  appropriation  of  the  United  States  Congress  secured  by 
Representative  Charles  R.  Thomas,  then  representing  the  Third  Con- 
gressional District  of  North  Carolina. 

At  the  same  time  and  at  the  same  place  a  monument  was  erected  to 
the  brave  women  of  the  Revolution,  on  one  side  of  which  appears  the 
name  of  Mary  Slocumb,  who,  it  is  said,  rode  sixty-five  miles  alone  at 
night  to  care  for  her  husband  and  other  patriot  soldiers  engaged  in  the 
Battle  of  Moore's  Creek. 


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114  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

At  length,  South  Carolina  being  subjugated,  Lord  Comwallis 
proposed  to  enter  North  Carolina,  and  as  a  part  of  his  opera- 
tions, on  the  28th  of  January,  1781,  Maj.  James  H.  Craig  took 
possession  of  Wilmington.  His  force  consisted  of  eighteen  ves- 
sels, carrying  a  full  supply  of  provisions  and  munitions,  and 
400  regular  troops,  artillery,  and  dragoons.  At  that  time 
Bnmswick  was  entirely  deserted,  and  Wilmington  contained 
but  200  houses  and  only  1,000  inhabitants.  The  entire  Cape 
Fear  region  was  defenseless.  The  losses  of  the  Cape  Fear  coun- 
ties at  Camden  and  in  other  battles  at  the  South  had  been  heavy, 
while  many  of  the  militia  and  the  whole  Continental  Line  had 
been  surrendered  by  Lincoln  at  Charleston.  Thus  the  Whig 
strength  had  been  greatly  weakened,  while  there  were  in  the 
country  but  few  guns  and  no  powder  and  lead.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Loyalists  had  been  strengthened  by  accessions  from 
those  who  wearied  of  the  war. 

Major  Craig  at  once  dispatched  detachments  to  scour  the 
coimtry,  seize  prominent  Whigs,  collect  forage,  and  arouse  the 
Loyalists,  who  in  some  counties  largely  outnumbered  the  Whigs. 
After  the  Battle  of  Guilford  Courthouse,  Comwallis  retreated 
to  Wilmington,  his  army  arriving  there  on  the  7th  of  ApriL 
In  the  closing  days  of  April,  when  he  had  repaired  his  damage 
as  well  as  he  could,  he  marched  through  the  eastern  counties  to 
Virginia,  leaving  the  subjugation  of  North  Carolina  to  Major 
Craig. 

Large  bodies  of  Loyalists,  well  supplied  by  the  British  with 
arms  and  ammunition  and  too  strong  to  be  successfully  resisted, 
now  marched  at  will  throughout  the  Upper  Cape  Fear,  sup- 
pressing the  Whigs  and  taking  many  prisoners,  confining  them 
in  prison  ships  or  in  Craig's  "bull-pen"  on  shore. 

After  Comwallis  had  passed  on  to  Virginia,  General  Lilling- 
ton  returned  to  his  former  position  at  Heron  Bridge,  over  the 
Northeast;  but  in  June  he  was  forced  to  retire  into  Onslow 
County,  and  Craig  established  an  outpost  at  Eutherf ord  Mills, 
on  Ashe's  Creek,  seven  miles  east  of  Burgaw,  where  he  con- 
structed a  bastion  fort.  In  the  meantime  Craig  had  been  active 
in  organizing  the  Loyalists,  and  issued  a  proclamation  notify- 
ing the  inhabitants  that  they  were  all  British  subjects  and  must 
enroll  themselves  as  Loyalist  Militia,  and  those  who  did  not  do 
so  by  the  first  day  of  August  were  to  be  harried,  their  property 
seized  and  sold,  and  themselves  destroyed.  On  the  last  day  of 
grace  Craig  began  a  march  through  the  eastern  counties,  his 


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loyal  lieutenants  being  very  vigorous  in  the  counties  on  the 
Northwest  and  the  Haw  and  the  Deep  Kivers.  When  he  reached 
Hock  Creek,  two  miles  east  of  Wallace,  he  found  Colonel  Kenan 
with  some  500  militia  ready  to  contest  his  passage,  but  Kenan's 
ammunition  was  soon  exhausted  and  the  British  successfully 
crossed  and  dispersed  the  militia.  For  ten  days  Craig  remained 
in  Duplin  and  harried  the  Whigs,  and  then,  after  being  joined 
by  300  Loyalists,  he  moved  towards  New  Bern.  Lillington  was 
at  Limestone  Bridge,  but  hurried  on  the  road  to  the  Trent  to 
keep  in  Craig's  front.  He  had  about  600  men,  but  only  three 
rounds  of  ammunition,  and  had  been  directed  not  to  hazard  a 
battle.  On  the  17th  of  August  General  Caswell  reported  to  the 
Governor:  "General  Lillington  is  between  New  Bern  and  the 
enemy,  and  I  am  fearful  will  risk  an  action.  I  have  done  every- 
thing I  can  to  prevent  it,  and  have  let  him  have  a  sight  of  Your 
Excellency's  letter,  wherein  you  mention  that  no  general  action 
must  take  place."  Craig  entered  New  Bern,  and  then  marched 
towards  Kinston,  but  turned  south  and  went  to  Kichlands,  and, 
after  obtaining  a  supply  of  forage,  returned  to  Wilmington. 
At  the  east,  the  Whigs  now  rallied  everywhere,  those  in  Duplin, 
having  suffered  greatly,  being  thoroughly  exasperated.  They 
surprised  a  body  of  Tories,  "cut  many  of  them  to  pieces,  took 
several  and  put  them  to  instant  death."  The  retaliation  on  each 
side  was  fierce  and  ferocious,  until  at  length  the  Tories  sub- 
sided. But  in  Bladen  and  higher  up  the  Tory  detachments,  each 
numbering  several  hundred,  held  the  country  and  drove  the 
Whigs  out.  However,  on  August  28,  Colonel  Brown,  with  about 
150  Bladen  men,  won  a  complete  victory  at  Elizabethtown  and 
broke  the  Tory  power  in  Bladen.  But  a  fortnight  later,  Fan- 
ning, whose  force  numbered  1,000  men,  took  Hillsboro,  cap- 
tured the  Governor,  and  fought  the  Battle  of  Cane  Creek. 

It  was  not  until  October  that  General  Rutherford  was  able  to 
collect  enough  men  to  march  to  the  relief  of  Wilmington.  Early 
in  November  he  reached  the  Northeast,  ten  miles  above  the 
town,  and  established  himself  there,  hemming  Craig  in.  But 
now  momentous  events  happening  at  Yorktown  had  their  effect 
on  the  Cape  Fear.  On  the  17th  of  November,  Light-Horse 
Harry  Lee  (the  father  of  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee)  arrived  at  Ruth- 
erford's camp,  bringing  the  glad  news  of  the  surrender  of  Com- 
wallis.  Immediately  the  whole  camp  united  in  a  feu  de  joie, 
and  then  Rutherford  crossed  the  river  and  took  post  at  Schaw's, 
four  miles  from  the  town.    On  the  following  morning,  Novem- 


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116  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ber  18,  Major  Craig  and  his  troops  boarded  his  ships  and  took 
their  departure,  and  although  the  Tory  bands  continued  to  wage 
a  relentless  and  murderous  warfare  on  the  Haw  and  the  Deep, 
Wilmington  thereafter  enjoyed  quiet  and  repose. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  ELIZABETHTOWN. 

(The  Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle,  February,  1844.) 

One  of  the  most  daring  and  successful  onsets  upon  Tories  by 
the  Whigs  during  the  Kevolutionary  War  was  at  Elizabethtown, 
in  the  county  of  Bladen,  of  this  State.  No  notice  of  the  battle 
was  found  in  any  history  of  that  period.  We  understood  that 
there  was  an  imperfect  relation  of  it  published  in  a  Federal 
paper  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago.  That  a  memorial  to  so 
gallant  an  act  might  be  revived  and  placed  within  reach  of  some 
future  historian,  we  addressed  a  letter  to  a  distinguished  gentle- 
man of  Bladen,  desiring  such  information  in  regard  to  the 
affair  as  he  should  possess  or  be  able  to  collect.  The  annexed 
letter  from  him  furnishes  a  very  satisfactory  accoimt  of  the  in- 
formation sought  for,  and  will  doubtless  be  perused  by  every 
North  Carolinian  with  much  interest.  Our  respected  corre- 
spondent, probably  through  inadvertence,  omitted  to  put  down 
the  date  of  the  battle.  It  was  1781,  and,  as  near  as  we  can 
ascertain,  in  the  month  of  July. 

.     A    -o  -n  Bladen  County,  Feb.  21st,  1844. 

A.  A.  Brown,  Esq.,  '  ' 

Editor  of  the  Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle. 
Deab  Sib: — ^Yours  of  the  3d  inst.  was  received,  soliciting 
such  information  as  I  possess  or  may  be  able  to  collect  respect- 
ing the  battle  fought  at  Elizabethtown  during  our  Eevolutionary 
struggle  between  the  Whigs  and  Tories.  I  have  often  regretted 
that  the  actions  and  skirmishes  which  occurred  in  this  and  New 
Hanover  County  should  have  been  overlooked  by  historians. 
The  Battle  of  Elizabethtown  deserves  a  place  in  history  and 
ought  to  be  recollected  by  every  true-hearted  North  Carolinian 
with  pride  and  pleasure.  Here  sixty  men,  driven  from  their 
homes,  their  estates  ravaged  and  houses  plundered,  who  had. 
taken  refuge  with  the  Whigs  of  Duplin,  without  funds  and  bare 
of  clothing,  resolved  to  return,  fight,  conquer,  or  die.  After  col- 
lecting all  the  ammunition  they  could,  they  embodied  and 
selected  Col.  Thomas  Brown  in  command.    They  marched  fifty 


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The  Revolution  117 

milefl  through  almost  a  wilderness  country  before  they  reached 
the  river,  subsisting  on  jerked  beef  and  a  scanty  supply  of 
bread.  The  Tories  had  assembled,  300  or  more,  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  and  were  commanded  by  Slingsby  and  Godden.  The 
former  was  a  talented  man  and  well  fitted  for  his  station;  the 
latter,  bold,  daring,  and  reckless,  ready  to  risk  everything  to  put 
down  the  Whigs.  Every  precautionary  measure  was  adopted  to 
prevent  surprise  and  to  render  this  the  stronghold  of  Toryism. 
Nobody  was  suffered  to  remain  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
Ghiards  and  sentries  were  regularly  detached  and  posted.  When 
the  little  band  of  Whig  heroes  after  nightfall  reached  the  river 
not  a  boat  was  to  be  found.  But  it  must  be  crossed,  and  that 
speedily.  Its  depth  was  ascertained  by  some  who  were  tall  and 
expert  swimmers.  They,  to  a  man,  cried  out,  ^T!t  is  fordable; 
we  can,  we  will  cross  it."  Not  a  murmur  was  heard,  and  with- 
out a  moment's  delay  they  all  undressed,  tied  their  clothing  and 
ammunition  on  their  heads  (baggage  they  had  none),  each  man, 
grasping  the  barrel  of  his  gun,  raised  the  bridge  so  as  to  keep 
the  lock  above  water,  descended  the  banks,  and  entered  the  river. 
The  taller  men  found  less  difficulty;  those  of  lower  stature  were 
scarcely  able  to  keep  their  mouths  and  noses  above  water;  but 
all  safely  reached  the  opposite  shore,  resumed  their  dresses, 
fixed  their  arms  for  action,  made  their  way  through  the  low 
ground  then  thickly  settled  with  men,  ascended  the  hills,  which 
were  high  and  precipitous,  crossed  King's  Boad  leading  through 
the  town,  and  took  a  position  in  its  rear.  Here  they  formed, 
and,  in  about  two  hours  after  crossing  a  mile  below,  commenced 
a  furious  attack,  driving  in  the  Tory  sentries  and  guards.  They 
continued  rapidly  to  advance,  keeping  up  a  brisk  and  well- 
directed  fire,  and  were  soon  in  the  midst  of  the  foe,  mostly 
Highland  Scotchmen,  as  brave,  as  high-minded  as  any  of  His 
Majesty^s  subjects.  So  sudden  and  violent  an  onset  for  the  mo- 
ment produced  disorder ;  but  they  were  rallied  by  their  gallant 
leader  and  made  for  a  while  the  most  determined  resistance. 
Slingsby  fell  mortally  wounded  and  Godden  was  killed,  with 
most  of  the  officers  of  inferior  grade.  They  retreated,  some 
taking  refuge  in  houses,  the  others,  the  larger  portion,  leaping 
pell-mell  into  a  deep  ravine,  since  called  the  Tory  Hole.  As  the 
Tories  had  imlimited  sway  from  the  river  to  the  Little  Pee  Dee, 
the  Whigs  recrossed,  taking  with  them  their  woimded.  Such 
was  the  general  panic  produced  by  this  action  that  the  Tories 
became  dispirited  and  never  after  were  so  troublesome.     The 


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118  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Whigs  returned  to  their  homes  in  safety.  In  the  death  of 
Slingsby  the  Tories  were  deprived  of  an  officer  whose  place  it 
was  difficult  to  fill;  but  few  were  equal  to  Godden  in  partisan 
warfare.  This  battle  was  mostly  fought  by  river  planters,  men 
who  had  sacrificed  much  for  their  country.  To  judge  it  cor- 
rectly it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  country  from  Little 
Pee  Dee  to  the  Caharas  was  overnm  by  the  Tories.  Wilmington 
was  in  possession  of  the  British  and  Cross  Creek  of  the  Tories. 
Thus  situated,  the  attack  made  on  them  at  Elizabethtown  as- 
sumed much  of  the  character  of  a  forlorn  hope.  Had  the  Whigs 
not  succeeded  they  must  have  been  cut  off  to  a  man.  If  they 
had  fled  southward  the  Tories  would  have  risen  to  destroy 
them.  If  eastward,  the  Tories  in  that  case,  flushed  with  victory, 
would  have  pursued  them,  and  they  would  have  sought  in  vain 
their  former  asylum.  This  action  produced  in  this  part  of 
North  Carolina  as  sudden  and  happy  results  as  the  Battles  of 
Trenton  and  Princeton  in  New  Jersey.  The  contest  was  un- 
equal, but  valor  supplied  the  place  of  numbers. 

It  is  due  to  Colonel  Brown,  who,  when  a  youth,  marched  with 
General  Waddell  from  Bladen  and  fought  under  Governor 
Tryon  at  the  Battle  of  Alamance  and  was  afterwards  woimded 
at  the  Big  Bridge,  to  say  he  fully  realized  the  expectations  of 
his  friends  and  the  wishes  of  those  who  selected  him  to  com- 
mand; and  when  the  history  of  our  State  shall  be  written  this 
action  alone,  apart  from  his  chivalric  conduct  at  the  Big  Bridge, 
will  place  him  by  the  side  of  his  compatriots  Horry,  Marion, 
and  Sumter  of  the  South.  It  must,  it  will,  form  an  interesting 
page  in  our  history  on  which  the  young  men  of  North  Carolina 
will  delight  to  dwell.  It  is  an  achievement  which  bespeaks  not 
only  the  most  determined  bravery,  but  great  military  skill. 
Most  of  these  men,  like  the  Ten  Thousand  Greeks,  were  fitted 
to  command.  Owen  had  fought  at  Camden,  Morehead  com- 
manded the  nine  months'  men  sent  to  the  South,  Kobeson  and 
Ervine  were  the  Percys  of  the  Whigs  and  might  justly  be  called 
the  Hotspurs  of  the  Cape  Fear. 

The  foregoing  narrative  was  detailed  to  me  by  two  of  the  re- 
spective combatants,  who  now  sleep  with  their  fathers ;  the  sub- 
stance of  which  I  have  endeavored  to  preserve  with  all  the  ac- 
curacy a  memory  not  very  retentive  will  permit.  A  respectable 
resident  of  Elizabethtown  has  recently  informed  me  that  he  was 
a  small  boy  at  the  time  of  the  battle  and  lived  with  his  mother 
in  one  of  the  houses  to  which  the  Tories  repaired  for  safety; 


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The  Revolution  119 

that  he  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  fire  of  the  Whigs,  which 
appeared  like  one  continuous  stream.  Documentary  evidence  I 
have  none.  With  great  respect, 


The  Battle  of  Elizabethtown  took  place  August  29,  1781. 
The  consequences  of  that  victory  were  far-reaching.  Colonel 
Slingsby  had  at  Elizabethtown  a  great  number  of  Whigs  held 
as  prisoners,  who  were  restored  to  liberty  and  augmented  the 
Whig  strength  in  Bladen.  The  guns,  ammunition,  provisions, 
and  other  spoils  taken  supplied  the  Whigs,  who  were  in  the  ex- 
tremest  need.  Not  only  were  the  Loyalists  broken  up  and  dis- 
persed, but  the  Whigs  were  so  strengtfiened  that  afterwards  the 
Tories,  who  had  been  masters  of  Bladen,  made  no  opposition  to 
them.  Still  the  condition  of  the  Whigs  in  Bladen,  as  in  all  the 
other  Cape  Fear  country,  remained  deplorable. 


OLD-TIME  CAPE  FEAE  HEROES. 

Col.  James  Innes,  who  appears  to  have  had  some  military 
training  before  he  came  to  the  Cape  Fear,  about  1735,  so  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  war  against  the  Spaniards,  in  1740, 
that  when  the  French  and  Indian  War  came  on  Governor  Din- 
widdie  of  Virginia  appointed  him  to  the  command  of  all  the 
forces  in  Virginia. 

Col.  Hugh  Waddell,  a  young  Irishman  who  came  to  Wil- 
mington, won  a  great  reputation  during  the  French  and  Indian 
War;  but  Innes  and  Waddell  both  died  before  the  Revolution, 
as  also  did  Moses  John  DeRosset,  likewise  an  officer  in  the 
former  war. 

Among  others  who  served  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  were 
Col.  Caleb  Grainger,  Capt.  Thomas  McManus,  James  Moore, 
Robert  Howe,  and  John  Ashe.  Howe  had  been  in  command  of 
Fort  Johnston,  and  Ashe,  colonel  of  militia,  was  for  a  time  on 
Innes'  staff. 

When  the  Provincial  Congress  began  to  raise  troops,  in  1775, 
James  Moore  was  elected  colonel  of  the  First  Continentals,  and 
at  the  outset  he  remained  to  defend  the  Cape  Fear.  He  was 
soon  appointed  brigadier  general  in  the  Continental  Army,  and 
for  a  while  in  1776  was  in  command  of  the  forces  in  South 
Carolina.  He  died  on  the  Cape  Fear,  while  leading  his  brigade 
to  the  North.    He  was  an  officer  of  great  ability. 


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120  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Kobert  Howe  was  colonel  of  the  Second  Continentals,  which 
he  shortly  led  to  Norfolk,  where  for  a  time  he  was  in  command. 
Like  Moore,  he  was  appointed  brigadier  general  in  the  Conti- 
nental Army,  and  he  succeeded  Moore  in  command  of  the  forces 
in  South  Carolina,  but  later  joined  Washington  and  had  a 
distinguished  career.  After  the  war  he  died  in  Bladen  and  was 
buried  on  his  plantation.  The  Grange. 

Alexander  Lillington  was  colonel  of  the  minute  men  of  the 
Cape  Fear  district.  He  became  colonel  of  the  Sixth  Continen- 
tals and  later  general  of  militia.  He  led  his  command  to  the  aid 
of  Lincoln  at  Charleston,  but  on  the  expiration  of  the  term  of 
duty  he  and  his  men  retired  from  the  city  before  it  was  too  late. 
The  next  year  he  was  in  command  resisting  the  British  on  the 
Cape  Fear.    He  survived  the  war,  but  died  a  few  years  later. 

Gen.  John  Ashe  was  the  first  brigadier  general  of  the  militia 
of  the  Cape  Fear  district.  As  major  general,  in  1779  he  led  a 
detachment  to  Georgia,  but  was  defeated  by  British  regulars. 
In  1781  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  he  died  the  same  year  at 
Colonel  Sampson's,  Sampson  Hall. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  North  Carolina  Continentals  at 
Charleston,  two  new  battalions  were  organized.  Col.  John  Bap- 
tista  Ashe,  who  had  served  at  the  North,  being  lieutenant  colonel 
of  one  and  winning  fame  at  Eutaw  Springs. 

Lieut.  Sam  Ashe  (the  younger)  was  captured  at  Charleston, 
and  after  exchange  served  with  Greene  till  the  end  of  the  war. 

For  three  years  Maj.  Sam  Ashe,  a  son  of  Gen.  John  Ashe, 
had  a  cavalry  company  at  the  North. 

Col.  Thomas  Clark,  a  native  of  the  Cape  Fear,  was  colonel  of 
the  Continentals,  and  served  so  well  that  the  General  Assembly 
urged  Congress  to  appoint  him  brigadier  general.  With  nearly 
all  the  North  Carolina  Continentals  he  was  made  prisoner  when 
General  Lincoln  surrendered  at  Charleston. 

Samuel  Purviance  was  colonel  of  the  New  Hanover  Militia. 

In  the  First  Regiment  were  Captains  William  Davis,  AKred 
Moore,  John  Walker,  and  Caleb  Grainger;  Lieutenants  John 
Lillington,  William  Hill,  Thomas  Callender,  and  Samuel  Wat- 
ters,  and  Ensign  Maurice  Moore,  jr.  On  the  staff  were  Richard 
Bradley,  William  Lord,  and  Adam  Boyd,  while  James  Tate  was 
chaplain. 

In  the  Fourth  Regiment  were  Captains  Roger  Moore,  John 
Ashe,  jr.,  and  John  Maclaine. 

Dr.  James  Fergus  was  surgeon  of  the  Sixth  Regiment, 


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Capt.  John  Hill  won  laurels  at  the  bloody  Battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs. 

Griffith  John  McRee  was  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
North  Carolina  Continentals  with  Greene  at  the  end  of  the  war 
and  was  a  most  efficient  and  distinguished  officer. 

Major  McRee  left  three  sons,  one,  Capt.  William  McRee,  of 
the  United  States  Engineers,  planned  the  Lundy  Lane  cam- 
paign ;  another.  Gen.  Sam  McRee,  distinguished  himself  in  the 
Mexican  War;  and  the  other,  Dr.  James  Fergus  McRee,  was 
perhaps  the  most  learned  North  Carolinian  of  his  time. 

One  of  the  most  picturesque  characters  of  this  period  was 
Maj.  Jack  Walker.  He  was  bom  near  Alnwick  Castle,  under 
the  shadow  of  the  Grampian  Hills,  and  in  1761,  while  yet  a 
youth  of  twenty,  he  landed  at  Old  BrunswicL  In  stature  he 
stood  six  feet  four,  and  he  possessed  enormous  strength.  There 
were  no  lions  for  him  to  conquer,  but  once  when  a  mad  bull 
raged  through  the  streets  of  Wilmington,  Samson-like,  he  seized 
the  infuriated  animal  by  the  horns,  threw  him  to  the  ground  and 
held  him.  As  major  of  the  North  Carolina  Continentals,  he 
fought  valiantly  at  the  North.  Ever  a  warm  patriot,  he  was 
violent  against  those  who  sympathized  with  the  Tories.  The 
people  loved  him,  affectionately  calling  him  "Major  Jack,"  and 
he  wielded  great  power  among  them.  Although  he  amassed  a 
considerable  fortune,  he  never  married,  his  large  estate  descend- 
ing to  a  favorite  nephew,  Maj.  John  Walker,  who  was  the  father 
of  Hon.  Thomas  D.  Walker,  Alvis  Walker,  John  Walker,  Capt. 
George  Walker,  Dr.  Joshua  C.  Walker,  Henry  Walker,  Calhoun 
Walker,  and  of  the  wives  of  Q^n.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  Maj. 
James  H.  Hill,  Capt.  C.  P.  Bolles,  Capt.  John  Cowan,  and  Mr. 
Frederick  Fosgate. 

The  above  record  is  by  no  means  complete,  as  during  the 
troublous  time  of  the  Revolution  every  patriot  family  on  the 
Cape  Fear  contributed  its  utmost  to  the  cause  of  independence. 


CORNELIUS  HARNETT'S  WILL. 

In  the  sacred  name  of  God,  Amen. 

The  twenty-eighth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighty-one,  I,  Cornelius  Harnett  of  New  Hanover  County, 
in  North  Carolina,  Esquire,  tho  weak  in  body,  but  of  perfect 
mind  and  memory,  do  make  &  ordain  this  to  be  my  last  will  and 
testament  in  manner  &  form  following,  viz : 


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122  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Imprimus.  I  give,  devise,  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  wife, 
Mary,  all  my  estate,  real,  personal,  &  mixed,  of  what  nature  or 
kind  soever,  to  her,  her  heirs  &  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  do  hereby  nominate  and  appoint  my  said  wife, 
Mary,  Executrix,  and  Samuel  Ashe  &  William  Hill,  Executors, 
to  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  hereby  revoking  and  dis- 
annulling all  former  wills  by  me  heretofore  made.  Ratifying 
and  confirming  this  &  no  other  to  be  my  last  will  &  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the 
day  and  year  above  written. 

CoBNL.  Harnett     (Seal) 

Signed,  sealed,  published,  pronounced, 
and  declared  by  the  said  Cornelius  Har- 
nett as  &  for  his  last  Will  &  Testament 
in  presence  of 

Anne  Hoopeb. 

Tho.  Maclaine. 

Jno.  Juske. 

I,  Cornelius  Harnett  having  executed  the  within  written 
will,  think  it  not  improper  to  add  that  as  I  have  ever  considered 
expensive  funerals  as  ostentatious  folly,  it  is  my  earnest  request 
(and  from  my  present  circumstances  now  doubly  necessary) 
tliat  I  may  be  buried  with  the  utmost  frugality. 

CoBNii.  Habnett, 
New  Hanoveb  County. 

Januaby  Tebm,  1782. 

The  within  last  will  &  Testament  of  Cornelius  Harnett, 
Esquire,  was  exhibited  in  Court  and  proved  by  the  oath  of 
Thomas  Maclaine,  a  subscribing  witness  thereto,  who  swore 
that  he  saw  the  testator  sign,  seal,  publish,  and  declare  the  same 
to  be  and  contain  his  last  will  and  testament.  Also,  that  he 
was  of  soimd  and  disposing  mind  and  memory.  Ordered,  that 
letters  testamentary  do  issue  to  Mary  Harnett,  Executrix  to  the 
said  will.  At  same  time  Mrs.  Harnett  qualified  agreeable  to 
law.  Tho.  Maclaine,  Clk. 

This  will  was  filed  in  my  office  by  H.  H.  Robinson,  clerk  of 
Bladen  County,  this  20th  January,  1846. 

L.  H.  Mabstelleb, 

Clk  N.  Hanover  Cty  CL 


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The  Revolution  123 

FLORA   MACDONALD. 
Bt  Datid  Macbab. 

Shortly  after  the  four  years'  war,  a  distinguished  Scottish 
traveler  and  lecturer,  David  Macrae,  visited  Wilmington,  and  was 
entertained  for  several  weeks  by  my  father,  the  late  Alexander 
Sprunt,  who  sent  him  with  credentials  to  the  "Scotch  Country," 
where  he  was  cordially  received  and  honored.  Mr.  Macrae 
delivered  in  Wilmington  several  lectures,  which  were  largely 
attended,  and  he  generously  devoted  the  proceeds  to  the  benefit 
of  local  charities. 

He  subsequently  wrote  the  following  account  of  Highlanders  in 
North  Carolina,  with  particular  reference  to  Flora  Macdonald, 
whose  romantic  life  on  the  Cape  Fear  is  worthy  of  a  more  en- 
during memorial. 

Visit  to  the  Highulnd  Settlement. 

In  the  month  of  February,  one  clear,  sharp  morning,  I  left 
Wilmington  on  my  way  up  the  Cape  Fear  River  to  follow  the 
old  track  of  the  Highland  emigrants,  and  see  their  settlement. 

The  steamers  on  that  river,  as  indeed  on  most  of  the  long 
rivers  in  America,  are  stem-wheelers — ^large,  slim,  white,  and 
deck-cabined,  with  only  one  paddle,  but  that  of  stupendous  size, 
standing  out  like  a  mill-wheel  from  the  stem  and  making  one 
think,  on  seeing  the  steamer  in  motion,  of  a  gigantic  wheel- 
barrow drawn  swiftly  backwards.  The  advantage  of  the  stem 
wheel  for  shallow  and  winding  rivers  is  that  it  allows  of  a 
narrower  beam  than  two  paddles,  and  takes  sufficient  hold  to 
propel  a  steamer  in  water  too  shallow  for  the  screw.  Our 
steamer  that  morning  (flat-bottomed,  of  course,  as  all  American 
river  steamers  are)  drew  only  eighteen  inches  of  water,  and 
went  at  great  speed. 

We  had  not  been  steaming  long  up  the  broad  pale  earthy- 
brown  river,  through  the  flat  expanse,  with  its  rice  plantations, 
its  forest  land,  and  its  clearings,  with  the  black  stumps  still 
standing  like  chessmen  on  a  board,  when  I  was  struck  with  the 
extraordinary  appearance  of  the  leafless  woods,  which  looked  as 
if  a  deluge  had  just  subsided,  leaving  the  trees  covered  with 
masses  of  sea-weed. 

I  gazed  on  this  phenomenon  with  much  wonder,  till  it  sud- 
denly occurred  to  me  that  this  must  be  the  famous  Carolina 
moss  (TUlandsia)  of  which  I  had  often  heard,  but  which  I  had 
not  yet  seen  in  any  quantity.     I  satisfied  myself  by  asking  a 


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124  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

tall,  shaggy  man,  in  leather  leggings  and  a  tattered  cloak  of 
Confederate  gray,  who  was  standing  near  me. 

'TDonH  it  grow  whar  you  come  from  ?"  asked  the  man,  with 
the  usual  inquisitiveness  of  thinly  peopled  regions.  On  learn- 
ing that  I  was  a  stranger  from  the  old  coimtry,  he  became  ex- 
ceedingly courteous,  and  told  me  that  the  moss  I  had  inquired 
about  was  very  common  in  that  State,  and  was  much  used  by 
the  people  for  stuffing  seats  and  cushions  and  bedding,  being 
first  boiled  to  kill  it.  He  said  it  seemed  to  feed  upon  the  air. 
You  could  take  a  handful  and  fling  it  over  the  branch  of  an- 
other tree,  and  it  would  grow  all  the  same. 

After  a  sail  of  some  hours  we  reached  a  point  from  which  a 
railway  runs  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  traversing  part  of 
the  "Scotch  Country."  Here  we  got  into  "cars,"  and  were  soon 
bowling  through  the  lonely  forest  on  the  narrow  iron  bed,  some- 
times over  tracks  that  were  irregularly  covered  for  miles  with 
still  water,  in  which  the  trees  and  bushes  that  rose  from  it  stood 
reflected  as  on  the  bosom  of  a  lake.  Now  and  then,  at  long 
intervals,  we  stopped  at  some  little  wayside  station  in  the  forest, 
with  its  cheerful  signs  of  himian  life,  its  casks  of  turpentine  and 
its  piles  of  corded  wood,  around  which  the  pines  were  being 
hewn  down  and  cut,  some  of  them  into  bars,  others  into  cheese- 
like  sections,  for  splitting  into  the  shingles  that  are  used  for 
roofing  instead  of  slates  or  tiles.  Occasionally  the  train  stopped 
in  places  where  there  was  no  station  at  all,  to  let  some  one  out 
at  the  part  of  the  forest  nearest  to  his  home.  The  conductor, 
who  was  continually  passing  up  and  down  through  the  cars, 
stopped  the  train,  whenever  necessary,  by  pulling  the  cord  that 
is  slung  along  the  roof  of  all  American  trains  and  communicates 
with  the  engine. 

We  now  began  to  get  up  into  the  higher  country,  amongst 
forests  of  giant  pines,  where  the  ground  was  rou^,  and  where 
the  sandy  soil,  looking  in  some  places  like  patches  of  snow, 
seemed,  for  the  most  part,  untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  It 
was  into  these  vast  solitudes,  of  which  we  had  as  yet  but  touched 
the  skirt,  that  the  Highlanders,  driven  from  their  native  land 
during  the  religious  and  political  troubles  of  the  last  century, 
had  come  to  find  a  home. 

North  Carolina  was  long  a  favorite  field  for  Highland  emi- 
gration. More  than  a  hundred  and  forty  years  ago,  when 
Alexander  Clark,  of  Jura,  went  out  to  North  Carolina  and 
made  his  way  up  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  to  Cross  Creek,  he  found 


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The  Revolution  125 

already  there  one  Hector  McNeill,  (known  as  '^luff'  Hector, 
from  his  occupying  the  bluflfs  over  the  river,)  vrho  told  him  of 
many  others  settled  farther  back,  most  of  them  exiles  from  Scot- 
land, consequent  on  the  troubles  that  followed  the  downfall  of 
the  Stuarts,  some  of  them  Macdonalds  who  had  been  fugitives 
from  the  massacre  of  Glencoe.  The  numbers  were  largely  in- 
creased by  the  failure  of  the  Jacobite  Eebellion  in  1745.  The 
persecution  to  which  the  Highlanders  were  subjected  after  the 
scattering  of  the  clans  at  Culloden  made  many  of  them  eager  to 
escape  from  the  country;  and  when  the  government,  after  the 
execution  of  many  captured  rebels,  granted  pardon  to  the  rest 
on  condition  of  their  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  emigrat- 
ing to  the  plantations  of  America,  great  numbers  availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity.  They  were  followed  gradually  by 
many  of  their  kith  and  kin,  till  tie  vast  plains  and  forest  lands 
in  the  heart  of  North  Carolina  were  sprinkled  with  a  Gaelic- 
speaking  population. 

In  1775,  the  Scotch  colony  received  a  memorable  accession 
in  the  person  of  Flora  Macdonald,  who,  with  her  husband  and 
children,  had  left  Scotland  in  poverty  to  seek  a  home  with  their 
friends  in  the  American  forests.  The  heroine  was  received  at 
Wilmington^  and  at  various  points  along  her  route  with  High- 
land honors;  and  the  martial  airs  of  her  native  land  greeted 
her  as  she  approached  Cross  Creek,  the  little  capital  of  the 
Highland  settlement.  She  arrived,  however,  at  an  unhappy 
time.  The  troubles  between  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies 
were  coming  to  a  head,  and  in  a  few  months  hostilities  began. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  that  many  of  these  Highland  colon- 
ists, the  very  men  who  had  fought  against  the  Hanoverian 
dynasty  at  home,  were  now  forward  to  array  themselves  on  its 
side.  But  they  had  been  Jacobites  and  Conservatives  in  Scot- 
land, and  conservatism  in  America  meant  loyalty  to  the  King. 
Many  of  them,  however,  espoused  the  cause  of  independence, 
and  the  declaration  prepared  in  the  county  of  Cumberland, 
immediately  after  the  famous  declaration  of  the  neighboring 
county  of  Mecklenburg,  has  many  Highland  names  attached. 
The  crafty  Governor,  fearing  the  spread  of  anti-British  senti- 
ment, and  knowing  the  influence  of  Flora  Macdonald  amongst 
the  Scottish  settlers,  commissioned  one  of  her  kinsfolk,  Donald 
Macdonald,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  Prince's  army  in 


^At  Wilmington  a  public  ball  was  given  in  her  honor. 


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126  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

1745,  to  raise  a  Highland  regiment  for  the  King,  and  gave  the 
rank  of  captain  to  Flora's  husband.  This  identified  the  heroine 
with  the  Koyalist  party,  and  had  the  effect  of  securing  the  ad- 
hesion of  hundreds  of  gallant  men  who  would  otherwise  have 
held  back  or  joined  the  other  side.  When  the  royal  standard 
was  raised  at  Cross  Creek,  1,500  Highlanders  assembled  in 
arms.  Flora,  it  is  said,  accompanied  her  husband,  and  inspired 
the  men  with  her  own  enthusiasm.  She  slept  the  first  night  in 
the  camp,  and  did  not  return  to  her  home  till  she  saw  the  troops 
begin  their  march.  The  fate  that  awaited  this  gallant  little 
force  is  known  to  all  readers  of  history.  It  had  got  down  the 
river  as  far  as  Moore's  Creek,  on  its  way  to  join  Governor 
Martin,  when,  finding  further  advance  checked  by  a  force  of 
Revolutionists  under  Lillington  and  Caswell,  while  another 
under  Colonel  Moore  was  hurrying  up  in  pursuit,  it  was  driven 
to  attack  the  enemy  in  front  on  ground  of  his  own  choosing. 
In  the  first  onslaught  its  officers  fell,  confusion  ensued,  and 
after  a  severe  struggle  the  Highlanders  were  routed.^  Flora's 
husband  was  taken  prisoner  and  thrown  into  Halifax  jail. 

Many  of  those  who  escaped  are  said  to  have  joined  another 
Highland  regiment  which  was  raised  for  the  King  under  the 
title  of  the  North  Carolina  Highlanders  and  fought  the  Revo- 
lutionists till  the  close  of  the  war.  So  deeply  had  they  identi- 
fied themselves  with  the  royal  cause  that  when  the  war  was 
ended  most  of  them,  including  Flora  Macdonald  and  her  hus- 
band, left  America  and  returned  to  Scotland.  Those  who  re- 
mained in  the  settlement,  divided  by  the  war,  were  soon  reunited 
by  peace,  became,  as  in  duty  bound,  good  citizens,  and  resumed 
the  task  of  taming  the  savage  wilderness  in  which  they  had  cast 
their  lot. 

When  the  troubles  between  North  and  South  were  gathering 
to  a  head  in  1860,  the  Highlanders,  with  their  conservative 
instincts,  were  almost  to  a  man  opposed  to  secession.  But, 
taught  to  believe  that  their  allegiance  was  due  primarily,  not  to 

*J.  A.  McAllister,  of  Lumberton,  N.  C,  says: 

"In  connection  with  the  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek,  it  may  interest  a 
good  many  to  know  that  the  capture  of  Oen.  Donald  McDonald  was 
effected  by  William  Whitfield  and  his  brother-in-law,  Williams.  This 
fact  I  learn  from  the  genealogical  record  of  the  Whitfield-Bryan  fami- 
lies. It  is  stated  in  the  record  that  William  and  his  brother,  Needham 
Whitfield,  both  took  part  in  the  battle.  William  belonged  to  the  light 
horse.  He  and  Needham  were  sons  of  William  Whitfield  and  his  wife, 
Anne  Bryan,  and  there  are  but  few  families  in  North  Carolina  more 
numerous  or  more  highly  respected." 


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The  Revolution  127 

the  Federal  Government  but  to  the  State,  no  sooner  did  North 
Carolina  go  out,  than  they,  with  Highland  loyalty,  followed; 
and  no  men  crowded  to  the  front  more  eagerly,  or  fought  more 
valiantly  or  more  desperately  to  the  bitter  end. 

Almost  every  man  of  those  I  met  had  served  in  the  Confed- 
erate Army,  and  had  left  dead  brothers  or  sons  on  the  battle- 
field. Others,  following  the  example  of  those  who  had  left 
Scotland  after  the  downfall  of  the  Stuarts,  and  America  after 
the  triumph  of  the  Eevolution,  had  left  the  States  altogether, 
and  gone  oflf  to  Mexico. 

Amongst  those  I  found  at  Wilmington  was  one  who  was  a 
fine  specimen  of  the  material  that  the  Highlands  have  given  to 
Carolina,  a  spare,  dark-visaged,  soldierly  fellow — Gen.  William 
MacKae — ^whose  personal  valour  and  splendid  handling  of  his 
troops  in  battle  had  caused  him  to  be  repeatedly  complimented 
by  Lee  in  general  orders. 

He  seemed  to  belong  to  a  fighting  family.  His  eight  brothers 
had  all  been  either  in  the  army  or  the  navy.  Their  father,  Gen. 
Alexander  MacKae,  had  fought  in  the  war  with  England  in 
1812,  and,  on  the  outbreak  of  the  War  between  the  States, 
though  then  a  man  of  seventy  years  of  age,  again  took  the  field, 
and  conmianded  what  was  known  as  MacRae's  battalion.  He 
died  not  many  weeks  after  I  parted  from  him  at  Wilmington. 
He  was  the  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  MacRae,  minister 
of  Kintail,  two  of  whose  sons  fell  fighting  for  the  Pretender  at 
Culloden.  The  others  emigrated  to  North  Carolina,  and  one  of 
them,  Philip,  who  had  also  served  in  the  Prince's  army,  cher- 
ished so  deadly  a  hate  of  the  English  in  consequence  of  the 
atrocities  of  Cumberland,  that  he  would  never  learn  the  English 
language,  but  spoke  Gaelic  to  the  day  of  his  death.  The  family 
settled  in  Moore  County,  which  is  part  of  what  is  still  called 
the  "Scotch  Country." 

The  Life  of  Flora  Macdonald  was  published  by  her  grand- 
daughter in  the  form  of  an  autobiography,  said  to  be  based  on 
family  records.  The  following  is  the  passage  in  which  the 
Scottish  heroine  is  made  to  describe  the  episode  in  her  life  con- 
nected with  America: 

*T!n  1775  my  husband  put  in  practice  a  plan  he  and  I  often 
talked  over — ^that  of  joining  the  emigrants  who  were  leaving 
their  native  hills  to  better  their  fortunes  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic  We  were  induced  to  favour  this  scheme  more  par- 
ticularly as  a  succession  of  failures  of  the  crops  and  unforeseen 


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128  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

family  expenses  rather  cramped  our  small  income.  So,  after 
making  various  domestic  arrangements,  one  of  which  was  to 
settle  our  dear  boy  Johnnie  under  the  care  of  a  kind  friend,  Sir 
Alexander  McKenzie,  of  Devlin,  near  Dunkeld,  until  he  was 
of  age  for  an  India  appointment,  we  took  ship  for  North  Amer- 
ica. The  others  went  with  us,  my  youngest  girl  excepted, 
whom  I  left  with  friends;  she  was  only  nine  years  old.  Ann 
was  a  fine  yoimg  woman,  and  my  sons  as  promising  fellows  as 
ever  a  mother  could  desire.  Believe  me,  dear  Maggie,  in  pack- 
ing the  things,  the  Prince's  sheet  was  put  up  in  lavender,  so 
determined  was  I  to  be  laid  in  it  whenever  it  might  please  my 
Heavenly  Father  to  command  the  end  of  my  days.  On  reach- 
ing North  Carolina,  Allan  soon  purchased  and  settled  upon  an 
estate ;  but  our  tranquillity  was  ere  long  broken  up  by  the  dis- 
turbed state  of  the  country,  and  my  husband  took  an  active  part 
in  that  dreadful  War  of  Independence.  The  Highlanders  were 
now  as  forward  in  evincing  attachment  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment as  they  had  furiously  opposed  it  in  former  years.  My 
poor  husband,  being  loyally  disposed,  was  treated  harshly  by  the 
opposite  party,  and  was  confined  for  some  time  in  jail  at  Hali- 
fax. After  being  liberated,  he  was  officered  in  a  royal  corps — 
the  North  Carolina  Highlanders ;  and  although  America  suited 
me  and  the  young  people,  yet  my  husband  thought  it  advisable 
to  quit  a  country  that  had  involved  us  in  anxiety  and  trouble 
almost  from  the  first  month  of  our  landing  on  its  shores.  So, 
at  a  favorable  season  for  departure,  we  sailed  for  our  native 
country,  all  of  us,  excepting  our  sons,  Charles  and  Eonald,  who 
were  in  New  York  expecting  appointments,  which  they  soon 
after  obtained ;  Alexander  was  already,  dear  boy,  at  sea.  Thus 
our  family  was  reduced  in  number.  On  the  voyage  home  all 
went  well  imtil  the  vessel  encountered  a  French  ship  of  war,  and 
we  were  alarmed  on  finding  that  an  action  was  likely  to  take 
place.  The  captain  gave  orders  for  the  ladies  to  remain  below, 
safe  from  the  skirmish ;  but  I  could  not  rest  quiet,  knowing  my 
husband's  spirit  and  energy  would  carry  him  into  the  thick  of 
the  fighting;  therefore  I  rushed  up  the  companion-ladder — I 
think  it  was  so  called — and  I  insisted  on  remaining  on  deck  to 
share  my  husband's  fate,  whatever  that  might  be.  Well,  dear 
Maggie,  thinking  the  sailors  were  not  as  active  as  they  ought  to 
have  been — and  they  appeared  crest-fallen,  as  if  they  expected  a 
defeat — ^I  took  courage  and  urged  them  on  by  asserting  their 
rights  and  the  certainty  of  the  victory.     Alas!  for  my  weak 


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The  Revolution  129 

endeavors  to  be  of  service;  I  was  badly  rewarded,  being  thrown 
down  in  the  noise  and  confusion  on  deck.  I  was  fain  to  go 
below,  suffering  excrutiating  agony  in  my  arm,  which  the  doc- 
tor, who  was  fortunately  on  board,  pronounced  to  be  broken. 
It  was  well  set,  yet  from  that  time  to  this  it  has  been  consider- 
ably weaker  than  the  other.  So  you  see  I  have  periled  my  life 
for  both  the  houses  of  Stuart  and  Brunswick,  and  gained  noth- 
ing from  either  side  1" 


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Early  Years 


ALYRE  RAPFENEAU  DELILE. 

^^oe-oonmil  dans  la  Caroline  du  Nord,  profesieur  de  botanique  k  la  Faculty  de  M^deoine  de 

MontpeUier,  membra  de  rinstitut  d'Egypto,  oorrospondant  de  rinstitut 

de  France,  chevalier  de  la  LAgion  d*honneur,  etc. 

In  1802,  when  First  Consul  of  France,  Napoleon  honored  the 
town  of  Wilmington  by  sending  to  this  port  as  vice-consul  the 
gifted  young  scientist  Kaffeneau  Delile,  whose  scientific  work, 
although  he  was  at  that  time  but  twenty-four  years  old,  had  won 
for  him  the  grateful  recognition  of  France. 

^'Quoi  qu'il  arrive  il  faut  que  je  sois  regrette,  si  j'ai  eu  quel- 
que  valeur;  c'est  a  Voeuvre  que  Von  connait  Vouvrier:  'A  fruc- 
tihvs  eorum  cognoscetis  eos/  a  dit  VEvangile/'  (Whatever 
happens,  I  must  be  regretted  if  I  have  had  worth ;  it  is  by  the 
work  that  we  know  the  workman:  *By  their  fruits  you  shall 
know  them,'  saith  the  Gospel.)  Thus  wrote  Delile  in  affec- 
tionate confidence  to  his  son  five  years  before  his  death,  and 
his  distinguished  contemporary,  M.  Joly,  in  an  historic  eulogy, 
quotes  the  scientist's  own  words  in  his  estimate  of  the  man 
whose  work  won  for  him  an  imperishable  name. 

Alyre  Eaffeneau  Delile  was  born  in  Versailles  in  1778.  His 
ancestors  had  held  positions  at  court  from  the  time  of  Francis 
I.,  and  he  inherited  the  post  held  by  his  father,  but  his  larger 
heritage  was  the  principles  of  honor  and  strict  integrity.  His 
early  boyhood  was  passed  under  the  shadow  of  the  impending 
Revolution,  but  though  his  father  was  attached  to  the  court 
during  that  critical  period,  he  encouraged  Delile  in  forming 
independent  opinions,  leaving  him  free  to  espouse  actively 
either  the  cause  of  the  King  or  of  the  people.  With  no  predilec- 
tion for  public  affairs,  however,  he  gave  himself  to  the  study  of 
botany  and  anatomy,  and  when  an  interne  in  the  Hospital  of 
Versailles,  learned  Greek  and  some  Latin  from  one  of  the 
Prussian  soldiers  who  then  filled  its  wards.  Later,  he  entered 
a  medical  school  in  Paris  which  Bonaparte,  then  professing  in- 
terest in  chemistry,  sometimes  visited;  but  for  Bonaparte  ab- 
stract study  could  not  shut  out  the  call  to  the  great  arena  of 
military  activity  and  conquest.  At  that  time  the  mysteries  of 
Egypt  beckoned  with  even  greater  persuasiveness  than  had  the 
[130] 


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Early  Years  131 

laurels  of  Italy,  and  the  African  expedition  was  made  ready. 
To  the  credit  of  Napoleon  be  it  ever  remembered  that  he  desired 
to  conquer  more  than  lands  and  peoples,  and  to  accompany  him 
on  that  memorable  journey  to  Egypt  to  solve  its  mysteries  and 
add  distinction  to  French  culture  he  chose  fifteen  of  the  greatest 
savants  of  France,  among  them  Bene  Louiche  Desfontaine,  the 
noted  botanist,  who  had  already  visited  Egypt,  bringing  back 
probably  the  largest  single  collection  of  foreign  plants  then  in 
existence.  But  Desfontaine  declined  the  honor  of  going  and 
requested  it  for  Raffeneau  Delile,  then  but  twenty  years  old. 
Realizing  that  his  youth  and  inexperience  might  embarrass  him 
in  such  a  company,  Delile  refused  to  go  unless  there  should  be 
conferred  upon  him  the  title  of  a  superior  oflScer.  His  request 
was  granted,  and  he  went  forth  with  "those  soldiers  of  letters, 
the  new  Argonauts."  In  Egypt  his  knowledge  of  Greek  was  of 
great  value  to  him  in  deciphering  inscriptions  on  obelisks  and 
temples  and  in  tombs.  It  was  Boussard,  an  officer  of  this  expe- 
dition, who  found  the  Rosetta  stone,  and  it  is  possible  that 
Delile  was  one  of  the  first  to  read  some  of  the  Greek  inscrip- 
tion^ upon  that.  These  scientists  formed  themselves  into  the 
Institute  of  Egypt,  planned  after  the  Inditut  National,  and 
Delile  was  made  director  of  the  Botanical  Gardens  of  Cairo, 
which  he  enriched  by  specimens  gathered  in  the  valley  of  the 
Nile,  on  the  borders  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  in  the  desert.  He 
thoroughly  explored  the  world  of  plants,  wrote  extensively,  and 
read  before  the  Institute  of  Egypt  memorials  that  carried  his 
name  across  the  Mediterranean.  But  misfortune  came,  and  on 
August  31,  1801,  Alexandria  capitulated  to  the  English,  leav- 
ing to  the  mercy  of  the  conquerors  the  marvelous  collections  of 
Bonaparte's  scientific  expedition.  It  was  when  these  were 
claimed  that  the  illustrious  naturalist  Geoffrey  Saint-Hilaire, 
in  the  names  of  his  colleagues,  Delile  and  Savigny,  made  to  the 
haughty  English  general  the  heroic  response:  *^e  will  not 
yield.  Your  army  will  enter  this  place  in  two  days.  Ah,  well, 
between  now  and  then  the  sacrifice  will  be  consummated.  We 
will  ourselves  bum  our  treasures;  you  will  afterwards  dispose 
of  our  persons  as  seems  good  to  you."  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
the  collection  was  saved  to  the  French. 

Scarcely  had  Delile  returned  to  France,  when  Bonaparte  sent 
him  to  Wilmington  as  under-commissioner  of  commercial  rela- 

iTo  ChampoUion  belongs  the  honor  of  deciphering  the  hieroglyphic 
and  using  it  as  a  key  to  the  decipherment  of  the  monuments  of  Egypt. 


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132  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

tions,  with  the  title  of  vice-consul.  The  position  was  not  in 
harmony  with  his  tastes,  but  he  applied  himself  to  his  tasks  with 
intelligence  and  zeal,  and  his  rectitude  and  pleasing  personality 
won  for  him  the  esteem  and  affection  of  all.  While  here  he 
became  the  friend  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  then  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  other  distinguished  Americans. 

The  rich  vegetation  of  North  Carolina,  with  its  variety  and 
abundance  of  new  and  interesting  specimens,  furnished  relief 
from  the  more  uncongenial  task  of  observing  the  current  price 
of  commodities  at  the  port  and  counting  the  revenues  that 
passed  through  his  hands.  Dr.  M.  A.  Curtis,  the  noted  botanist 
of  North  Carolina,  in  the  Boston  Journal  of  Natural  History, 
1834,  said:  ^Ht  is  confidently  believed  that  no  section  of  the 
Union  of  equal  extent  contains  such  a  rich  and  extensive  variety 
of  plants  as  is  to  be  found  about  Wilmington,"  and  he  men- 
tioned the  fact  that  in  little  more  than  two  seasons,  at  intervals 
from  other  engagements,  he  had  found  more  than  a  thousand 
specimens,  with  much  groimd  still  unexamined.  It  is  easy  to 
imagine  how  a  man  like  Delile  reveled  in  these  new-found  gar- 
dens, and  all  the  more  because  his  august  patroness,  soon  to  be 
the  Empress  Josephine,  particularly  requested  him  to  collect  in 
America  all  the  plants  which  might  be  of  interest  in  France; 
and  the  director  of  the  establishment  of  Malmaison,  M.  de  Mir- 
bel,  engaged  him  to  respond  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  commis- 
sion of  the  future  empress.  Bonaparte,  also,  took  the  liveliest 
interest  in  the  plan  of  Josephine  to  naturalize  foreign  flora  in 
France,  and,  becoming  emperor,  it  was  his  desire  to  bring  under 
one  sceptre  plants  grown  in  every  comer  of  the  globe,  and  to 
acclimatize  them  in  the  greenhouses  of  Malmaison.  "Here,"  M. 
Joly  tells  us,  "flourished  the  violet  of  Parma,  the  rose  of  Da- 
mascus, the  lily  of  the  Nile,"  and — shall  we  say  the  marvelous 
Dioncea  musdpula,  Drosera,  and  Sarracenia  of  Carolina  ?  De- 
lile is  said  to  have  established  in  Wilmington  an  herbarium  in 
connection  with  his  collection  for  Josephine,  and  his  specimens 
of  American  grains  he  sent  to  the  distinguished  botanist  Palisot 
de  Beauvois,  who  published  a  classification  of  them  in  general 
with  other  specimens  in  his  Agrostographie.  The  writer  of 
this  sketch  had  the  good  fortune  to  come  upon  a  copy  of  the 
Agrostographie  corrected  by  Palisot  himself,  in  which  he  makes 
acknowledgment  to  those  who  aided  in  his  work,  and  among 
them  Delile.  It  is  regretted  that  no  book  of  Delile's  giving  an 
account  of  the  plants  of  Carolina  is  at  hand.    He  wrote  Memoire 


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Early  Years  133 

8ur  quelques  especes  de  graminees  propres  a  la  Caroline  du 
Nord,  also,  Centurie  des  plantes  de  VAmerique  du  Nord,  but 
these  are  not  available  to  the  writer.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  writing  on  the  Flora  d'Amerique,  which  he  expected  to 
publish  soon. 

Leaving  Wilmington  abruptly  in  1806,  Delile  went  to  New 
York  and  obtained  a  degree  in  medicine,  after  which  he  first 
thought  of  practicing  that  profession  in  New  Orleans,  and  then 
of  becoming  an  American  planter.  His  mother  combatted  the 
latter  intention,  however,  and,  reminding  him  of  the  friendship 
of  the  Empress  Josephine,  emphasized  the  fact  that  it  was  not 
necessary  to  be  exiled  from  a  country  in  which  he  had  such  good 
and  powerful  friends.  Shortly  after  this  he  was  recalled  to 
France  by  a  decree  of  the  consuls  to  join  a  commission  charged 
with  erecting  a  monument  to  science. 

In  1819  he  came  to  the  chair  of  botany  and  materia  medica 
in  the  faculty  of  Montpellier,  already  made  illustrious  by  half  a 
dozen  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  France.  As  director  of 
le  jardin  des  plantes  de  Montpellier,  he  added  lustre  to  his  name 
and  to  that  of  the  establishment.  The  botanical  gardens  of 
Montpellier,  created  in  1596  by  Henry  IV.,  were  the  first  es- 
tablished in  France,  and  to  an  already  bountiful  collection  De- 
lile added  treasures  of  the  vegetable  world  found  in  Egypt  and 
in  North  Carolina  and  other  parts  of  the  eastern  section  of  the 
United  States,  His  gardens  seem  in  a  measure  to  have  been 
converted  by  him  into  a  department  of  agriculture,  in  which 
he  studied  vegetation  with  practical  intent,  both  for  domestic 
economy  and  for  industrial  development. 

In  the  reign  of  Louis  XVIII.,  he  held  at  court  the  position 
his  father  and  grandfather  had  held — ^that  of  porte-malle — ^but 
he  soon  renounced  it,  writing  Voltaire:  "It  is  from  the  court 
that  one  ought  to  flee ;  it  is  in  the  country  that  one  ought  to  live." 

In  1806  he  sent  from  New  York  to  a  friend  in  France  a  cata- 
logue of  the  botanical  gardens  established  in  1801  at  Elgin, 
New  York,  by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Hosack,  and  in  doing  so  dis- 
cussed briefly  American  trees,  remarking  that  it  would  be  very 
easy  to  naturalize  them  in  France,  especially  the  cypress  of 
North  Carolina,  the  white  oak,  the  swamp  oak,  the  green  oak  of 
Virginia,  and  the  yellow  oak,  the  last  valuable  to  art  on  account 
of  the  beautiful  color  extracted  from  its  bark,  and  the  rest  for 
decorating  parks.  He  called  attention  in  particular  to  the  fact 
that  our  trees  are  able  to  stand  more  cold  in  winter  and  heat  in 
summer  than  those  of  France. 


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134  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Delile  was  a  man  of  wonderful  sweetness  of  character.  When 
he  came  to  live  in  Wilmington,  it  was  as  if  France  had  sent  a 
part  of  her  better  self — ^not  a  money-changer  at  the  port,  but  a 
bit  of  fragrance  wafted  across  the  seas  to  imite  us  by  bonds 
closer  than  those  made  by  the  exchange  of  merchandise. 

He  numbered  among  his  friends  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
France,  England,  Germany,  and  India.  He  wrote  more  than 
sixty  treatises,  chiefly  upon  botanical  subjects,  but  a  number 
upon  medical  subjects.  Among  his  best  known  works  are  his 
Flore  d'Egypte,  Memoires^  sur  VEgypte,  Flore  du  Mont  Sinai, 
Voyage  horticole  et  botanique  en  Belgique  et  en  Hollande,  These 
sur  la  phthisie  pvlmonaire,  and  Avis  sur  les  dangers  de  V usage 
des  champignons  sauvages  dans  la  cuisine. 

Rosa  Pendleton  Chiles. 

Note. — On  account  of  Raffeneau  Delile's  four  years'  sojourn  in 
Wilmington  and  the  interesting  fact  of  his  introducing  North  Carolina 
plants  into  France,  the  author  has  felt  justified  in  requesting  the  prep- 
aration of  the  foregoing  sketch  from  French  sources,  there  being, 
as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  no  adequate  account  in  English,  although 
Delile's  work  is  recognized  by  American  botanists  at  the  present  day. 
The  source  from  which  Miss  Chiles  has  drawn  chiefly  is  M.  Joly's 
Elogge  historique  d*Alyre  Raffeneau  Delile,  of  which  her  sketch  is  in 
part  a  translation. 


BEGINNING   OF   FEDERAL   FORTIFICATIONS    ON 
THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

(Eztraots  from  the  Memoirs  of  Gen.  Joseph  Owdner  Swift,  U.  S.  A.,  first  paduate  and 
afterwards  oonunandant  of  the  Military  Academy  of  West  Point.) 

Proceeding  by  the  right  bank  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  to 
Negro  Head  Point  ferry,  opposite  Wihnington,  I  arrived  at 
Mrs.  Meeks'  boarding-house  in  that  town  on  June  17,  1805,  the 
anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  on  that  day  re- 
ported myself  by  letter  to  my  chief.  Major  Wadsworth,  at  West 
Point,  using  the  day  and  1775  as  the  figurative  date  of  my  letter 
by  way  of  friendly  memento.  After  presenting  my  letter  of 
introduction,  I  took  the  packet  for  Fort  Johnston  and  there 
paid  my  respects  to  the  conmiandant  of  the  post,  Lieut.  John 
Fergus,  an  uncle  of  Cadet  McRee,  and  commenced  a  happy 
acquaintance  with  the  surgeon  of  the  post,  John  Lightfoot 
Griffin,  with  whom  I  established  quarters  at  Mrs.  Ann  McDon- 
ald's.   Here  I  also  met  Gen.  Benjamin  Smith,  and  to  the  last 


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Early  Years  135 

of  the  month  had  conferences  with  him  as  to  the  best  mode  of 
executing  his  contract  with  the  War  Department  in  the  construc- 
tion of  a  battery  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Johnston,  Smithville. 

Early  in  July  I  employed  Mr.  Wilson  Davis,  one  of  the  most 
intelligent  of  the  pilots,  and  with  his  aid  I  soimded  the  entrance 
over  Main  Bar,  which  is  shifting  sand,  into  the  harbor  of  Cape 
Fear,  and  also  the  entrance  at  New  Inlet,  and  then  viewed  the 
capacity  of  the  anchorage  within,  together  with  the  relative  posi- 
tion of  the  several  points  of  land  near  the  entrances,  of  which  I 
made  a  plot,  and  upon  which  I  based  my  report  of  the  26th  of 
July  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  The  substance  of  this  report  was 
that  the  main  objects  to  be  secured  were  those  that  had  been  set 
forth  by  my  late  chief,  Colonel  Williams,  to  wit:  to  cover  an 
anchorage  in  the  harbor  and  to  command  its  entrance  by  a  small 
enclosed  work  on  Oak  Island,  and  an  enclosed  battery  at  Federal 
Point,  at  New  Inlet,  and  also  to  complete  the  battery  of  tapia 
at  the  site  of  old  Fort  Johnston,  the  last  being  contracted  for  by 
Qen.  Benjamin  Smith.  Pending  the  decision  of  the  War  De- 
partment upon  this  report,  much  of  the  summer  was  a  leisure 
among  agreeable  families  from  Wilmington,  that  passed  the 
warm  season  in  slight  frame  houses  at  "The  Fort,"  as  the  vil- 
lage of  Smithville  is  called.  Among  these  was  the  family  of 
Capt.  James  Walker,  to  whose  daughter  Louisa  and  her  cousin 
Eliza  Younger  I  was  introduced  at  a  dinner  given  to  Dr.  Griffin 
and  myself  by  Captain  Walker.  There  were  the  families  of  Mr. 
John  Lord  and  of  the  founder  of  the  place,  Mr.  Joshua  Potts, 
and  of  Gen.  Benjamin  Smith,  who  was  to  construct  the  public 
work  imder  contract,  and  of  Captain  Callender,  the  surveyor 
of  the  port,  who  had  been  an  officer  of  the  army  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution,  etc.  General  Smith  became  the  governor  of  the 
State.  He  owned  a  large  extent  of  property  on  Cape  Fear 
River,  and  was  of  the  family  of  Landgrave  Thomas  Smith,  the 
colonial  governor  of  South  Carolina  in  the  preceding  century. 
He  had  become  security  for  the  collector  of  the  port  of  Wilming- 
ton, who  was  a  defaulter  to  the  government,  and  it  was  to  dis- 
charge this  liability  that  General  Smith  had  contracted  to  build 
the  tapia  work  at  the  fort.  His  lady,  Mrs.  Sarah  Dry  Smith, 
was  highly  accomplished  and  was  an  hospitable  friend  to  Dr. 
Griffin  and  myself,  and  one  of  the  finest  characters  in  the  coun- 
try. She  was  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Col.  William  Dry, 
the  former  collector  in  the  colonial  time,  and  also  of  the  King's 
council.     This  lady  was  also  a  direct  descendant  from  Crom- 


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136  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

well's  admiral^  Eobert  Blake.  There  was  also  residing  at  the 
fort  the  family  of  Benjamin  Blaney.  A  native  he  was  of  Kox- 
bury,  near  Boston.  He  had  migrated  to  Carolina  as  a  carpenter, 
and  had  by  industry  acquired  a  competence  to  enable  him  to 
dispense  aid  to  the  sick  and  needy  and  other  charities,  in  the 
performance  of  which  he  was  an  example  of  usefulness,  charity, 
and  unostentation.  Most  of  the  families  at  the  fort  were  Fed- 
eralists, and,  though  all  deplored  the  event,  they  were  the  more 
sensibly  impressed  with  the  news  of  the  death  of  Alexander 
Hamilton,  who  in  this  month  of  July  had  been  slain  in  a  duel 
with  Colonel  Burr,  the  account  of  which  had  been  written  to  me 
by  Colonel  Williams.  The  whole  Union  was  in  a  measure 
moved  to  grief  by  this  sad  event.  Colonel  Hamilton  occupied  a 
large  space  in  the  public  mind.  He  had  been  the  able  leader  of 
Federalism — of  a  class  of  men  who  may  in  truth  be  said  to  have 
been  actuated  by  far  higher  motives  than  those  of  mere  party. 

My  advices  from  West  Point  were  that  Major  Wadsworth, 
Capt.  W.  A.  Barron  and  Mr.  DeMasson  formed  the  academic 
corps;  that  Lieutenant  Wilson  was  on  duty  at  Fort  Mifflin, 
Lieutenant  Macomb  in  South  Carolina,  and  Lieutenant  Arm- 
istead  in  New  York. 

In  my  excursions  on  the  water  of  Cape  Fear  I  was  aided  by 
Captain  Walker,  Dr.  Griffin,  and  Mr.  Blaney,  who  as  sports- 
men were  familiar  with  the  numerous  shoals  and  channels  and 
anchorages  thereof,  so  that  the  returns  were  not  only  in  game 
but  also  in  giving  me  knowledge  of  the  capacity  of  this  harbor, 
situate  as  it  is  on  one  of  the  most  shallow  and  troublesome 
coasts  to  navigators.  The  anchorage,  covered  from  the  ocean  by 
Bald  Head,  or  Smith's  Island,  extending  from  the  Main  Bar  to 
the  New  Inlet,  and  upon  which  island  there  is  a  growth  of  live 
oak  and  palmetto,  and  abounding  with  fallow  deer. 

Intimacy  with  Mr.  Walker  furnished  me  with  many  items 
of  the  war  in  Carolina,  with  which  he  was  familiar,  although 
not  taking  part  in  the  battles,  for  he  had  been  a  moderate  Tory, 
averse  to  taking  arms  against  the  mother  country,  in  which 
his  friend  and  brother-in-law,  Louis  DeRosset,  had  influenced 
him.  Mr.  DeRosset  was  of  the  King's  council.  Mr.  Walker 
had  been  the  executor  of  Gen.  James  Moore,  the  planner  and 
director  of  the  American  force  at  the  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek, 
fought  by  Lillington  and  Caswell.  From  the  papers  of  that 
officer  he  had  gathered  many  an  anecdote  of  the  march  of  Com- 
wallis.    Mr.  Walker  had  been  in  the  Regulators'  War  of  1770 


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Early  Years  137 

and  then  commanded  a  company  in  the  Battle  of  Alamance,  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State.  He  was  cured  of  much  of  his 
Toryism  by  the  tyrannical  conduct  of  Maj.  J.  H.  Craig,  the 
British  governor  at  Wilmington,  afterwards  governor-general  of 
Canada.  The  conduct  of  this  man  had  been  oppressive  and 
needlessly  cruel  to  the  people  of  Wilmington,  and  Captain 
Walker  had  been  able  to  influence  some  relief  for  those  who 
were  in  arrest,  etc.  He  and  his  brother-in-law,  John  DuBois, 
had  been  appointed  commissioners  to  arrange  the  cartel  of  pris- 
oners, and  to  negotiate  for  the  families  who  were  to  leave  Wil- 
mington when  Comwallis  marched  to  Virginia,  thus  showing 
the  confidence  that  both  Whig  and  Tory  had  reposed  in  those 
gentlemen.  Mr.  Walker's  family  were  of  the  settlers  called 
"Eetainers,"  coming  from  Ireland  under  the  auspices  of  Col- 
onel Sampson  and  of  his  father,  Robert  Walker.  Among  the 
families  of  "Eetainers"  were  those  of  the  Holmeses,  Owens, 
Kenans,  etc.,  now  become  independent  planters  and  distin- 
guished citizens.  The  father  of  Captain  Walker,  the  above 
Robert,  was  of  the  same  family  with  that  of  the  Protestant  hero, 
the  Rev.  George  Walker,  of  Londonderry.  The  mother  of  Cap- 
tain Walker  was  Ann,  of  the  family  of  Montgomery,  of  Mount 
Alexander  in  Ireland,  who  had  made  a  runaway  match  with 
Robert  Walker.  Capt.  James  Walker  married  Magdalen  M. 
DuBois,  the  daughter  of  John  DuBois  and  Gabriella  DeRosset, 
his  wife. 

In  the  month  of  September,  in  reply  to  my  report  of  the  26th 
of  July,  I  received  orders  from  the  War  Department  to  proceed 
with  as  much  of  the  work  therein  contemplated  as  was  embraced 
in  General  Smith's  contract  upon  the  tapia  work  at  the  site  of 
old  Fort  Johnston,  that  had  been  there  constructed  in  1748 
by  His  Excellency  Gabriel  Johnston,  then  colonial  governor. 
In  clearing  away  the  sand  I  found  much  of  the  old  tapia  walls 
far  superior  to  our  contemplated  plan  for  the  battery  of  tapia. 

Soon  after  this  the  slaves  of  General  Smith  commenced  the 
burning  of  lime  in  pens,  called  kilns,  made  of  sapling  pines 
formed  in  squares  containing  from  one  thousand  to  one  thou- 
sand two  hundred  bushels  of  oyster  shells  (alive)  collected  in 
scows  from  the  shoals  in  the  harbor — ^there  abundant.  These 
pens  were  filled  with  alternate  layers  of  shells  and  ^Tightwood" 
from  pitch  pine,  and  thus  were  burned  in  about  one  day — ^very 
much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  neighborhood  by  the  smoke  and 
vapor  of  burning  shellfish,  when  the  wind  was  strong  enough  to 


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138  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

spread  the  fumes  of  the  kilns.  In  the  succeeding  month  of 
November  I  commenced  the  battery  by  constructing  boxes  of  the 
dimensions  of  the  parapet,  six  feet  high  by  seven  in  thickness, 
into  which  boxes  were  poured  the  tapia  composition,  consisting 
of  equal  parts  of  lime,  raw  shells,  and  sand  and  water  sufficient 
to  form  a  species  of  paste,  or  batter,  as  the  negroes  term  it. 

At  the  close  of  this  month  of  November  a  large  Spanish  ship 
called  the  Bilhoa  was  cast  away  on  Cape  Fear  in  a  storm.  It 
was  alleged  by  the  crew,  who  were  brought  by  Pilot  Davis  to 
my  quarters,  that  the  ship  was  laden  with  sugar,  and  that  there 
was  much  specie  in  the  run ;  that  the  captain  and  mate  had  died 
at  sea,  and  that  having  no  navigator  on  board  they  had  put  the 
ship  before  the  wind  and  run  her  on  shore  near  the  cape.  There 
were  twenty-one  in  this  crew,  a  villainous  looking  set  of  rascals, 
that  I  had  no  doubt  they  were.  Lieutenant  Fergus  detained 
them  in  the  block-house  at  the  fort  until  the  collector  sent  in- 
spectors to  conduct  the  crew  to  Charleston,  where  the  ship  was 
faiown  to  some  merchant.  These  men  all  had  more  or  less  of 
dollars  in  their  red  woolen  sashes  tied  around  their  waists.  On 
their  arrival  in  Charleston  they  were  detained  some  time,  but 
no  proof  could  be  found  against  them  and  they  went  free.  The 
pilots  and  others  were  for  some  time  after  this  exploring  the 
remains  of  the  wreck,  but  nothing  was  found  among  the  drift 
save  spars  and  rigging. 


FIRST  STEAMBOAT  ON  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER 

Let  us  contrast  the  swift  steamer  Wilmington,  with  the  primi- 
tive example  of  former  days — let  us  turn  back  for  three-quarters 
of  a  century,  when  the  town  of  Wilmington  contained  only  a 
tenth  of  its  present  population,  and  recall  an  incident,  related  to 
the  writer  by  the  late  Col.  J.  G.  Burr,  which  created  the  great- 
est excitement  at  the  time,  and  which  was  the  occasion  of  the 
wildest  exuberance  of  feeling  among  the  usually  staid  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town — the  arrival  of  the  first  steamboat  in  the  Cape 
Fear  River.  A  joint  stock  company  had  been  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  having  a  steamer  built  to  ply  between  Wilmington 
and  Smithville  or  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville.  Capt.  Otway 
Bums,  of  privateer  Snap-Dragon  fame  during  the  War  of  1812, 
was  the  contractor.  The  boat  was  built  at  Beaufort,  where  he 
resided.    When  the  company  was  informed  that  the  steamer  was 


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Early  Years  139 

finished  and  ready  for  delivery,  they  dispatched  an  experienced 
sea  captain  to  take  command  and  bring  her  to  her  destined  port. 
Expectations  were  on  tiptoe  after  the  departure  of  the  captain ; 
a  feverish  excitement  existed  in  the  community,  which  daily 
increased,  as  nothing  was  heard  from  him  for  a  time,  owing  to 
the  irregularity  of  the  mails ;  but  early  one  morning  this  anxiety 
broke  into  the  wildest  enthusiasm  when  it  was  announced  that 
the  Prometheus  was  in  the  river  and  had  turned  the  Dram  Tree. 
Bells  were  rung,  cannon  fired,  and  the  entire  population,  with- 
out regard  to  age,  sex,  or  color,  thronged  the  wharves  to  welcome 
her  arrival.  The  tide  was  at  the  ebb,  and  the  struggle  between 
the  advancing  steamer  and  the  fierce  current  was  a  desperate 
one;  for  she  panted  fearfully,  as  though  wind-blown  and  ex- 
hausted. She  could  be  seen  in  the  distance,  enveloped  in  smoke, 
and  the  scream  of  her  high-pressure  engine  reverberated  through 
the  woods,  while  she  slowly  but  surely  crept  along.  As  she 
neared  Market  Dock,  where  the  steamer  Wilmington  is  at  pres- 
ent moored,  the  captain  called  through  his  speaking-trumpet  to 
the  engineer  below :  "Give  it  to  her,  Snyder" ;  and  while  Sny- 
der gave  her  all  the  steam  she  could  bear,  the  laboring  Prome- 
theus snorted  by,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  excited  multitude.  In 
those  days  the  river  traffic  was  sustained  by  sailing  sloops  and 
small  schooners,  with  limited  passenger  accommodations  and  less 
comfort  The  schedule  time  to  Smithville,  was  four  hours,  wind 
and  weather  permitting,  and  the  fare  was  one  dollar  each  way. 

Note. — Steamboats  were  used  on  the  Cape  Fear  very  soon  after  their 
introduction.  On  October  16,  1818,  the  Henrietta  began  to  run  regu- 
larly between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville,  and  in  April,  1819,  Presi- 
dent Monroe  was  carried  on  the  Prometheus  from  Wilmington  to  Smith- 
ville.   The  Prometheus  was  probably  on  the  river  long  before  1819. 


THE   DISASTEOUS   YEAR   OF   1819. 

The  growth  of  Wilmington  was  naturally  slow,  notwithstand- 
ing the  energy  of  the  inhabitants.  Indeed,  because  of  the  con- 
stant exodus  of  North  Carolinians  to  the  new  country  at  the 
West  and  South,  the  population  of  the  State  hardly  increased 
at  all  during  the  early  years  of  the  last  century.  The  popula- 
tion of  New  Hanover  County  in  1810  was  11,465,  and  in  1820 
it  had  fallen  off  to  10,866.  In  1820  the  population  of  Wil- 
mington was,  whites,  1,098,  slaves,  1,433,  free  negroes,  102 — a 
total  of  2,633. 


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140  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Especially,  because  of  the  absence  of  good  roads  and  facilities 
for  transportation — save  by  the  river  to  Fayetteville — ^there  was 
but  little  opportunity  for  extending  the  trade  of  the  town. 

Further,  the  trouble  with  England,  the  embargo,  the  inter- 
ruption of  commerce  by  the  War  of  1812,  with  the  attendant 
financial  embarrassments,  brought  loss  and  ruin  in  their  train. 

Superadded  was  the  scourge  of  yellow  fever  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1819,  the  disease  in  that  season  being  more  prevalent 
throughout  the  Southern  and  Middle  Atlantic  States  than  had 
at  any  other  time  been  known.  Baltimore,  as  well  as  the  more 
southern  ports,  was  entirely  paralyzed.  As  in  1862,  many 
families  fled  from  Wilmington  into  the  interior. 

Hardly  had  the  desolation  subsided  and  commerce  revived, 
when  Wilmington  was  visited  by  the  most  disastrous  conflagra- 
tion recorded  in  its  history.  The  total  loss,  as  stated  by  some 
standard  authorities,  was  about  one  million  dollars,  but  the 
Cape  Fear  Recorder  estimated  it  at  between  six  and  seven  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars — an  almost  total  obliteration  of  the 
wealth  of  the  town. 

We  quote  from  the  Raleigh  Register  and  North  Carolina 
State  Gazette  of  Friday,  November  12,  1819 : 

It  is  our  painful  duty  to  register  a  very  extensive  and  calamitous 
fire  which  took  place  at  Wilmington  in  our  State;  and  we  do  It 
with  those  strong  feelings  of  sympathy  and  regret  which  such  events 
naturally  inspire.  We  cannot  portray  the  circumstances  in  which  the 
town  was  placed  more  feelingly  than  it  is  depicted  by  the  Editor  of 
the  Cape  Fear  Recorder;  "who  feels  them  most  can  paint  them  best." 

Fibb!  Wilmington  (says  the  Recorder)  has  experienced  more  awful 
calamities  by  fire  than  any  other  place  in  the  Union.  Thrice,  within 
twenty  years,  has  the  devouring  element  laid  in  ashes  the  abodes  of 
her  inhabitants.  Enterprise,  industry,  and  the  assistance  of  her  neigh- 
bors, gave  her,  measurably,  resuscitation,  until  the  recent  pressure 
of  the  times  bended  her  down  almost  to  the  sinking  point.  Em- 
barrassments in  pecuniary  matters  had  reached  that  state  which  ap- 
peared to  baffle  relief.  Sickness  and  death  followed  in  the  melancholy 
train.  Despair  had  almost  concluded  that  she  could  not  sink  beyond 
this.  Hope,  the  bright  luminary  by  which  man's  path  in  this  world 
of  care  is  heightened  and  cheered,  brought  consolation,  and  pointed 
to  better  days.  Disease  had  ceased — the  periodical  work  of  death 
ccHnpleted — the  late  deserted  abodes  of  her  inhabitants  filling— vessels 
arriving  daily  in  her  port — the  appearance  of  business  reviving.  On 
Thursday  morning,  the  4th  inst.,  about  three  o'clock,  the  cry  of  fire  was 
given,  and  the  delusion  vanished.    Her  bright  hopes  were  destroyed. 

The  frightful  picture  is  before  us  and  it  is  our  duty  to  present  it  to 
our  distant  readers.     The  fire  originated  back  of  a  small  building 


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Early  Years  141 

occupied  by  Mr.  Samuel  Adkins  as  a  grocery  store*  situated  on  the 
whart  near  Dock  Street,  and  adjoining  the  large  brick  warehouse 
lately  occupied  as  the  '76  Coffee-house,  in  part  of  which  was  the  office 
and  counting  house  of  Gabriel  Holmes,  Esq. 

From  the  best  calculation  we  can  make,  the  whole  number  of  houses 
destroyed  was  about  three  hundred,  of  every  description,  Including  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  lately  erected;  and  the  total  loss  of  property 
between  six  and  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

The  following  persons  are  those  who  have  lost  by  the  destruction  of 
buildings: 

Col.  Archibald  F.  McNeill,  John  London,  Col.  Thomas  Cowan,  John 
Swann,  jr.,  William  McKay,  Estate  of  Thomas  Jennings,  Seth  Hoard, 
Joseph  Kellogg,  Estate  of  J.  London,  Mrs.  McRee,  Jacob  Levy,  Richard 
Bradley,  Edward  B.  Dudley,  William  J.  Love,  S.  Springs,  James 
Dickson,  Hanson  Kelly,  David  Smith,  Henry  Urquhart,  John  Walker, 
George  Jennings^  Robert  Rankin,  State  Bank,  Estate  of  Nehemiah 
Harris,  Estate  of  James  Allen,  M.  Blake,  Estate  of  M.  Murphy,  James 
Usher,  Mrs.  Hoekins,  Mrs.  Toomer,  William  Harris,  James  Marshall, 
Estate  of  P.  Harris,  Louis  Paggett,  Estate  of  Hilliary  Moore,  Reuben 
Loring,  William  C.  Lord,  Gilbert  Geer.    This  list  is  no  doubt  incomplete. 

Among  those  who  suffered  by  the  destruction  of  other  property  the 
principal  in  amount  are,  Isaac  Arnold,  Edmund  Bridge,  jr.,  Eleazar 
Tilden,  Dudley  and  Van  Cleff,  Dudley  and  Dickinson,  Miles  Blake, 
Seth  Hoard,  Richard  Lloyd,  J.  Angomar,  George  Lloyd,  H.  Wooster, 
Patrick  Murphy,  B.  C.  GiUett,  W.  C.  Radcliffe,  Stewart  Robson. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  individual  losses. 
Every  person  within  the  bounds  of  the  fire,  and  all  those  without  it 
who  removed  their  property,  lost  more  or  less.  But  the  extent  of  a 
loss,  as  it  regards  merely  its  amount,  is  not  the  criterion  of  its  injury — 
it  is  he  that  has  lost  his  all,  the  unprotected,  the  friendless,  and  the 
helpless,  that  ought  to  excite  our  pity  and  compassion,  and  calls  for 
our  assistance. 

Only  one  life  was  lost— Capt  Farquhar  McRae,  after  the  fire  had 
almost  subsided,  who  ventured  within  a  building  for  the  purpose  of 
saving  property  not  his  own.  The  walls  fell,  he  was  crushed  to  atoms. 
He  was  a  useful  citizen  in  his  sphere  of  life  and  would  have  been 
regretted  even  had  he  died  on  the  couch  of  disease. 

To  the  sufferings  of  others  Wilmington  has  never  remained  indif- 
ferent— limited  as  were  her  means,  to  know  them  was  all  that  was 
necessary  for  her  to  contribute  her  mite.  She  is  now  in  distress — 
hundreds  of  her  inhabitants  are  suffering.  The  knowledge  of  her 
situation  will,  we  are  certain,  confer  relief. 

And  all  this  is  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  Suspicion  has  been  afloat, 
but  we  suspect  it  has  not  been  directed  toward  the  right  person. 
Higher  views  than  those  of  plunder  must  have  been  the  object,  for  we 
have  heard  of  not  much  success  and  of  very  few  attempts. 

CRakich  Recbter  and  North  Carolina  State  Gawtte,  Friday,  December  3, 1819.) 

Wilmington  Fire — We  have  pleasure  in  stating  that  a  subscription 
has  been  opened  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  by  this  disastrous  event. 


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142  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

not  only  among  the  citizens  of  Raleigh,  but  among  the  members  of 
both  houses  of  the  Legislature.  The  precise  amount  is  not  at  present 
ascertained;  but  we  trust  it  will  be  such  as  will  show  the  liberality 
of  the  subscribers,  considering  the  hardness  of  the  times. 


Other  Eably  Fires. 

In  the  preface  to  his  History  of  New  Hanover  County ^  pub- 
lished in  1909,  Col.  Alfred  Moore  Waddell  said: 

''What  is  called  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  region  of  North  Caro- 
lina has  long  been  recognized  by  the  writers  of  our  history  as 
the  most  interesting  and,  as  one  of  them  designated  it,  'the  most 
romantic'  section  of  our  State.  Yet,  up  to  this  time,  although 
partial  sketches,  historical  and  biographical,  have  appeared,  no 
attempt  at  a  regular  history  of  it  has  been  published,  and  now 
such  a  history  cannot  be  written  because  of  the  destruction,  by 
fire  and  other  agencies,  of  a  large  part  of  the  material  requisite 
for  the  purpose.  There  was,  perhaps,  no  part  of  the  country 
where  so  many  planters'  residences  with  all  their  contents  were 
lost  by  fire  as  on  the  Cape  Fear  and  its  tributaries,  and  it  is  well 
known  among  the  descendants  of  those  planters,  some  of  whom 
were  members  of  the  learned  professions,  that  by  these  fires 
many  manuscripts,  family  records,  and  documents  of  various 
kinds  that  would  have  been  invaluable  as  material  for  the  prep- 
aration of  a  local  history,  were  lost.  Besides  these  fires  on  the 
plantations,  the  town  of  Wilmington  was,  at  an  early  period,  as 
well  as  several  times  afterwards,  nearly  destroyed  in  the  same 
way,  with  the  same  results. 

"None  of  the  ancient  official  records  of  the  town  of  Bruns- 
wick were  preserved,  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  county 
records  was  destroyed  by  Northern  soldiers  when  the  town  of 
Smithville  was  captured  by  them  in  1865.  Some  of  the  town 
records  of  Wilmington  of  an  early  period  have  also  disap- 
peared." 

Many  years  ago,  I  searched  in  vain  the  ruins  of  the  first  settle- 
ment of  Charlestown,  at  Town  Creek,  for  records  of  that  date, 
but  my  search  was  rewarded  later  by  the  discovery  in  the  ruins 
of  a  house,  said  to  have  been  the  residence  of  Nathaniel  Rice, 
of  the  book  of  entries  and  clearances  of  the  port  of  Brunswick 
in  a  partly  mutilated  condition.  I  also  searched  at  LiUiput 
among  the  ruins  of  Eleazar  Allen's  residence,  without  result; 
also,  the  ruins  of  Governor  Tryon's  Castle  Tryon,  or  palace,  at 
Orton,  which  revealed  a  piece  of  pottery  stamped  "W.  Dry, 


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Harly  Years  143 

Cape  Fear,  1765/'  and  a  large  bunch  of  housekeeper's  keys 
upon  an  iron  ring  and  hook  which  fitted  into  a  leather  belt  with 
a  spring  by  which  a  key  could  be  withdrawn  and  replaced. 
Other  relics  of  less  importance  were  discovered,  but  no  papers. 
All  of  these  ruins,  as  well  as  the  ruins  of  St.  Philip's  Church, 
showed  the  devastation  of  fire  in  charred  woodwork  and  melted 
colored  glass. 

As  early  as  1771,  Wilmington  suffered  from  a  terrible  con- 
flagration, and  an  act  of  Assembly  was  passed  to  regulate  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  in  view  of  possible  fires.  In  the  account 
just  given  of  the  destruction  wrought  in  1819,  it  is  mentioned 
that,  in  the  previous  twenty  years,  there  had  been  several  de- 
structive conflagrations. 

Mr.  J.  T.  James  says :  ^^ilmington,  in  common  with  many 
other  of  her  sister  towns  and  cities,  has  suffered  often  and  seri- 
ously from  the  terrible  scourge  of  fire ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that 
these  visitations  have,  from  time  to  time,  seriously  retarded  its 
growth.  Scarcely  would  the  citizens  recover  from  the  effects 
of  one  blow,  ere  tiiey  would  be  called  upon  to  suffer  again.  The 
old  chronicles  tell  us  that  in  November,  1798,  a  most  destructive 
fire  occurred.  On  July  22,  1810,  three  stores  and  five  houses, 
situated  near  what  is  now  the  comer  of  Market  and  Second 
Streets,  but  then  known  as  Mud  Market,  were  consumed  by  fire 
caused  by  lightning.  In  1819,  there  was  a  most  terrible  conflia- 
gration,  and  the  four  squares  bounded  by  Water,  Princess,  Sec- 
ond, and  Dock  Streets  were  destroyed.  In  1827,  the  square 
south  of  the  site  of  the  present  market  house  was  again  burned. 
In  1840  the  square  north  of  the  market  was  consumed  for  the 
second  time,  together  with  the  courthouse,  which  then  stood  at 
the  intersection  of  Front  and  Market  Streets.  In  1843  occurred 
one  of  the  most  serious  conflagrations  of  any  ever  experienced. 
On  April  30  of  that  year  a  fire  originated  in  the  alley  just  north 
of  the  Cape  Fear  Bank  building  and  swept  with  rapid  strides 
to  the  north.  All  exertions  to  check  it  were  in  vain,  and  it  was 
not  until  everything  west  of  Front  Street  and  north  of  the  bank 
alley  and  portions  of  every  square  east  of  the  same  street  and 
bordering  upon  it  and  north  of  Chestnut  were  consumed,  that 
its  fiery  course  could  be  stopped.  This  fire  also  destroyed  the 
workshops  and  buildings  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Eail- 
road  Company,  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  then  situ- 
ated, as  now,  upon  the  comer  of  Front  and  Walnut  Streets. 
Three  years  afterwards,  in  1846,  the  square  next  south  of  the 


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144  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

market  house  was  again  and  for  the  third  time  destroyed  by 
fire." 

Reference  was  made  to  two  of  these  fires  by  Sir  Charles  Lyell, 
the  famous  geologist,  who  was  in  Wilmington  in  December, 
1841,  and  again  in  January,  1842,  and  still  again  in  December, 
1845.  In  a  letter  written  by  him  from  Wilmington  in  Decem- 
ber, 1845,  he  said:  "The  streets  which  had  just  been  laid  in 
ashes  when  we  were  here  four  years  ago  are  now  rebuilt;  but 
there  has  been  another  fire  this  year,  imputed  very  generally  to 
incendiarism,  because  it  broke  out  in  many  places  at  once.  There 
has  been  a  deficiency  of  firemen,  owing  to  the  State  having  dis- 
continued the  immunity  from  militia  duty,  formerly  conceded 
to  those  who  served  the  fire  engines."  Some  mention  of  the  fire 
of  1843  is  also  made  in  the  article  on  Governor  Dudley. 


FIRST  CAPE  FEAR  IMPROVEMENTS. 

I  find  in  the  annual  report  of  William  P.  Craighill,  then 
major  of  Engineers,  and  brevet  lieutenant  colonel.  United  States 
Army,  for  the  year  1873,  a  brief  history  of  old  surveys  and  maps 
and  charts  made  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  between  its  mouth  and 
the  port  of  Wilmington,  which  is  a  record  of  some  value  to  us.  I 
have  also  found  in  the  records  of  the  War  Department  of  1828, 
a  lengthy  report  by  Capt.  Hartman  Bache,  of  the  Engineer 
Corps,  transmitted  by  Maj.  Gen.  Alexander  MacComb,  chief 
engineer,  to  Hon.  James  Barbour,  Secretary  of  War,  who  in 
turn  transmitted  it  to  Congress,  which  had  called  for  it  by  reso- 
lution dated  the  20th  of  December,  1827.  This  report  is  not 
only  interesting  but  valuable,  as  it  indicates  the  initial  measures 
recommended  and  subsequently  carried  out  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment for  the  removal  of  obstructions  to  navigation  between 
the  bar  and  the  port  of  Wilmington,  the  navigation  of  the  river 
being  greatly  hampered  by  shoal  water,  which  afforded,  under 
the  most  favorable  conditions,  a  channel  of  less  than  nine  feet. 

It  also  appears  from  this  report  and  from  other  data,  that  the 
State  work  under  Mr.  Hamilton  Fulton,  State  engineer  in  1823, 
was  unsuccessful  and  was  condemned  in  its  most  important  fea- 
tures by  Captain  Bache  and  by  those  who  were  directly  inter- 
ested in  the  commerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

About  the  year  1819  the  State  authorized  Mr.  Peter  Brown, 
an  eminent  lawyer  residing  at  Raleigh,  then  intending  to  visit 


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Early  Years  145 

Great  Britain,  to  employ  an  engineer  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
proving our  rivers  and  water  transportation;  and  Mr.  Brown 
engaged  Hamilton  Fulton,  at  a  salary  of  $5,000. 

The  work  of  putting  in  the  jetties  below  Wilmington  seems 
to  have  been  under  Mr.  Fulton's  direction;  but  it  is  said  that 
the  engineer  in  charge  was  Mr.  Hinton  James,^  who  had  been 
the  first  student  to  enter  the  State  TJniversity.  Afterwards, 
Mr.  James,  it  is  said,  was  mayor  of  Wilmington ;  and  he  lived 
in  the  town  to  a  ripe  old  age.  Mr.  Fulton's  work  may  have  been 
founded  on  correct  principles,  but  his  plans,  not  only  for  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  but  for  other  improvements,  were  beyond  the 
financial  resources  of  the  State,  and  after  some  years  they  were 
abandoned. 

Steamboat  Line  to  Charleston. 

The  progress  of  river  improvement  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment during  a  period  of  ten  years,  from  1829  to  1839,  was 
very  slow,  and  it  resulted  in  a  gain  of  only  two  feet  depth  below 
Wilmington ;  but,  after  an  hiatus  of  eight  years,  in  1847  it  be- 
gan to  be  pushed  forward  with  great  diligence  and  success  from 
Wilmington  to  the  sea,  resulting  in  a  safer  channel  of  thirteen 
feet  at  high  water  and  nine  feet  at  low  water.  It  is  notable  that 
in  1853  some  of  the  citizens  of  Wilmington,  enterprising  men 
that  they  were,  impatient  at  the  slowness  with  which  river  and 
harbor  bills  were  passed  by  Congress  and  anxious  to  continue 
the  work  without  interruption,  subscribed  $60,000  (a  large  simi 
in  those  days  for  a  small  commimity)  in  furtherance  of  the  im- 
provement of  the  river  and  bar  imder  the  direction  of  an  officer 
of  the  United  States  Engineer  Corps.  This  was  officially  ap- 
proved June  9,  1853,  by  Hon.  Jefferson  Davis,  Secretary  of 
War.  The  officer  in  charge  of  the  work  was  General  Woodbury, 
who  married  a  daughter  of  General  Childs.  Meanwhile,  there 
was  much  enterprise  shown  by  the  merchants  of  Wilmington  in 
shipbuilding,  in  a  large  and  increasing  turpentine  and  lumber 
trade,  in  the  establishment  of  packet  lines  to  Baltimore,  Phila- 
delphia, and  New  Y<5rk,  and  in  a  daily  mail  steamboat  line  to 
Charleston,  consisting  of  the  steamers  VanderbUt,  North  Caro- 
lina, Oladiator,  and  Dudley. 

'His  tombetone  was  recently  discovered  by  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Howell,  of 
Wilmington,  in  the  graveyard  of  the  old  Hopewell  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  northern  part  of  Pender  County,  formerly  a  part  of  New  Han- 
over County.  The  inscription  on  the  plain  marble  slab  states  that  Mr. 
James  was  bom  September  20,  1776,  and  died  August  22,  1847. 


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146  Chronicles  of  the  Gape  Fear  River 

The  following  remarkable  official  statement  was  made  by  the 
United  States  engineers  in  1853 : 

"The  Cape  Fear  Eiver  is  the  natural  and  actual  outlet  of  the 
products  of  28  or  more  counties  in  North  Carolina  and  of  sev- 
eral counties  in  South  Carolina.  In  one  item  of  future  exports 
other  Southern  States  are  interested  and  the  whole  country  must 
be  so  in  time  of  war :  Coal  in  large  quantities  and  of  an  excel- 
lent quality  has  been  found  upon  the  waters  of  the  Cape  Fear, 
about  120  miles  from  its  mouthy  and  at  no  distant  day,  it  is 
supposed,  will  become  a  r^ular  article  of  export.  We  may, 
therefore,  have — ^what  must  be  regarded  as  a  national  benefit 
at  all  times,  and  in  time  of  war  as  of  very  great  importance — a 
depot  of  coal  upon  the  Cape  Fear,  independent  of  supply  from 
the  North,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy.  But  this  depot 
will,  in  great  measure,  be  lost  to  the  country  unless  the  Cape 
Fear  shall  be  improved  so  as  to  admit  our  ships  of  war." 

Unfortunately,  the  mining  of  this  coal  a  few  years  later  did 
not  prove  a  success. 

CONGEESSIONAL    A  TO  TO  ElVER  IMPROVEMENT. 

It  was  not  imtil  1826  that  Congress  began  to  make  appropria- 
tions for  river  and  harbor  improvements,  and  three  years  later 
the  Cape  Fear  River  was  included  in  the  list.  For  ten  years  an 
annual  appropriation  of  $20,000  was  regularly  made,  and  then 
because  of  a  change  in  public  policy  such  appropriations  ceased. 
The  Democratic  party  was  opposed  to  internal  improvements  at 
the  expense  of  the  government.  From  1838  to  1866  only  a  few 
river  and  harbor  bills  were  passed.  Mr.  William  S.  Ashe,  the 
representative  from  the  Cape  Fear  district  in  1854,  differed 
with  his  party  on  the  subject  of  internal  improvements  and  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  through  a  bill  carrying  $140,000  for  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  the  particular  object  being  to  close  New  Inlet, 
forcing  all  the  water  of  the  stream  over  the  Main  Bar.  In  order 
to  accomplish  his  purpose  he  had  to  persuade  many  of  his  Demo- 
cratic associates  to  withdraw  from  the  chamber,  and  so  many 
withdrew  that,  although  his  bill  received  a  large  affirmative  vote, 
there  was  no  quorum,  and  he  had  to  call  in  others  to  make  a 
quorum.  On  tiie  final  vote  the  bill  passed,  but  there  were  still 
more  than  eighty  Democrats  absent.  That  was  the  beginning 
of  the  effort  to  close  New  Inlet,  which  was  nearly  accomplished 
when  the  war  stopped  operations,  but  when  blockade  running 
began,  every  one  rejoiced  that  the  inlet  was  still  open. 


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Early  Years  147 

In  after  years  Senator  Eansom  exerted  himself  with  success 
for  the  improvement  of  the  river,  but  the  greatest  improvement 
has  been  accomplished  under  the  influence  of  Senator  Simmons, 
at  the  time  acting  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce, 
having  such  matters  in  charge.  He  has  secured  a  26-foot  chan- 
nel, increasing  immensely  the  commercial  facilities  of  Wilming- 
ton, which  her  business  men  have  quickly  developed.  Senator 
Simmons  has  likewise  secured  the  adoption  of  a  project  to  canal- 
ize the  river  from  Wilmington  to  Fayetteville,  and  has  been  a 
strenuous  advocate  of  the  Coastal  Canal,  now  about  to  be  con- 
structed. He  has  long  appreciated  the  value  of  inland  water- 
ways and  was  a  member  of  the  Commission  on  Waterways  sent . 
to  Europe  by  Congress  a  few  years  ago.  In  1909  he  was  a 
prime  factor  in  securing  the  adoption  of  the  proposition  to  have 
a  survey  made  for  an  intercoastal  waterway  from  Boston  to  the 
Rio  Grande.  In  1912  he  secured  the  adoption  of  the  Norfolk 
and  Beaufort  section  of  that  great  undertaking  and  the  purchase 
by  the  government  of  the  Albemarle  and  Chesapeake  CanaL 
He  also  secured  the  deepening  of  that  waterway  to  twelve  feet. 

The  River  and  Harbor  Bill  now  pending  carries  a  provision 
for  a  survey  to  increase  the  depth  of  water  from  Wilmington  to 
thirty-five  feet. 


RAILROADS— THE  FIRST  PROJECT. 

In  March,  1833,  the  commissioners  of  the  city  of  Fayetteville 
were  instructed  to  n^otiate  a  loan  of  $200,000  to  be  invested  in 
the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad,  which,  with  indi- 
vidual subscriptions,  would  be  more  than  enough  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company,  and  work  could  be  begun  in  the  spring 
of  1834. 

On  May  1,  1833,  the  People's  Press  advertised  that  the  sub- 
scribers to  the  stock  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Rail- 
road, by  applying  to  Dr.  William  P.  Hort,  would  be  refunded 
the  amount  of  money  paid  by  them  on  their  shares,  after  deduct- 
ing 12  per  cent  for  disbursements.  It  was  further  stated  that 
the  project  was  abandoned  because  of  lack  of  support  by  the  in- 
habitants of  the  western  section,  who  would  not  contribute  one 
cent  to  the  enterprise  of  establishing  a  railroad  from  the  sea- 
board to  the  mountains. 


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148  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  First  Declabation  of  State  Policy. 

On  July  4,  1833,  the  Internal  Improvement  Convention 
assembled  in  Raleigh  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  delegates, 
representing  twenty-one  counties  in  the  eastern  and  northern 
sections.  It  seems  to  have  been  the  first  concerted  effort  towards 
organized  action  looking  to  the  establishment  of  a  railroad. 
Governor  Swain  presided  and  Gen.  Samuel  F.  Patterson  and 
Mr.  Charles  Manly  were  appointed  secretaries.  The  personnel 
of  the  convention  must  have  been  remarkable,  as  the  record 
says  "So  many  distinguished  and  talented  men  are  said  never 
before  to  have  assembled  in  the  State." 

In  this  convention  Governor  Graham,  then  in  the  prime  of  his 
rare  powers,  urged  as  the  internal-improvement  policy  of  the 
State,  three  north-and-south  lines  of  railroad.  He  was  antago- 
nized by  Joseph  Alston  Hill,  of  Wilmington,  one  of  the  most 
gifted  orators  of  that  period,  who  advocated  east-and-west  lines, 
marketing  the  products  of  the  State  through  North  Carolina 
ports.    It  was  a  battle  of  giants,  and  Hill  won  the  victory. 

The  convention  adopted  resolutions  to  the  effect  that  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  ought  to  raise  by  loan  such  sums  as  will  "afford 
substantial  assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  the  public  works; 
that  no  work  should  be  encouraged  for  conveying  produce  to  a 
primary  market  out  of  the  State;  that  the  L^slature  be  asked 
to  take  two-fifths  of  the  stock  of  companies ;  that  a  Correspond- 
ing Committee  of  twenty  be  appointed  in  each  county,  and  that 
a  second  convention  be  held  on  the  fourth  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber." 

The  delegates  from  Wake,  Johnston,  Lenoir,  Wayne,  Samp- 
son, Craven,  and  New  Hanover  resolved  that  "means  be  devised 
for  carrying  into  effect  the  scheme  of  a  railroad  from  Raleigh 
to  Waynesboro  (Goldsboro),  and  thence  to  Wilmington." 

The  committee  for  the  town  of  Wilmington  was  composed  of 
Edward  B.  Dudley,  William  B.  Meares,  WilKam  P.  Hort, 
Joseph  A.  Hill,  and  Alexander  MacRae.  Circulars  were  issued 
to  the  citizens  of  Wake,  Johnston,  Wayne,  Sampson,  Duplin, 
New  Hanover,  and  Brunswick  to  ascertain  what  amount  of  aid 
they  would  contribute,  and  stating  that  $113,000  had  been  sub- 
scribed by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington,  and  that  a  total  of 
$150,000  would  be  raised. 

In  July,  1833,  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  formulated  a  prop- 
osition to  make  application  to  the  Legislature  to  incorporate  the 


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Early  Years  149 

town  of  Wilmington,  the  object  being  to  raise  funds  on  which 
immediate  action  could  be  taken  in  the  construction  of  rail- 
roads; but  in  January,  1834,  the  bill  "to  incorporate  the  city 
of  Wilmington  and  extend  the  limits  thereof^  was  rejected. 

The  Obigin  of  the  Katlboad  Project. 

Communication  from  Wilmington  to  the  North  was  by  means 
of  an  occasional  packet  ship  and  two  lines  of  stages,  one  by  way 
of  New  Bern  and  the  other  through  Fayetteville  and  Raleigh. 

The  commerce  of  the  town  had  but  slowly  increased  and  the 
future  prospect  was  gloomy.  A  railroad  or  two,  very  short  lines, 
had  been  constructed  elsewhere,  and  this  new  method  of  travel 
was  being  talked  about ;  but  as  yet  it  had  not  been  proven  a  suc- 
cess.^ Such  was  the  situation  when  Mr.  P.  K.  Dickinson,  a 
young  Northern  man  who  had  located  in  the  town,  went  one 
sunmier  to  New  England  and  saw  there  a  little  railroad  in 
operation.  It  had  only  wooden  stringers,  with  narrow,  thin,  flat 
iron  on  top,  and  the  carriages  were  of  light  construction.  Mr. 
Dickinson  was  greatly  impressed  with  its  capabilities.  Con- 
vinced of  its  success,  he  became  enthusiastic,  and  hurried  back 
to  Wilmington  with  the  news  that  he  had  found  what  was  needed 
to  assure  the  future  welfare  of  the  town — a  railroad.  He  was 
so  enthusiastic,  so  insistent  and  persistent,  that  his  idea  took 
shape,  and  the  people  determined  to  have  a  railroad.  With 
Wilmington  to  resolve  is  to  act,  and  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh 
Road  was  chartered ;  but  Raleigh  would  not  subscribe,  while  the 
Edgecombe  people  would,  so,  although  the  line  from  Wilming^ 
ton  to  Goshen  pointed  to  Raleigh,  the  construction  was  north- 
ward to  Weldon.  Mr.  Dickinson  was  one  of  the  chief  promoters 
and  remained  through  life  the  leading  director.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  useful,  most  esteemed  and  valued  citizens  of  the  town, 
and  his  large  lumber  plant,  located  north  of  the  railroad  ter- 
minal, was  one  of  the  great  industries  of  Wilmington. 

'The  first  American-built  locomotive  wi^s  put  on  the  South  Carolina 
Railroad,  November  2,  1830.  The  first  roads  were  operated  by  horse- 
power. 


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150  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


THE  WILMINGTON  AND  WELDON  RAILROAD. 

In  January,  1834,  the  bill  to  incorporate  the  Wilmington  and 
Raleigh  Railroad  became  a  law;  but  the  terms  of  the  charter 
were  so  restricted  that  an  amended  charter  was  obtained  in 
December,  1835,  conferring  larger  privileges  and  changing  the 
course  of  the  proposed  road.  At  the  time  of  granting  the  first 
charter  it  was  the  intention  to  construct  a  railroad  merely  to 
connect  the  principal  seaport  with  the  seat  of  the  government ; 
but,  as  the  project  was  more  thoroughly  considered,  the  advan- 
tages of  building  to  some  point  on  the  Roanoke  to  connect  with 
the  Virginia  lines,  thereby  completing  one  of  the  important 
links  in  the  line  of  iron  rail  that  was  to  extend  from  Maine  to 
Florida,  was  realized,  and  in  the  amended  charter  the  new  cor- 
poration was  given  the  privilege  of  changing  its  destination. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders  was  held  on  March  14, 
1836,  in  the  Wilmington  Courthouse,  and  organized  by  electing 
Edward  B.  Dudley  president  (at  a  salary  of  $2,000),  and  the 
following  directors :  Andrew  Joyner,  W.  D.  Moseley,  James  S. 
Battle,  Aaron  Lazarus,  Alexander  Anderson,  William  B.  Meares, 
James  Owen,  P.  K.  Dickinson,  R.  H.  Cowan,  and  Thomas  H. 
Wright.  Gen.  Alexander  MacRae  was  elected  superintendent, 
and  James  S.  Green,  secretary  and  treasurer.  After  passing 
several  resolutions  and  agreeing  to  start  the  building  of  the  road 
at  both  Halifax  and  Wilmington  at  the  same  time,  the  meeting 
adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the  first  Monday  in  November  and 
thereafter  annually  on  the  first  Monday  in  May.  After  Mr. 
Dudley  was  elected  governor,  he  was  succeeded  in  the  presi- 
dency by  Gen.  James  Owen. 

The  building  of  the  road  was  commenced  in  October,  1836, 
although  little  was  done  imtil  January,  1837,  and  on  March  7, 
1840,  the  last  spike  was  driven.  Its  actual  length  was  161^^ 
miles,  and  at  the  time  of  its  completion  it  had  the  foUovraig 
equipment:  Twelve  locomotives,  which  were  named,  Nash, 
Wayne  (built  by  R.  Stephenson  &  Co.,  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  Eng- 
land), New  Hanover,  Edgecombe,  Brunswick,  Duplin,  and 
Bladen  (built  by  WUliam  Norris,  Philadelphia,  Pa.),  Oreene, 
Halifax,  and  Sampson  (built  by  Burr  &  Sampson,  Richmond, 
Va.),  etc.  There  were  also  in  use  eight  8-wheel  passenger 
coaches,  4  post-office  cars,  50  freight  cars,  and  4  steamers,  viz. : 


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Early  Years  151 

the  North  Carolina^  WUmingtan,  Oovemor  Dudley,  and  Comer 
lilts  VanderbUt. 

The  entire  road  was  constructed  under  the  following  super- 
vision :  Walter  Qwyn,  chief  engineer ;  Alexander  MacKae^  super- 
intendent; Matthew  T.  Goldsborough,  principal  assistant  engi- 
neer of  the  Southern  Division,  and  Francis  N.  Barbarin,  prin- 
cipal assistant  engineer  of  the  Northern  Division.  The  road  was 
first  laid  with  plate  iron  2  inches  by  %  inch  on  wooden  stringers. 

On  April  5,  1840,  the  celebration  of  the  completion  of  the 
railroad  was  held  in  Wilmington.    The  report  says : 

^^A  large  number  of  gentlemen  assembled  in  ^e  town  from 
various  parts  of  the  State  and  from  Virginia  and  South  Caro- 
lina at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning.  The  bells  gave  out  sonor- 
ous peals  and  the  shipping  in  the  harbor  came  up,  their  flags 
waving.  Cannon  were  fired  every  fifteen  minutes  throughout 
the  day,  with  a  national  salute  at  meridian.  At  2  p.  m.  a  pro- 
cession, composed  of  invited  guests  and  citizens,  including  the 
president,  directors,  and  officers  of  other  roads,  the  Board  of  In- 
ternal Improvement,  the  Literary  Board,  the  president,  direct- 
ors, engineers,  agents  and  others  in  the  employ  of  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Kaleigh  Eailroad,  was  formed  on  Front  Street,  under 
the  direction  of  Gen.  Alexander  MacEae,  marshal  of  the  day, 
assisted  by  Maj.  R.  F.  Brown,  and  marched  thence  to  the  dinner 
table,  escorted  by  the  Wilmington  Volunteers  with  their  fine 
band  of  music. 

"The  dinner  was  set  out  at  the  depot  under  sheds  temporarily 
prepared  for  the  purpose.  About  five  hundred  and  fifty  were  at 
the  tables,  which  were  amply  prepared  for  hungry  men. 

"Gen.  James  Owen,  the  president  of  the  company,  presided, 
assisted  by  the  directors,  acting  as  vice  presidents.  Good  feel- 
ing ruled  the  hour  and  good  cheer  gave  quick  wings  to  the  nurs- 
lings of  wit. 

"Then  followed  a  number  of  toasts — fifty-seven  toasts  and 
eleven  letters  with  toasts.'^ 

Other  reports  are  as  follows : 

Nov.  8,  1841. — "Annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  Co.  Gen.  James  Owen  de- 
clined further  service  as  president.  Edward  B.  Dudley  was 
elected  in  his  stead  and  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected 
directors:  P.  K.  Dickinson,  Alexander  Anderson,  Thomas  H. 
Wright,  Robert  H.  Cowan,  of  Wilmington,  Samuel  Potter,  of 
Smithville,  and  B.  F.  Moore,  of  Halifax.'^ 


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152  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Nov.  1842. — "Annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Wil- 
mington and  Ealeigh  Kailroad  Co.  Edward  B.  Dudley  was 
reelected  president.  Directors:  Alexander  Anderson,  P.  K. 
Dickinson,  Samuel  Potter,  James  S.  Battle,  A.  J.  DeRosset, 
and  James  T.  Miller." 

Nov.  12,  1847. — "The  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  was  held  here.  Gen. 
Alexander  MacRae  was  elected  president  and  E.  B.  Dudley, 
P.  K.  Dickinson,  Gilbert  Potter,  James  T.  Miller,  O.  G.  Pars- 
ley, and  William  A.  Wright,  directors.  (The  same  as  last  year 
except  William  A.  Wright  in  the  place  of  Dr.  John  Hill,  de- 
ceased.)" 

'  At  this  last  meeting  it  was  resolved,  "That  the  stockholders  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  Co.,  in  general  meeting 
assembled,  do  hereby  pledge  to  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester 
Railroad  Co.  a  subscription  of  $100,000,  to  be  paid  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  said  Manchester  Railroad  from  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  steamboat  and  other  property,  which  will  at  that  time 
become  unnecessary  for  the  purpose  of  this  company :  Provided 
that  our  Legislature  take  such  action  as  may  authorize  said  sub- 
scription." 

Nov.  10,  1848. — "Annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  Co.  No  change  made  in  the 
president  or  Board  of  Directors,  except  four  directors  on  the 
part  of  the  State  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  Internal  Improve- 
ment Board." 

In  December,  1848,  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Legislature 
authorizing  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  Company  to 
mortgage  the  road  and  its  appurtenances  for  about  $600,000  for 
the  purpose  of  purchasing  iron  to  relay  its  tracks,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1849,  $620,000  was  authorized  and  an  extension  of  ten 
years  granted  for  the  repayment  to  the  State  of  $300,000  for 
money  borrowed.  Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset  was  sent  to  England, 
where  he  purchased  8,000  tons  of  iron,  to  be  paid  for  by  the 
bonds  of  the  company  secured  by  mortgage  on  the  road. 

The  rail  conmienced  to  arrive  in  October,  1849,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1850,  Congress  passed  an  act  for  the  relief  of  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Raleigh  Railroad,  providing  for  the  paying  of  import 
duties  on  the  rail  by  deducting  annually  the  amounts  due  from 
the  Post  Office  Department  for  carrying  the  mails.  It  was  then 
the  T-rail  was  introduced,  which  superseded  the  flat  iron. 

In  August,  1850,  Dr.  John  D.  Bellamy,  of  Wilmington,  was 


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Early  Years  153 

elected  to  succeed  Col.  James  T.  Miller  as  a  director,  and  in 
November  of  the  same  year,  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Directors,  Gen.  Alexander  MacRae  and  the  entire  Board  of 
Directors  were  reelected.  A  surplus  of  $45,000  was  directed  to 
be  applied  to  the  extinguishment  of  the  debts  of  the  company. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester 
Railroad  was  completed,  giving  a  through  rail  connection  to 
the  South,  and  thus  making  still  more  important  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Weldon  Railroad,  as  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Rail- 
road came  to  be  called,  its  name  being  changed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture in  1855. 

It  is  interesting  to  note,  with  reference  to  the  far-seeing  quali- 
ties of  the  men  of  1835  and  1836,  that  a  few  years  ago  the 
chairman  of  the  board  discovered  a  letter  written  in  the  fine 
Spencerian  hand  of  Governor  Dudley,  the  first  president,  out- 
lining the  policy  for  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad,  in 
view  of  his  resignation  in  order  to  enter  Congress.  The  extraor- 
dinary character  of  this  proposed  policy  revealed  the  fact  that 
the  policy  of  the  Coast  Line  under  its  new  administration  has 
been  following  precisely  the  line  of  action  indicated  by  Governor 
Dudley  at  the  beginning  of  its  existence. 

The  Longest  Ratlboad  in  the  World. 

Probably  the  most  momentous,  the  most  dramatic  incident  in 
the  conmiercial  history  of  Wilmington  occurred  in  the  fall  of 
1835  in  the  south  wing  of  Gov.  Edward  B.  Dudle/s  residence 
at  the  southwest  comer  of  Front  and  Nun  Streets,  where  a  num- 
ber of  prominent  Wilmington  citizens  had  assembled  to  sub- 
scribe their  names  to  the  stock  of  an  extraordinary  adventure — 
the  building  of  a  railroad  from  Wilmington  to  Raleigh,  to  be 
called  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad. 

The  town  contained  at  that  time  a  population  of  about  three 
thousand  souls,  a  majority  of  whom  were  n^ro  slaves,  and  here 
an  assembly  of  about  twenty  courageous  men  of  the  little  corpo- 
ration actually  subscribed  a  larger  sum  than  the  entire  taxables 
of  Wilmington  amounted  to  in  that  year  to  build  the  longest 
railroad  in  the  world.  It  is  well  to  remember,  in  our  boasted  age 
of  progress,  the  splendid  example  of  the  fathers  of  1835,  whose 
foresight  and  self-sacrifice  laid  the  foundations  of  our  success. 
Perhaps  the  largest  subscription  was  that  of  Governor  Dudley — 
$25,000. 


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154  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

During  the  years  that  followed,  the  most  important  topic  of 
local  concern  was  the  railroad,  which  so  overtaxed  the  means  of 
its  promoters  that  even  with  the  added  endorsement  of  the  di- 
rectors its  oflicial  order  for  a  hundred  dozen  shovels  was  rejected. 

The  late  Kobert  B.  Wood,  one  of  the  railroad  contractors  of 
1836  and  later,  informed  me  many  years  ago,  that  this  incident 
led  to  a  proposal  by  the  railroad  directors  and  contractors  that 
Mr.  John  Dawson,  then  a  prosperous  dry-goods  merchant  on 
Market  Street  and  a  stockholder  in  the  railroad,  should  add  to 
his  business  a  hardware  department,  comprising  tools  and  im- 
plements needed  for  railroad  work,  assuring  him  of  their  un- 
divided patronage.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  the  well-known 
extensive  hardware  establishment  of  John  Dawson,  which  led 
that  business  until  Mr.  Dawson  died,  had  its  origin  and  ad- 
vancement in  that  way. 

Mr.  Wood  also  informed  me  that  the  method  of  advertising 
the  meetings  of  stockholders  and  directors,  which  were  often 
held,  was  unique.  He  owned  a  docile  gray  mare  which  was 
frequently  borrowed  by  the  officials  on  urgent  business,  and  also 
used  to  make  known  the  meetings  by  a  large  placard  hung  on 
either  side  of  the  saddle,  in  which  a  n^ro  slave  rode  constantly 
ringing  a  large  brass  hand-bell,  and  parading  the  principal 
streets,  proclaiming  "Railroad  meeting  tonight." 

Some  of  the  newspaper  illustrations  of  the  "cars,"  as  the 
train  was  termed  in  its  early  days,  show  a  vehicle  closely  re- 
sembling the  old  stagecoach,  with  a  greater  number  of  passen- 
gers on  top  than  are  shown  inside. 

Timid  apprehensions  of  danger  were  aUayed  by  the  official 
assurance  upon  the  time-table  that  under  no  circumstances  will 
the  cars  be  nm  after  dark. 

The  time  of  the  departure  of  the  northern  train  depended 
upon  the  arrival  of  the  Charleston  mail  and  passenger  boats, 
which  ran  daily  to  connect  with  the  cars  at  Wilmington.  This 
elastic  schedule,  affected  by  the  tides  and  wind  and  weather, 
sometimes  varied  as  much  as  an  hour  from  day  to  day,  and  the 
Wilmington  passengers  for  the  North  usually  pursued  their 
regular  avocations  until  the  warning  bell  of  the  approaching 
steamer  was  heard  all  along  the  wharf,  when  a  hurried  depart- 
ure was  made  for  the  train  at  the  foot  of  Red  Cross  Street. 

A  prominent  chemist  of  Wilmington  told  me  that  upon  one 
occasion  when  he  was  delayed  the  train  had  reached  Boney 
Bridge  before  the  acconmiodating  conductor  saw  his  frantic 


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Early  Years  155 

signal  to  stop,  but,  true  to  the  spirit  of  the  times,  the  engineer 
immediately  reversed  the  train  and  ran  back  two  blocks  in  order 
to  take  him  on  board. 

Upon  the  arrival  at  Wilmington  of  the  train  from  the  North, 
it  was  the  custom  of  the  general  staff,  on  occasions,  to  meet  the 
passengers  with  welcome  speeches  and  with  a  gracious  bow  to 
present  to  every  lady  a  bouquet  of  choice  flowers.  Conspicuous 
in  this  fine  courtesy  was  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  Mr.  James 
S.  Green,  who  was  sometimes  so  laden  with  floral  offerings  that 
his  arms  embraced  quite  a  respectable  flower  garden.  His  affa* 
bility  was  proverbial,  and  I  well  remember  as  a  youth  the  sweet 
and  gentle  salutations  of  his  later  years.  Well  might  Jenny 
Lind,  the  distinguished  recipient  of  his  gracious  courtesies,  have 
said  to  him  upon  her  arrival  in  Wilmington,  as  Oliver  Wendell 
Holmes  said  to  some  one  else,  ^^If  your  garden  is  as  full  of  roses 
as  your  heart  is  of  kindliness,  there  is  no  room  for  the  side- 
walks." Such  delicate  attentions  were  a  part  of  the  hospitality 
of  the  Cape  Fear  people  of  the  olden  times.  The  cultivated 
citizens  of  Wilmington  unconsciously  exhibited  towards  all  re- 
spectable strangers  in  the  streets  and  in  the  hotels  such  marked 
deference  in  their  salutations  and  welcome  that  the  impressions 
of  intelligent  travelers  on  business  or  pleasure  were  most  favor- 
able. Our  esteemed  octogenarian,  Mr.  Walker  Meares,  tells  me 
that  it  was  the  custom  of  prominent  citizens  to  make  formal 
calls  upon  the  strangers  who  came  here  in  the  forties,  and  to 
welcome  them  with  stately  dignity  and  courtly  expressions  to 
the  thriving  town  of  Wilmington. 

Development  op  the  RAiiiBOAD. 

When  President  Dudley  retired  from  the  presidency  in  1847, 
he  was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Alexander  MacEae. 

In  those  early  days  there  were  numerous  difliculties  in  opera- 
tion, but  General  MacBae  proved  himself  to  be  a  most  capable 
and  efficient  manager.  The  Board  of  Directors  was  composed 
of  some  of  the  most  competent  business  men  of  Wilmington — 
men  unsurpassed  for  capability,  energy,  and  integrity.  They 
placed  the  bonds  of  the  road  in  London  on  advantageous  terms, 
and  the  construction  was  cheap  and  without  unnecessary  ex- 
penditure. 

In  1854  William  S.  Ashe  became  president.  General  condi- 
tions were  now  changing.    The  South  was  emerging  from  in- 


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156  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

fantile  weakness,  and  industries  were  developing  and  multi- 
plying. 

On  the  completion  of  the  North  Carolina  Railroad,  Colonel 
Fisher  and  Mr.  Ashe  arranged  for  western  products  to  come  to 
Wilmington  through  Goldsboro,  and  a  line  of  steamers  was  put 
on  from  Wilmington  to  New  York,  carrying  North  Carolina's 
products  to  the  markets  of  the  world  from  a  North  Carolina 
port — ^the  consummation  of  Mr.  Ashe's  purpose  when  he  drew 
the  charter  of  the  North  Carolina  Railroad. 

But  passenger  traflSc  was  of  equal  importance  to  the  road,  and 
Mr.  Ashe  sought  to  build  up  a  great  through  passenger  business. 
He  sought  to  eliminate  as  far  as  practicable  all  breaks  at  termi- 
nals,, and  to  relieve  travel  of  its  inconvenience  and  tedium,  and 
in  conjunction  with  Senator  David  L.  Yulee,  the  president  of 
the  Florida  Railroad,  he  developed  Florida  travel  until  it 
reached  large  proportions  and  became  a.  highly  remunerative 
business. 

Recognized  throughout  the  South  as  a  dominant  influence  in 
railroad  matters  and  a  most  successful  manager,  in  1861,  at  the 
request  of  President  Davis,  Mr.  Ashe  took  supervision  of  all 
Confederate  transportation  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  but  he 
still  remained  president  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Rail- 
road until  his  death,  in  September,  1862. 


THE  COMMERCE  OF  WILMINGTON. 

From  the  beginning  among  the  merchants  of  Wilmington 
were  some  men  of  enterprise,  who  owned  their  own  ships,  which 
were  engaged  in  trade  with  Great  Britain  as  well  as  with  our 
Northern  ports  and  the  islands  of  the  Caribbean  Sea. 

Forest  products  at  first  furnished  a  considerable  part  of  the 
exports,  while  the  imports  were  such  as  a  newly  settled  country 
needed.  But  as  the  population  of  the  interior  thickened  and 
products  became  diversified,  Wilmington  became  the  center  of 
a  varied  and  extensive  commerce  and  its  importance  as  a  com- 
mercial entrepot  increased,  while  many  of  its  merchants  became 
men  of  importance  who  deserved  to  rank  as  eminent  in  the  world 
of  trade.  The  following  quotations  indicate  the  commercial  im- 
portance of  Wilmington  between  1830  and  1840. 

The  Boston  Courier  of  July  23,  1830,  says:  "One  hundred 
and  fifty-one  more  vessels  have  entered  the  port  of  Wilmington 


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Early  Years  157 

this  year  than  last,  including  in  the  number  1  ship,  2  barks,  181 
brigs,  the  rest  (410)  schooners.  These  tar-and-shingle  skippers, 
which  carry  large  topsails,  everywhere  besprinkle  our  coast. 
Now  Wilmington  is  the  grand  railroad  and  steamboat  thorough- 
fare. She  is  taking  the  position  that  belongs  to  her  and  recall- 
ing the  proud  days  of  her  prosperity  before  the  American  Kevo- 
lution.^' 

The  Richmond  Compiler  says:  "One  hundred  and  fifty-one 
more  vessels  have  entered  the  port  of  Wilmington  this  year  than 
last.  This  shows  great  advance  in  trade.  We  have  been  sur^ 
prised  to  hear  that  the  tonnage  of  Wilmington  exceeds  that  of 
Richmond,  although  the  town  has  not  one-fourth  of  our  popula- 
tion. It  must  be  a  place  of  great  enterprise,  if  we  judge  from 
what  has  been  done  within  the  last  few  years.  We  feel  admira- 
tion for  such  a  people  and  take  pleasure  in  expressing  it." 

A  memorial  of  the  Internal  Improvement  Convention  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  at  the  session  of  1838, 
embodying  the  following  tables,  shows  what  the  foreign  trade 
was  at  that  time : 

"The  tables  annexed  show  the  tonnage  employed  in  the  foreign 
trade,  entered  and  cleared  at  Wilmington  from  October,  1836, 
to  October,  1837;  also  the  tonniage  employed  in  the  foreign 
trade  of  the  ports  of  Norfolk,  Petersburg,  and  Richmond  for 
the  same  time,  as  taken  from  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury. 

'Trom  these  tables  it  appears  that  in  the  year  1837  the  ton- 
nage entered  and  cleared  in  the  foreign  trade  from  Wilmington 
exceeded  that  of  Norfolk  6,384  tons,  and  exceeded  both  the  ports 
of  Richmond  and  Petersburg  together  17,694  tons.  We  are 
informed  on  high  authority  that  the  coast  trade  of  Wilmington 
employs  a  greater  tonnage  than  her  foreign  trade.  We  have  not 
the  means  of  ascertaining  its  actual  amount,  as  it  is  not  reported. 
If  this  be  true,  and  we  believe  it  to  be  so,  not  only  on  the  high 
authority  from  which  we  received  it,  but  because  we  know  the 
maritime  trade  of  North  Carolina  is  principally  a  coasting- 
trade,  it  would  follow  that  the  tonnage  employed  in  the  trade 
of  the  port  of  Wilmington  is  greater  than  the  three  great  ports 
of  Virginia — Norfolk,  Richmond,  and  Petersburg." 


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168  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

COMPABISON  OP  FOEBIGN  TbADE  OP  WiLMINGTON  WITH  ThAT 

OP  NoEPOLK,  Petbesbtjbg,  and  Kichmond  in  1838. 

WILMINGTON  TONNAGE  ENTERED  AND  CLEARED. 

American  vessels  12,378 

Foreign  vessels    3,827 

16,205    Entered 16^05 

American   vessels    26,600 

Foreign  vessels 3,929 

29,629    Cleared 29,629 

VIRGINIA  TONNAGE  ENTERED. 

Petersburg,  American  vessels  3,693 

Richmond,    American  vessels  2,822 

Fbreign   vessels 1,197 

7,712  7,712 

Norfolk,       American   vessels    4,367 

Foreign  vessels    10,000 

14,367  14,367 

VIRGINIA  TONNAGE  CLEARED. 

Petersburg,   American  vessels    2,748 

Richmond,    American  vessels  13,240 

Foreign  vessels    4,340 

20,328  20,328 

Norfolk,       American   vessels    12,771 

Foreign  vessels    12,222 

24,993  24,993 


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Early  Years  159 


WILMINGTON  IN  THE  FOKTIES. 

John  BfAoLAUBiN,  a  prominent  merchant  and  a  Presby- 
terian elder,  who  died  in  the  year  1907,  was  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  men  of  our  community  in  his  day  and  generation. 
Proud  of  his  Scottish  lineage,  he  possessed  those  sterling  traits 
of  heart  and  mind  which  likewise  adorned  the  lives  of  many 
of  his  fellow-countrjrmen  in  the  Cape  Pear  region — "absolute 
dependableness  in  all  thinking  and  in  all  dealing,  a  lively  sense 
of  Justice,  a  cultivated  taste,  critical  judgment,  with  a  splendid 
capacity  for  moral  indignation."  He  was  an  honor  to  his  city 
and  Commonwealth. 

He  was  a  friend  and  admirer  of  Colonel  Burr,  who  was 
some  twelve  years  his  senior,  and  he  wrote  for  the  local  news- 
papers some  charming  reminiscences  of  Wilmington  in  the 
forties  over  the  pen  name  "Senez,  Jr./'  parts  of  which  I  have 
selected  for  more  permanent  record. 


After  little  observation,  one  will  note  in  the  topography  of 
Wilmington  that  Fifth  Street,  running  parallel  to  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  is  the  backbone  of  a  ridge  upon  which  the  city  is  built. 
The  plateau  which  lies  upon  the  summit  of  this  ridge  is  variable 
in  width,  including  oftentimes  Fourth  and  even  Third  Streets 
on  the  one  side  and  Sixth  and  Seventh  Streets  on  the  other,  in 
somes  cases  with  the  level  ground  almost  overhanging  the  river, 
as  between  Ann  and  Church  Streets.  We  speak  of  the  natural 
lay  of  the  land  as  the  topography — ^before  the  many  changes  that 
within  the  past  fifty  years  have  been  made  by  grading  and  filling 
the  streets.  The  average  height  of  the  ridge  is  fifty  feet  above 
tidewater,  and  the  highest  point,  supposed  to  be  at  or  near  the 
intersection  of  Seventh  and  Red  Cross  Streets,  perhaps  ten  feet 
higher.  The  descent  towards  the  river  is  seamed  by  several 
branches,  or  runs,  taking  their  rise  sometimes  as  far  back  as 
Third  Street  and  emptying  into  the  river  a  few  hundred  yards 
apart.  Within  the  limits  of  "Wilmington  of  the  Olden  Time" 
these  were  the  streams  rising  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets 
and  emptying  at  the  foot  of  Mulberry:  Jacob's  Run,  rising  at 
Fourth  Street  near  Princess  and  pursuing  a  southwest  course 
until  the  river  receives  its  waters  at  Dock  Street ;  and  Tanyard 
Branch,  rising  at  Third  Street  between  Orange  and  Ann  Streets 
and  running  nearly  due  west,  emptying  into  the  Cape  Fear 
River  at  a  point  between  the  same  streets.     Boiling  Springs 


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160  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Branch  does  not  come  strictly  within  our  limits,  but  so  near  by 
that  it  is  given  its  place  here.  Eising  about  Fifth  Street  and 
Wooster,  it  runs  west  with  an  inclination  slightly  south  and 
empties  near  the  foot  of  Dawson  Street. 

The  river  front  as  we  see  it  now  gives  little  idea  of  the  water 
line  even  fifty  years  ago.  The  business  of  that  time  was  done 
between  Orange  and  Mulberry  Streets,  most  largely  perhaps 
north  of  Dock.  After  the  building  of  the  Wilmington  and  Wel- 
don  Railroad,  the  trend  of  business  was  constantly  toward  the 
depot.  The  wharves  south  of  Orange  Street  were  used  for  the 
storage  of  staves,  river  lumber,  and  tar.  The  distillation  of  tur- 
pentine was  then  in  its  infancy  and  a  slight  factor  in  business 
operations.  Above  Mulberry  Street  the  water  of  the  river  came 
up  to  Nutt  Street  in  all  places  where  the  land  had  been  made,  as 
it  was  called,  by  filling  in  the  water  lots  with  ballast  or  sand. 
When  steamers  were  first  placed  in  line  between  Wilmington 
and  Charleston,  a  bridgeway  was  constructed  to  reach  the  boats 
and  transfer  passengers  and  baggage  from  the  railroad  landing 
place.  Above  Campbell  Street  on  the  river  front,  fifty  years  ago, 
were  woods,  or  rather  swamp.  Above  Bladen,  a  sheer  bluff  rose 
from  the  foot  of  the  swamp,  and  just  beyond  Harnett  Street  on 
the  summit  of  the  bluff  stood  "Paradise,''  then  owned  by  Mr. 
Robert  H.  Cowan.  The  locality  in  general  was  less  euphoniously 
styled  "Hogg's  Folly" — precisely  why  no  one  seems  to  know, 
but  certainly  because  some  one  of  the  name  had  begun  an  enter- 
prise of  some  kind  or  other  which  proved  an  impracticability  on 
his  hands. 

Before  entering  upon  any  report  of  people  and  places  it  may 
be  well  to  note  how  the  natural  features  have  been  changed 
within  the  past  half  century.  We  will  follow  the  courses  of 
some  of  the  streams  we  have  referred  to,  confining  ourselves  to 
the  limits  embraced  in  the  original  plan  of  the  town ;  viz. :  Be- 
tween the  Cape  Fear  River  and  Fifth  Street,  long  known  as 
"Old  Boundary,"  and  between  Campbell  Street  and  what  was 
afterwards  known  as  Wooster.  Sometime,  doubtless  near  the 
completion  of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  (now  Wilmington 
and  Weldon)  Railroad,  it  became  desirable  to  level  Front  Street 
across  Mulberry.  This  seems  to  have  been  done  without  the 
precaution  of  making  a  drain  to  carry  off  the  water,  which  was 
thus  backed  up  Mulberry  Street  and  formed  a  pond  extending 
as  far  as  Second  Street,  and  which  must  have  been  several  feet 
deep.    This  body  of  water  was  known  as  the  "Horse  Pond,"  and 


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Early  Years  161 

remained  a  source  of  discomfort  and  a  menace  to  health  until 
sometime  in  the  forties.  It  was  quite  deep  and  fish  were  some- 
times caught  from  its  waters. 

Nowhere  have  changes  been  more  or  greater  than  on  the  line 
of  Jacob's  Kun.  Fifty  years  ago  the  lots  between  Third  and 
Fourth  Streets,  now  occupied  by  the  courthouse  and  the  jail  of 
the  county,  were  a  quagmire.  Princess  Street,  between  the  streets 
named,  was  a  slope  from  the  point  now  occupied  by  the  City 
Hall  (the  top  of  the  hill  was  then  several  feet  higher  than  now) 
down  to  the  stream  below.  Third  Street,  at  and  near  Princess, 
is  several  feet  higher  than  it  was  in  1840,  and  the  same  is  to  be 
said  of  Second  Street  at  the  intersection  of  Market.  At  this 
point  the  mud  in  times  long  since  past  was  so  prevalent  that  the 
locality,  being  then  occupied  by  a  market  house  and  town  hall, 
was  known  as  "Mud  Market."  Improvement  of  a  like  charac- 
ter was  made,  at  an  earlier  date  probably,  at  or  near  the  inter- 
section of  Dock  and  Front  Streets.  There  is  a  tradition  that 
small  canoes  or  batteaux  came  up  Jacob's  Eun  from  the  river 
at  high  tide  to  Mud  Market.  This  occurred  before  the  memory 
of  any  one  now  living,  but  it  is  f  oimded  on  the  testimony  of  per- 
fectly truthful  gentlemen.  As  late  as  1840  the  sidewalk  on  the 
south  side  of  Market,  near  Second,  was  some  feet  higher  than 
the  street  itself,  and  several  steps  were  the  means  of  ascent  or 
descent.  Willow  Spring  Branch  was  overlooked  in  what  has 
gone  before.  It  took  its  rise  above  Second  Street,  near  the  line 
of  Third,  and  thence  to  the  river.  The  lots  on  the  west  side  of 
Second  Street,  between  Dock  and  Orange  Streets,  show  how 
much  the  land  just  here  was  raised  on  the  line  of  Second  Street. 
Where  the  dwelling  on  the  east  side  of  Second  Street,  Judge 
Eussell's  residence,  and  the  dwelling  on  McLean's  Alley  now 
stand  was  a  depression,  and  the  street  has  been  raised  some  eight 
or  ten  feet  at  least.  Apparently  to  protect  the  Willow  Spring 
from  the  caving-in  of  earth,  a  wall  of  cypress  logs  was  run  on 
the  line  of  the  street  and  on  the  alley.  From  near  the  middle  of 
Third  Street  between  Orange  and  Ann,  at  a  point  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  feet  from  the  eastern  line,  the  hill  sloped  abruptly 
imtil  about  the  western  line  it  was  arrested  by  a  brick  wall. 
This  depression  made  Third  Street  impassable  in  this  immedi- 
ate locality  except  on  the  margin  indicated.  The  wall  referred 
to  protected  a  spring  at  its  foot,  and  thence  the  stream  flowed  on 
to  form  a  tanyard  near  Second  Street,  established  in  1826  by 
Isaac  Northrop  and  John  M.  VanCleff  and  afterwards  owned 

11 


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162  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

by  Mr.  Northrop  and  John  T.  Hewitt.  Second  Street  was  then 
much  lower  than  now.  But  nowhere  within  the  city  limits  have 
there  been  such  changes  as  on  the  line  of  Front  Street,  between 
Orange  and  Ann.  Third  Street  at  this  point  was  then  as  low  as 
the  coal  yard  of  W.  G.  Fowler,  at  its  eastern  limit,  now  is.  From 
this  point  rose  a  steep  hill,  upon  the  summit  of  which  stood  the 
Baptist  Church.  The  dwelling  into  which  the  church  was  trans- 
formed marks  the  elevation.  In  those  days,  of  course.  Front 
Street  could  only  be  traveled  in  wheeled  conveyances  with  diffi- 
culty, and  to  reach  Front  Street  from  the  river  by  the  line  of 
Ann  or  Nun  Streets  was  impracticable. 

Before  entering  upon  the  main  subject,  however,  it  may  be 
well  to  discuss  in  a  general  way  the  prevalent  customs  or  habits 
of  the  people  of  a  half  century  or  more  ago,  and  their  modes  of 
business,  and  to  note  any  other  matters  concerning  the  times  that 
may  be  interesting  or  instructive.  There  were  very  few  resi- 
dences east  of  Fifth  Street  (at  that  time  in  the  eastern  bound- 
ary). The  present  residence  of  the  bishop  of  East  Carolina  was 
then  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  James  S.  Green,  and  was  the 
only  house  on  the  entire  block  on  which  it  was  situated.  A  few 
houses  were  on  the  eastern  side  of  Fifth  Street,  but  none  farther 
out,  so  that  in  this  part  of  town  all  east  of  Sixth  Street  may  be 
said  to  have  been  in  the  woods.  On  Market  Street  there  was 
little,  if  any,  extension  of  habitation.  In  fact,  between  Seventh 
and  Eighth,  near  Market,  was  the  public  hanging  ground,  and 
chinquapin  hill,  where  that  fruit  could  be  gathered  in  season, 
then  comprehending  in  general  the  ground  anywhere  on  or  about 
Market  and  Eighth  Streets.  Around  the  northern  and  especially 
the  southern  boundary,  settlement  was  sparser  still.  Dry  Pond, 
bounteously  full  of  water  in  the  wet  season  and  guiltless  of  a 
semblance  of  moisture  in  the  dry,  then  sat  placidly  on  the  snow- 
white  sand  amid  the  scrubby  oaks  and  prickly  pears  and  wire 
grass  without  a  habitation  about  it. 

In  1840  the  population  of  Wilmington  was  4,268,  and  the 
limits  were  circumscribed  as  we  have  heretofore  stated  them. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  now  writing  not  even  gas  lighting 
had  been  dreamed  of.  Kerosene  was  then,  and  even  for  twenty 
years  after,  totally  unknown.  Camphine,  a  refined  preparation 
of  spirits  turpentine,  was  a  recent  and  most  decided  improve- 
ment on  the  lamp  oil  or  tallow-dipped  candles.  This  article, 
camphine,  came  into  almost  universal  use,  having  very  high  illu- 
minative power,  though  exceedingly  inflammable,  and  so  ex- 


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Early  Years  163 

tremely  dangerous.  Its  cheapness  was  a  great  recommendation, 
and  its  only  rival,  if  it  was  a  rival,  for  illuminating  purposes, 
was  sperm  candles,  which  were  beyond  the  reach  of  those  in  mod- 
erate circimistances.  Somewhat  later  on  adamantine  candles, 
because  of  good  lighting  power  with  little  accompanying  hazard, 
in  a  great  measure  displaced  camphine.  The  candle  then  be- 
came the  most  universal  house  and  office  illuminator,  and  the 
candlesticks  and  snuffers  were  indispensable  household  articles. 
The  streets  were  lighted  with  big  lamps  filled  with  whale  oil  and 
placed  at  the  intersection  of  the  streets.  The  lighting,  as  may 
be  readily  conceived,  served  to  do  little  more  than  make  the 
darkness  visible. 

Matches  were  not  known  a  hundred  years  ago.  In  fact,  the 
first  properly  called  friction  matches  were  invented  in  England 
in  1827,  and  greatly  improved  in  1838,  but  still  they  were 
neither  quick  nor  sure,  easily  lighted  nor  safe ;  not  safe  because 
of  being  tipped  with  phosphorus,  a  substance  fatally  poisonous 
to  many  of  those  engaged  in  the  manufacture,  and  even  to  some 
who  used  the  matches.  In  1855  were  invented  the  safety 
matches,  which  have  since  been  evolved  into  those  in  use  at 
present.  Before  the  days  of  matches,  flint  and  steel  had  to  be 
resorted  to  for  the  making  of  fire,  and  because  of  the  cost  of 
matches  these  primitive  and  uncertain  means  were  the  only 
resources  of  the  poor  for  many  years  after  matches  were  intro- 
duced. For  the  reason  just  given  it  was  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance to  keep  up  fire  day  in  and  day  out,  and  in  many  families 
it  was  true  that  for  years  upon  years  fire  in  the  house  was  never 
suffered  to  go  out.  A  conmion  thing  it  was  in  summertime  to 
place  a  paper  bearing  the  merest  glimmer  of  light  afloat  in  a  cup 
of  oil  at  bedtime  and  so  keep  up  the  fire  until  morning. 

Fuel  comes  naturally  to  be  considered  now.  It  was  generally 
simply  the  forest  growth,  or  the  refuse  of  sawmill  operations. 
Coal  was  not  unknown,  of  course,  in  1840,  or  its  value  as  fuel 
imderrated,  but  until  the  days  of  railroad  communication  the 
cost  of  the  carriage  of  coal,  even  to  get  it  to  navigable  water, 
made  it  generally  imavailable  as  fuel. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  street  lighting.  Hardly  had 
"Old  Matt"  set  his  feeble  lamps  alight,  when  the  sound  of  night 
watchmen,  very  few  and  wide  apart,  were  to  be  heard  crying  the 
hours  of  night.  "Ten  o'clock  and  alPs  well  1"  was  a  cry  that  will 
be  recalled  by  some  who  may  read  these  lines.  But  this  served 
too  well  to  annoxmce  the  whereabouts  of  the  watch  to  nightly 


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164  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

depredators  and  was  discontinued  on  that  account.  Besides 
these  watchmen,  occasionally,  when  diabolism  was  specially 
prevalent,  and  always  on  Saturday  night,  perhaps,  citizen  patrol- 
men walked  the  streets  until  a  late  hour,  sometimes  during  the 
entire  night.  The  town  bell  rang  at  nine  o'clock  p.  m.  as  a 
signal  when  the  negroes  were  to  be  out  of  the  street,  unless  by 
special  and  definite  permission  of  their  owners.  The  same  bell 
regulated  the  hours  for  breakfast  and  dinner,  and  one  hour  after 
the  call  to  these  in  each  case,  the  "turn  out  bell"  gave  the  call 
from  refreshment  to  labor. 

Every  doctor  compounded  his  own  prescriptions  in  those  days, 
and  physicians'  offices  were  simply  drug  stores,  minus  the  patent 
medicines  and  perfumery  and  fancy  articles  which  druggists 
keep  in  stock.  The  doctor  usually  charged  for  his  service  to  a 
family  a  round  sum  by  the  year,  and  made  his  visits  on  horse- 
back, with  his  saddlebags  containing  medicine  and  invariable 
accompaniments ;  and  his  lancet,  let  us  not  forget,  for  phlebot- 
omy was  the  universal  practice.  Senex,  Jr. 


II. 

An  esteemed  friend,  fully  and  accurately  informed,  suggests 
correction  of  the  writer's  surmise  that  the  "Horse  Pond,"  comer 
of  Front  and  Mulberry  Streets,  was  artificially  formed,  as  was 
suggested  in  the  former  article,  and  says  that  it  existed  previous 
to  1812 ;  and  further  that  boys  of  seventy  or  eighty  years  ago 
were  wont  to  swim  in  its  waters. 

A  buggy  was  hardly  known  a  few  decades  ago.  The  rich  trav- 
eled in  closed  carriages,  very  much  lighter,  but  in  appearance 
very  similar  to  stages.  They  were  costly,  and  those  in  moderate 
circumstances  contented  themselves  with  horseback  riding.  This 
was  the  mode  of  travel  generally  for  both  sexes  on  journeys  or 
in  church  attendance,  but  two-wheeled  vehicles,  drawn  by  one 
horse,  were  sometimes  called  into  requisition;  the  gig  for  two 
persons  and  the  sulky  for  one. 

How  changed  school  discipline  and  training  of  the  schools 
within  the  past  sixty  years  or  so !  Even  good  old  "Miss"  (Mrs.) 
"Coxetter"  used  the  birchen  rod,  and  Miss  Maggie  McLeod,  who 
lingered  with  us  almost  until  now,  and  Miss  Laura  Rankin  knew 
well  its  virtue  and  spared  not  to  apply.  In  the  Old  Academy 
days,  before  our  time,  the  older  citizens  hesitated  not  to  tell, 


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Early  Years  165 

almost  with  clenched  teeth,  how  "Old  Mitchell"  wielded  the  rod 
in  a  way  that  would  not  have  disgraced  a  Comanche.  But  Jesse 
Mulock  was  bad  enough.  "Old  Mulock" — ^for  to  schoolboys 
teachers  are  all  old — was  a  man  of  powerful  grip,  and  when  he 
kept  over  the  Hewlett  bar,  on  Front  Street,  where  Craft's  furni- 
ture store  now  stands,  or  later  in  the  room  over  French's  shoe 
store,  where  Sol.  Bear's  store  is  now  located — in  either  place  he 
had  a  room  above  that  in  which  the  idea  was  taught  to  shoot,  a 
room  to  which  unruly  youth  were  transported  to  undergo  the 
horrors  of  the  hickory.  We  hear  little  now  of  chinquapin  or 
birch  or  hickory.  "The  fair,  delightful  plans  of  peace"  prevail 
in  the  schoolrooms  of  today  and  do  perhaps  as  well.  But  this 
must  be  allowed :  if  the  youths  of  olden  time  learned  less  they 
learned  it  thoroughly.  They  lost  in  extent  and  variety,  but  did 
they  not  gain  in  solidity?  In  1840  one  went  to  school  eleven 
months  of  the  year,  barring  Saturday  and  Fourth  of  July  and 
Christmas,  perhaps,  and  with  Mr.  Mulock  even  Saturday  was 
liable  to  be  appropriated  to  map-inspection,  or  a  lecture  on 
astronomy — a  sort  of  dessert  to  the  intellectual  feasts  of  the 
other  five  days. 

Daguerre  discovered  the  art  of  retaining  impressions  upon 
chemically  prepared  plates  in  1839,  and  of  course  daguerreo- 
typing  was  not  practically  known  in  Wilmington  in  1840.  On 
the  mantelpieces  of  almost  every  home  were  silhouettes ;  that  is, 
profiles  cut  out  of  paper  or  cardboard  with  more  or  less  neatness 
and  laid  on  a  black  surface.  These  silhouettes  were  usually 
very  accurate  likenesses,  so  far  as  a  side  view  could  be  such.  The 
portraits  painted  for  those  who  could  afford  them  were  some- 
times far  otherwise.  In  the  early  days  of  the  forties  traveling 
on  land  was  mostly  by  private  conveyance.  The  four-horse  stage- 
coach carried  mails  and  passengers  on  special  routes  where  not 
superseded  by  the  few  raiboads  then  in  existence.  The  stage 
carried  one  from  place  to  place  at  a  cost  of,  say  10  cents  a  mile, 
at  the  rate  of  six  miles  an  hour,  without  extra  charge  for  the 
bumpings  and  thumpings  experienced.  In  1845  one  might  go 
from  Wilmington  to  New  York  in  seventy  hours,  stopping  at 
each  railroad  terminus  to  change  cars  and  recheck  (or  remark) 
baggage*  Postages  previous  to  1845  were  12^^  cents  for  a  single 
sheet  of  paper  and  25  cents  for  a  double  sheet.  All  papers  were 
folded  and  sealed  with  wafers  or  sealing  wax.  Postpaid  en- 
velopes were  in  use  in  Paris  in  the  seventeenth  century  and  the 
Sardinian  States  used  them  in  1818.    Stamps  were  introduced 


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166  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

into  the  United  States  in  1840;  the  government  did  not  adopt 
their  use,  however,  until  1847,  although  tentatively  they  were 
used  in  New  York  in  1845,  and  an  adhesive  stamp  was  used  in 
St.  Louis  in  the  same  year.  It  will  readily  be  understood  that 
few  letters  were  written  when  25  cents  was  the  rate  of  postage, 
and  that,  as  payment  was  required  on  receipt  of  the  letter,  the 
published  list  of  uncalled-for  letters  was  of  extraordinary  length. 
What  were  known  as  ship  letters  sometimes  came  by  vessels  into 
the  port  of  Wilmington.  They  were  required  to  be  deposited  in 
the  post  office,  the  conveyancer  receiving  part  of  the  postage. 

The  mails  early  in  this  century  were  conveyed  from  place  to 
place  in  express  transmission,  or  on  more  important  routes  by 
post  boys,  with  relays  of  horses  at  short  distances.  The  stage- 
coach, perhaps  at  the  same  time,  certainly  a  little  later  and  until 
the  advent  of  railroads,  was  used  as  the  mail  conveyancer.  The 
route  south  from  Wilmington  was  across  the  ferry  at  foot  of 
Market  Street  and  the  causeway,  via  Georgetown,  S.  C,  and 
Charleston.  East,  the  route  then  and  now — ^but  not  so  well 
now — ^was  and  is  known  as  the  New  Bern  Road.  North,  the 
way  seems  to  have  been  over  Little  Bridge,  via  Waynesboro 
(now  Goldsboro),  and  so  on.  The  blowing  of  the  horn  announc- 
ing the  coming  stage  was  a  source  of  infinite  delight  to  the  small 
boys  of  the  period,  black  and  white  alike. 

The  change  in  the  character  of  business  transactions  in  Wil- 
mington between  1830  and  1850,  though  not  nearly  so  great  as 
that  between  1870  and  1890,  is  nevertheless  worthy  of  note. 
The  exports  in  the  early  thirties  were  mainly,  almost  exclu- 
sively, lumber,  shingles,  and  staves  to  the  West  Indies,  and  rice, 
naval  stores,  and  cotton  to  the  North ;  the  importations,  princi- 
pally sugar,  molasses,  and  rum,  especially  rum.  One  looking 
over  the  advertisements  of  those  days  can  hardly  fail  to  be 
struck  with  the  amount  of  Jamaica  rum  and  New  England  rum 
offered  for  sale.  The  Washingtonian  temperance  movement  in 
the  late  twenties  and  throughout  the  thirties  had  undoubtedly  a 
great  effect  in  changing  the  habits  of  the  people  and  so  in  dimin- 
ishing the  demand  for  liquors.  In  course  of  time  the  channel 
of  West  Indian  trade  became  in  a  great  measure  diverted  from 
Wilmington.  The  trade  in  the  forties  was  not  what  it  had  been 
in  the  decade  previous. 

The  means  and  manner  of  conducting  business  in  1840  were 
essentially  different  from  what  they  became  a  decade  or  two 
later.    In  every  coimtinghouse  of  any  pretensions  there  was  a 


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Early  Years  167 

tall  desk  with  slopes  on  all  four  sides  and  a  plane  surface  on  top 
to  hold  the  necessary  implements  or  articles  for  the  transaction 
of  business.  Every  desk  had  one  or  more  boxes  of  wafers  and  a 
stamp  for  ordinary  letter  sealing,  and  sealing  wax  with  the 
candle  hard  by  for  extraordinary  cases.  The  pen  used  was 
usually  the  quill,  for  though  the  steel  pen  had  been  invented 
some  time  before,  it  had  not  come  into  general  use ;  in  fact,  in 
1840  was  quite  a  rarity.  Joseph  Gillette  patented  his  improve- 
ment in  1831,  but  it  was  slow  work  to  supersede  the  goosequills 
which  every  school-teacher  had  to  mend  for  his  pupils,  generally, 
and  every  boy  had  in  time  to  learn  to  make  and  mend  for  him- 
self. The  box  of  sand  to  dry  the  manuscript — a  most  annoying 
device  it  was — took  the  place  of  blotting  paper,  which  then  had 
not  come  into  use.  Safes  there  were,  of  course,  pretentiously 
dubbed  "patent  asbestos"  and  "salazuander,"  but  they  were  in- 
finitely inferior  to  the  chilled-iron  fireproof  safes  now  in  use. 

A  word  or  two  now  as  to  the  way  traffic,  that  is  the  ordi- 
nary buying  and  selling  of  merchandise,  was  conducted  previous 
to  1840,  and  indeed  through  the  forties  and  perhaps  later.  It 
must  be  recollected  that  most  men  of  means  owned  slaves ;  espe- 
cially did  farmers  and  planters  own  many  of  them.  Then,  as 
now,  planters  had  regular  accounts  with  the  dealers — dealers 
rather  than  factors — and  these  dealers  furnished  the  planters 
with  every  article,  large  or  small,  that  they  needed.  On  the 
first  of  January  of  each  year  the  accoimt  of  the  planter  was 
made  up  and  presented.  He  paid  it  if  he  chose  or  such  part  as 
he  chose,  and  a  note  bearing  interest  at  6  per  cent  was  given  for 
the  balance.  The  next  year  the  same  process  was  gone  through. 
At  intervals  the  entire  debt  was  liquidated,  if  the  debtor  chose, 
or  if  the  creditor  compelled.  In  general,  however,  dealers  of 
means  kept  their  notes  as  an  investment.  Occasionally  a  note 
was  transferred  in  the  purchase  of  property,  or  the  notes  were 
"shaved"  to  enable  a  holder  to  raise  cash  imder  stress,  but  in 
many  cases  new  notes  with  interest  added  (and  thus  com- 
pounded) were  taken  from  time  to  time,  usually  every  year, 
and  no  settlement  was  made.  The  death  of  the  maker  of  the 
obligation,  however,  made  a  settlement  imperative.  When  he 
who  owed  was  found  to  be  getting  "shaky,"  the  note  was  put 
in  suit  in  order  to  collect,  and  some  property  had  to  be  sold,  a 
negro  or  two,  not  improbably,  to  satisfy  the  judgment. 

The  planter  upon  whose  estate  debt  was  thus  accumulating 
was  providing  against  the  evil  day  by  using  his  money  to  buy 


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168  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

n^roes  or  add  a  few  acres  here  or  there  to  his  landed  posses- 
sions, the  natural  increase  of  negroes  being  of  itself  a  very  con- 
siderable means  of  acquiring  wealth.  The  course  that  was  pur- 
sued between  merchant  and  planter  was  based  on  property,  very 
much  the  same  as  that  between  the  merchant  and  all  persons  of 
fair  credit,  who  preferred  to  give  their  notes  to  paying  their 
debts  in  cash.  Annual  arrangements  were  the  rule.  The  banks 
discounted  good  paper  to  run  ninety  days ;  at  the  end  of  the  time 
they  required  interest  paid  and  then  renewed  the  paper,  and  so 
on  indefinitely.  They  were  happy  in  thus  running  credits  to 
planters  for  years  and  compounding  the  interest  every  ninety 
days.  Of  course  they  paid  out  their  own  notes  (promises  to 
pay),  and,  as  in  fact  a  very  large  part  of  these  notes  never  came 
back  for  redemption,  they  made  a  prosperous  business. 

Senex,  Js. 

III. 

Why  may  we  not  before  getting  into  matters  of  more  conse- 
quence refer  to  the  ^^morua  mvHicavlis  craze"  ?  The  mvlticatdis 
is  a  variety  of  the  white  mulberry,  and  its  leaves  were,  in  days 
that  are  gone,  presumably  are  now,  especially  esteemed  as  food 
for  the  silkworm.  The  enthusiasm  of  its  culture  did  not  raise 
the  hopes  nor  its  collapse  produce  the  dire  consequences  of  the 
"tulip  craze,"  the  "South  Sea  Bubble,"  and  others  that  have 
come  down  to  us  through  the  corridors  of  time,  and  in  the  early 
days  of  1840  it  had  nearly  run  its  rather  brief  course.  At  that 
time  the  numerous  advertisements  offering  and  belauding  it  had 
about  ceased  to  appear,  and  those  who  were  to  realize  fortimes 
from  the  manufacture  of  silk  had  well-nigh  ceased  to  mourn 
over  their  departed  hopes.  Still,  the  moras  multicaulis  was  to 
be  found,  probably,  in  some  of  the  lots  aroimd  town,  and  it  had 
hardly  disappeared  from  the  upland  field  connected  with  the 
rice  farm  of  Mr.  James  S.  Green,  near  Kidder's  mill,  in  which 
a  few  acres  had  been  devoted  to  its  cultivation. 

One  of  the  most  important  of  our  industries  is  truck  farming. 
Many  persons  engage  in  it  of  course  solely  with  a  view  to  dispos- 
ing of  their  product  in  this  city,  but  others  raise  vegetables  and 
small  fruits  almost  exclusively,  if  not  entirely,  for  early  ship- 
ment to  Northern  markets.  Among  the  latter  are  Chinese  truck- 
men, who  raise  vegetables  hardly  considered  edible  with  us,  and 
ship  them  directly  to  factors  of  their  own  race,  doubtless  in 


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Early  Years  169 

Philadelphia  or  New  York.  But  in  or  about  1840  it  was  not  so. 
Very  many  persons  had  around  their  residences  sufficient 
ground  for  patches  of  vegetables,  green  peas,  cucumbers,  roast- 
ing-ears,  and  the  like,  and  so  many  a  town  lot  was  really  a  half- 
acre  farm.  In  the  nature  of  things,  as  the  town  grew,  or  rather 
as  the  town  had  grown,  fresh  vegetables  became  a  felt  want. 
When  the  time  and  the  necessity  came  into  conjunction  Mr. 
John  Barnes  appeared  on  the  scene.  At  the  old  London  comer, 
where  Solomon  now  has  his  store,  in  market  hours  Mr.  Barnes 
could  always  be  found  with  vegetables  in  their  season,  always 
the  best,  too,  of  their  kind.  His  farm  was  located  quite  beyond 
the  limits,  even  beyond  "Dry  Pond,"  though  it  would  be  reck- 
oned in  that  precinct.  It  comprised  what  now  is  the  square 
bounded  by  Queen  and  Seventh  and  Wooster  and  Eighth  Streets, 
about  five  acres.  On  this  little  plot  of  bald  sand-hill  land,  by 
indefatigable  industry  and  practical  skill,  Mr.  Barnes  managed 
to  support  himself  and  family,  not  forgetting  to  give  them  at 
least  a  good  solid  English  education.  Here  were  raised  the  first 
cabbages  ever  produced  on  soil  hereabout.  In  fact,  until  Mr. 
Barnes  introduced  them  it  was  not  supposed  that  they  could  be 
headed  around  here.  And  watermelons — there  is  no  adjective 
available  to  describe  them.  They  were  always  to  be  expected  on 
the  Fourth  of  July,  and  Barnes's  watermelons  and  the  Oladiator 
or  the  Wilmington^  or  whatever  line  boat  went  on  the  annual 
excursion  were  part  and  parcel  of  the  celebration  of  the  day. 
At  the  time  of  which  we  write  Mr.  Martindale  raised  water- 
melons also  and  furnished  buttermilk,  and  it  was  a  time  of  de- 
light to  the  average  boy  on  a  hot  summer  day  when  the  old 
whiteH50vered  cart,  drawn  by  the  clay-bank  mare,  the  whole 
directed  by  old  Aunt  Sally  Martindale,  would  be  seen  coming 
around  old  Jack  Green's  comer  townward.  Mr.  Barnes  died  of 
yellow  fever  on  November  14,  1862,  aged  sixty.  To  meet  in- 
creasing demand,  the  truck  gardening  in  and  around  Wilming- 
ton was  developed,  of  course.  Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  having 
retired  from  practice,  found  at  Hilton  both  pleasure  and  profit 
in  this  kind  of  farming.  F.  B.  Agnostini  afterwards  went  into 
it  on  the  Little  Bridge  Road  near  San  Souci  Plantation.  Mr. 
Christopher  A.  Dudley  engaged  in  it  at  Summerville,  below 
Greenfield,  and  John  Gafford  a  mile  or  two  beyond  Jump-and- 
Run  Branch.  And  we  must  not  forget  old  Dr.  J.  Tognio,  who 
leased  a  part  of  Love  Ghrove  Plantation,  on  Smith's  Creek,  a 
Frenchman  of  some  attainments,  we  believe,  in  a  literary  way. 


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170  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

but  hardly  a  success  in  truck  farming.  When  or  whither  he 
retired  is  not  known  to  us. 

"Say  something  about  schools,"  says  a  friend,  and  we  are 
disposed  to  comply.  What  follows  must  be  largely  reminiscent. 
We  would  like  to  speak  of  some  schools,  Miss  Maggie  McLeod's, 
for  instance,  but  could  say  nothing  of  personal  knowledge.  This 
much  is  known,  however,  that  this  good  old  lady,  who,  well  on 
in  the  eighties  of  her  life,  left  us  only  a  year  or  two  since  for 
her  heavenly  home,  laid  the  educational  foundation  deep  and 
strong  for  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  today.  The  same  ought 
to  be  said  of  the  teaching  of  Miss  Laura  Rankin,  now  Mrs. 
Rothwell,  whose  temperance  societies  and  strict  moral  training 
otherwise  implanted  principles  which  will  tell  throughout  eter- 
nity. Rev.  A.  P.  Repiton,  Rev.  Mr.  Shepherd,  and  Rev.  W.  W. 
Eells  taught  schools  that  were  well  patronized,  but  for  the  reason 
given  above  we  can  do  no  more  than  note  them. 

The  forties  were  the  birchen  time  in  schooling.  Methods 
were  drastic — if  that  is  the  word.  They  had  moderated  from 
the  days  of  Mitchell  in  the  Old  Academy,  for  then  the  methods 
might,  without  a  strain  upon  language,  be  called  sanguinary. 
But  there  were  exceptions.  Good  old  Mrs.  Easter  Coxetter — 
did  she  whip  ?  Well,  we  do  not  recall  it,  but  the  goggles  made 
out  of  the  "Jack  of  hearts" — was  it?  (we  are  not  up  on  that 
nomenclature),  we  do  remember,  and  a  friend  whose  recollec- 
tion is  vivid  says  the  three-legged  stool  and  the  dimce's  cap  were 
used.  That  was  not  all,  however.  The  dear  old  lady  had  us  on 
Friday  evening  to  recite  the  Apostles'  Creed,  and  maybe  the 
Ten  Commandments  and  the  Lord's  Prayer.  And  here  we  took 
our  first  lessons  in  the  Episcopal  catechism — and  our  last.  Yes, 
she  was  a  dear  old  lady,  a  dear  old  saint,  now  over  half  a  cen- 
tury in  heaven.  In  a  former  article  Mr.  Jesse  Mulock  was 
referred  to,  and  we  only  note  here  that  Wilmington  has  had  few, 
if  any,  better  teachers  than  he. 

Cape  Fear  L6dge,  No.  2,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  on  the 
13th  of  January,  1842 — the  place,  a  room  over  .the  grain  store 
of  B.  F.  Mitchell  &  Son.  The  charter  members  were  Gen.  Alex- 
ander MacRae,  W.  S.  G.  Andrews,  Willie  A.  Walker,  and 
Valentine  Hodgson  from  Weldon  Lodge,  No.  1.  Thomas  H. 
Howey  and  Levi  A.  Hart  were  initiated  the  same  night.  The 
lodge  soon  moved  its  quarters  to  an  upper  room  of  a  building  on 
the  comer  of  the  alley  next  south  of  the  Purcell  House.  This  is 
only  preliminary  to  saying  that  in  1842  a  committee  consisting 


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Early  Years  171 

of  Col.  John  MacRae,  Rev.  B.  L.  Hoskins,  and  Owen  Ffennell, 
Esq.,  was  appointed  to  report  on  the  propriety  of  establishing  a 
school.  On  Jnne  10,  1843,  we  quote  from  the  Wilmington 
Chronicle,  "Trustees  of  Wilmington  Academy  resolved  to  lease 
the  eastern  end  of  their  property  to  Cape  Fear  Lodge,  No.  2, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  for  twenty-five  years  for  the  erection  of  a  school- 
house,  at  an  annual  rental  of  a  peppercorn." 

The  Odd  Fellows'  School  was  established,  and  a  benevolent 
work  was  thus  done  for  Wilmington  which  ought  to  be  remem- 
bered with  profoundest  gratitude  by  all  who  were  recipients  of 
the  benefits  conferred  by  the  institution.  With  all  books  and 
stationery  furnished,  the  tuition  fee  was  only  $3  a  quarter — and 
it  was  a  quarter,  or  well-nigh  so — ^f or  a  scholastic  year  was  then 
eleven  months.  The  school  was  opened  in  October,  1843,  with 
Mr.  Robert  McLauchlin,  of  Baltimore,  principal.  Mrs.  McLauch- 
lin  had  charge  of  the  female  department.  Mr.  McLauchlin 
was  tall,  strongly  built,  and  well  proportioned,  without  a  pound 
of  superfluous  flesh.  His  hair,  which  was  exceeding  scant, 
was  of  a  reddish  color,  and  his  beard  the  same.  The  boys  re- 
garded him  as  a  veritable  Samson.  He  did  not  use,  too  well 
we  remember — ^he  did  not  use  the  ruler  as  the  instrument  of 
correction.  You  know  there  was  a  firm  belief  prevalent  that  a 
ruler  could  be  broken  by  crossing  eyelashes  in  your  hand  and 
moistening  them  with  spittle.  Somehow  or  other  the  process 
always  failed,  but  that  was  because  the  lashes  did  not  lie  right, 
of  course.  But  Mr.  McLauchlin  would  jerk  a  boy  up  on  tiptoe 
with  his  left  hand  and  thrash  him  with  his  right.  By  way  of 
variation  he  sometimes  threw  out  his  cork  leg,  drew  a  boy  over 
it,  and  then — ^but  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  precise  on  what  is 
really  very  much  a  matter  of  feeling.  Some  readers  know  just 
how  it  was.    The  writer  does. 

But  there  came  a  day,  Monday,  the  21st  of  April,  1845,  when 
we  had  gathered  at  school  and  were  dismissed  because  our 
teacher  was  too  indisposed  to  be  present.  We  made  the  welkin 
ring  with  shouts  of  delight  that  we  were  to  have  a  holiday.  A 
few  of  us  went  with  Henry  and  Robert  and  Billy,  the  MacRae 
boys,  into  the  woods  to  enjoy  our  Indian  play,  or  whatever  it 
might  be,  and  in  a  few  hours  returned  to  learn  that  Mr. 
McLauchlin  was  dead.  We  mourned  for  him,  because  we  loved 
him.  He  was  strict  and  maybe  severe,  but  never  unjust  and 
never  cruel,  and  we  loved  him  with  a  love  both  strong  and  true. 
He  was  buried  on  the  lot,  northwest  comer  of  Fourth  and  Dock 


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172  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Streets,  and  the  Odd  Fellows  erected  a  marble  shaft  to  his  mem- 
ory. His  remains  and  the  stone  that  marked  their  resting  place 
were  afterwards  removed  to  Oakdale  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Levin  Meginney^  succeeded  Mr.  McLauchlin  in  charge 
of  the  school,  with  Mrs.  Richardson  at  the  head  of  the  girls'  de- 
partment. Mr.  Meginney  continued  in  charge  until  the  school 
was  given  up  by  the  Odd  Fellows,  long  after  1850,  and  then, 
buying  the  property  he  converted  the  school  building  in  part 
into  a  dwelling,  which  he  occupied  with  his  family.  The  school- 
house  still  stands,  and  the  school  is  continued  under  the  charge 
of  Prof.  Washington  Catlett. 

In  1846  a  classical  department  was  added  to  the  school,  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Robert  Lindsay,  a  Scotchman  and  graduate  of  St. 
Andrew's  University,  Scotland.  He  was  a  thorough  classical 
scholar,  and  if  proficiency  of  his  pupils  is  a  test — and  who  will 
deny  it  ? — a  good  teacher,  but  as  a  disciplinarian  he  was  a  sad 
failure.  He  had  not  found  his  place  in  school  teaching,  and 
about  1850,  having  tried  it  here  and  elsewhere  until  that  time, 
he  removed  farther  South.  There  he  studied  law  and  went 
into  politics  and  became  governor  of  Alabama.  While  in  the 
Alabama  Legislature,  in  connection  with  the  Internal  Improve- 
ment Board,  of  which  he  was  chairman,  we  think,  he  was  largely 
instrumental  in  building  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and 
as  governor  he  raised  the  bonds  of  Alabama  above  those  of  any 
other  Southern  State  at  the  time. 

We  now  close  with  naming  the  first  class  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
School,  about  the  time  of  Mr.  McLauchlin's  death:  Henry 
MacRae,  Robert  B.  MacRae,  Robert  C.  Green,  Irving  C.  Bal- 
lard, John  D.  Taylor,  Owen  Fennell,  Sidney  G.  Law,  Joseph 
H.  Flanner,  William  H.  Hall,  John  J.  Poisson,  Washington  C. 
Fergus,  and  John  McLaurin.  Irving  Ballard  and  Henry  Mac- 
Rae afterwards  taught  in  the  school. 

In  the  classical  department  under  Mr.  Lindsay  were  Sidney 
G.  Law,  Robert  B.  MacRae,  Owen  Fennell,  Nicholas  W. 
Schenck,  Hardy  L.  Fennell,  Washington  Fergus,  Alvis  Walker, 
William  H.  Bettencourt,  John  L.  Hill,  Robert  C.  Green,  Henry 
M.  Drane,  James  A.  Wright,  Daniel  Newton,  John  William 
Kelly,  Arthur  J.  Hill,  and  John  McLaurin. 

The  good  work  done  by  the  school  has  been  referred  to.  It 
was  in  its  aim  and  purpose  and  in  its  results  very  like  to  that 

iMr.  Meginney's  school  is  mentioned  at  greater  length  elsewhere  in 
the  ChronicleM, 


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Early  Years  173 

done  by  Mrs.  Hemenway,  under  the  management,  direction, 
and  control  of  Miss  Amy  M.  Bradley,  something  like  a  quarter 
of  a  century  afterwards.  Wilmington  ought  never  to  cease  to 
hold  both  the  one  and  the  other  everlastingly  in  grateful  remem- 
brance. Sentex,  Jb. 


IV. 

Before  proceeding  to  weightier  matters  let  us  gather  up  the 
loose-lying  threads  of  memorial  thought.  Our  friend  aforesaid 
reminds  us,  on  the  subject  of  trucking,  that  the  v^etables 
brought  into  table  supply  in  1840  were  very  limited.  Lettuce 
was  brought  from  Charleston,  cabbages,  as  has  been  said,  were 
not  raised  around  here,  and  tomatoes  were  '^ove  apples,"  pretty 
to  look  upon  but  not  regarded  as  edible.  Strawberries,  now  to 
be  had  in  the  height  of  the  season  at  five  cents  per  quart,  were 
then  25  cents  a  saucer,  and  there  were  few  in  a  saucer — cream, 
however,  was  thrown  in.  Hopkins,  a  little  more  than  two  miles 
east  of  the  city  and  a  stone's  throw  north  of  the  New  Bern  Eoad, 
was  the  resort  of  courting  couples  for  strawberries  and  cream, 
which  suggests  that  courting  was  expensive  in  those  days,  at 
least  to  the  financial  partner  of  the  concern. 

And  on  the  subject  of  the  militia :  how  wondrously  they  were 
equipped — with  long  guns  and  short  guns  and  rifles  and  shot- 
guns and  muskets — all  flint  and  steel,  for  though  percussion 
caps  were  invented  as  far  back  as  1818,  and  had  become  pretty 
well  known  by  1830 — Colt  using  them  on  his  repeating  pistols 
invented  in  1836 — ^yet  the  United  States  Government  did  not 
use  them  before  about  1842,  and  although  the  army  might 
easily  have  been  furnished  with  percussion  muskets  in  the 
Mexican  War,  1846,  General  Scott  preferred  the  flint-lock  gun, 
"considering  it  dangerous  to  campaign  in  an  enemy's  coimtry 
with  an  untried  weapon." 

Oh,  how  those  flint  and  steel  locks  did  try  the  temper  and  the 
patience  of  the  average  youth  of  the  days  of  1840.  See  the  lark, 
well  away  to  be  sure,  but  moimted  on  a  hillock,  and  his  bright 
yellow  breast  exposed  invitingly !  Snap  goes  the  flint  upon  the 
steel;  he  winks  his  eye  and  whisks  his  tail  and  soars  away. 
That  chance  is  gone,  for  the  day  perhaps.  And  how  tantalizing 
it  must  have  been  in  war,  in  the  very  heat  of  the  battle,  to  have 
the  flint  fail  to  strike  fire  or  the  powder  to  flash  in  the  pan. 


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174  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

This  accounts  for  the  constant  use  of  bayonets  and  throws  the 
needed  light  upon  pictures  of  the  olden  time  where  the  musket 
is  so  often  seen  used  as  a  club. 

What  became  of  the  court  when  the  courthouse  was  burned 
in  1840  ?  Well,  for  a  while  the  sessions  of  court  were  held  in 
Society  Hall,  as  it  was  called,  a  building  in  the  rear  of  St. 
James's  Church,  but  quite  promptly  the  county  magistrates  had 
the  courthouse  building  erected  on  Princess  Street,  the  same 
building  which  only  about  a  year  or  so  ago  was  vacated  that  the 
present  elegant  and  commodious  quarters  might  be  occupied. 
The  jail  of  1840  was  the  building  still  standing  on  the  north- 
east comer  of  Second  and  Princess  Streets,  and  now  used  as  a 
wagon-making  shop. 

Judges  were  elected  by  the  Legislature  in  1840  and  for  over 
twenty  years  thereafter.  The  office  was  held  for  life  or  during 
good  behavior  unless  sooner  volimtarily  vacated  by  the  occupant. 
Commissioners  of  navigation  were  appointed  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  town  of  Wilmington.  Later  in  the  forties  they 
were  elected  by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  and  so  continued  to 
be  for  a  score  or  so  of  years. 

The  commissioners  of  the  town  in  1840  had  been  elected  in 
1839.  They  were  named  in  a  previous  article.  They  held 
office  for  two  years.  So  did  those  elected  in  1841,  viz. :  James 
F.  McRee,  magistrate  of  police;  Armand  J.  DeRosset,  jr., 
Thomas  W.  Brown,  Charles  D.  Ellis,  and  John  MacRae.  In 
the  Legislature  of  1842-1843  a  bill  was  passed  "For  the  better 
regulation  of  the  town  of  Wilmington,"  which  provided  for  an- 
nual elections  of  commissioners  and  increased  the  number  to  be 
elected  to  seven.  Why  this  should  be  decidedly  objectionable 
does  not  appear,  but  it  was.  The  publication  of  intention  for 
thirty  days,  required  in  such  cases,  was  made  in  a  Raleigh 
paper,  and  it  was  announced  when  the  bill  became  a  law  that 
not  more  than  a  dozen  citizens  of  Wilmington  knew  what  was 
doing,  which,  compared  with  some  things  since,  confirms  Solo- 
mon's statement  that  "there  is  no  new  thing  under  the  sim."  A 
digression  may  be  pardoned  here.  The  same  Legislature  passed 
an  act  establishing  common  schools  in  North  Carolina  and  ap- 
portioning two  districts  (of  35  in  the  county)  to  Wilmington. 
The  commissioners  selected  in  January,  1843,  imder  the  new 
law,  were  John  MacRae,  C.  D.  Ellis,  T.  W.  Brown,  Alexander 
Anderson,  Thomas  J.  Armstrong,  William  A.  Wright,  and 
Oscar  G.  Parsley. 


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Early  Years  175 

State  elections  in  1840  were  held  on  different  days  in  the 
various  counties.  The  first  was  held  on  July  23  and  the  last 
on  August  13  {Wilmington  Chronicle,  May  13,  1840).  Hyde, 
Pitt,  Washington,  Wayne,  and  others  had  voted  July  30,  1840 
— ^this  was  noted  in  the  Chronicle  of  August  5,  1840.  On  Au- 
gust 12  the  paper  contained  the  election  news  from  these  coun- 
ties, or  some  of  them.  New  Hanover  voted  on  August  13  and 
the  result  was  given  in  the  Chronicle  of  August  19,  1840. 
Elections  for  State  officers  and  members  of  Congress  from  that 
time  to  the  present  have  been  held  on  the  same  day  throughout 
the  State,  formerly  on  the  first  Thursday  in  August,  latterly 
contemporaneously  with  the  presidential  election  when  occur- 
ring in  the  same  year. 

John  M.  Morehead  was  elected  governor  in  1840  over  Rom- 
ulus M.  Saunders  by  some  5,000  votes,  perhaps  more,  but  the 
Legislature  was  Democratic  in  both  branches. 

But  1840  was  a  grand  presidential  year.  The  Whig  party, 
from  a  mere  coterie  having  its  origin  in  a  New  York  City  char- 
ter election  in  1834,  had  in  six  years  grown  to  immense  propor- 
tions. It  had  all  the  enthusiasm  of  phenomenal  growth.  The 
Democratic  party — ^the  party  of  Andrew  Jackson  and  Martin 
Van  Buren — ^had  dominated  for  twelve  years  past,  and  had  all 
the  power  and  prestige  pertaining  to  that  fact.  Not  a  great 
while  before  this  at  a  Tammany  meeting  in  New  York  City  two 
factions,  whom  it  will  suit  to  call  "Regulars"  and  ^Heformers," 
were  in  high  dispute.  The  "Reformers,"  finding  themselves 
losing  ground,  turned  off  the  gas,  but  the  "Regulars,"  prepared 
for  the  occasion,  instantly  whipped  out  a  hundred  candles  from 
as  many  pockets  and  with  the  scratch  of  as  many  "Loco  Foco" 
matches  the  hall  was  again  alight  and  the  business  proceeded. 
There  were  no  matches  other  than  "Loco  Foco"  in  those  days, 
and  this  incident,  with  little  good  reason  seemingly,  gave  a  name 
of  derision  to  the  Jacksonian  or  regular  Democratic  party. 

William  Henry  Harrison  and  John  Tyler  were  the  Whig 
nominees  for  the  Presidency.  Martin  Van  Buren,  then  occupy- 
ing the  presidential  chair,  and  Richard  M.  Johnson  were  the 
nominees  of  the  Democratic  party.  Van  Buren  was  a  man  of 
wealth ;  Harrison,  if  not  poor  was  at  least  not  wealthy,  and  had 
lived  in  his  early  days — ^his  friends  did  not  let  the  people  forget 
it — in  a  log  cabin.  It  is  said  that  a  Democratic  editor,  if  not 
building  better  than  he  knew,  at  least  building  otherwise  than 
he  intended,  said :    "Give  Harrison  a  log  cabin  and  a  barrel  of 


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176  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

hard  cider  and  he  will  not  leave  Ohio."  The  Whig  party  caught 
it  up  and  used  it  for  all  it  was  worth,  and  it  was  worth  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  votes.  Log  cabins  sprang  up  everywhere  as  the 
meeting  places  for  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  clubs,  with  the  hard 
cider  always  on  tap.  The  first  name  referred,  of  course,  to  the 
war  record  of  General  Harrison,  and  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler, 
too" — "Tip  and  Ty,"  for  short — was  the  slogan  of  the  party. 
It  was  all  very  taking.  The  boys  even  enjoyed  it  hugely  and 
the  ladies  wore  the  brass  medal  with  the  log  cabin  and  the  cider 
barrel  represented  upon  it.  The  writer  was  a  future  voter  at 
the  time,  and  on  the  off-road  prospectively.  He  became  pos- 
sessed of  a  Harrison  medal,  and  it  must  be  confessed  was  quite 
proud  of  it.  A  horror-stricken  relative  soon  bought  him  out, 
however,  and  he  never  afterwards  deflected  from  his  ancestral 
principles.    But  this  is  too  personal,  perhaps. 

One  incident  arises  very  vividly  to  mind  and  calls  for  notice. 
A  ship  full-rigged  and  beautiful  to  look  upon  was  built  at  the 
shipyard  (now  that  of  Capt.  S.  W.  Skinner),  to  be  taken  to 
Raleigh  to  the  grand  Whig  convention  rally  of  the  party  in 
North  Carolina  on  October  5.  Constitution  was  the  name  of 
the  ship.  James  Cassiday  was  on  deck  as  captain,  and  the 
crew  were  Don  MacRae,  John  Hedrick,  John  Marshall,  Eli 
Hall,  John  Walker,  and  Mike  Cronly — ^then  youths  of  fifteen 
to  eighteen  years.    The  last  named  is  the  only  survivor. 

A  large  delegation  of  citizens  went  up  from  Wilmington  to 
the  convention.  Dr.  John  Hill,  from  the  residence  of  General* 
James  Owen,  then  standing  where  now  stands  the  Carolina  Cen- 
tral Railroad  office,  addressed  the  crew  of  the  ship  and  the 
enthusiastic  throng  assembled  there,  and  the  boat  then  pro- 
ceeded on  her  trip.  By  rail  she  was  taken  to  Goldsboro  and 
thence  by  wagon,  for  lack  of  rail,  to  Raleigh.  The  ship  was 
left  in  Raleigh  to  be  given  to  the  county  represented  in  the  con- 
vention which  in  the  presidential  election  should  give  the  larg- 
est increase  in  the  Whig  vote  over  the  Governor's  poll,  in  pro- 
portion to  population.    Surry  Coimty  got  the  ship. 

Another  incident :  The  Log  Cabin  in  Wilmington  stood  just 
where  George  Honnet's  jewelry  store  now  is.  The  fire  of  Janu- 
ary previous  had  destroyed  the  buildings  then  standing  there 
and  they  had  not  been  rebuilt.  IMany  an  enthusiastic  meeting 
had  been  held  in  the  cabin  and  many  thrilling  speeches  deliv- 
ered ;  many  rousing  songs  had  been  sung,  or  shouted,  and  many 
a  barrel  of  cider  doubtless  had  been  drunk  before  the  eventful 


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Early  Years  177 

night  of  November  5,  1840.  On  that  night,  or  rather  early  next 
morning,  the  town  was  aroused  by  an  explosion.  The  Log  Cabin 
had  been  blown  up.  There  was  indignation,  righteous  indigna- 
tion, of  course,  and  plenty  of  it,  and  Alexander  Anderson, 
magistrate  of  police,  offered  a  reward  of  $400  for  proof  suffi- 
cient to  convict  the  perpetrator  of  the  deed. 

The  perpetrator  was  not  caught.  Indeed,  as  the  election 
came  off  a  very  few  days  thereafter  and  Harrison  and  Tyler 
went  in  with  a  hurrah,  receiving  234  electoral  votes  to  Van 
Buren's  60,  the  matter  was,  as  usual  in  such  cases,  suffered  to 
pass  into  oblivion,  to  be  resurrected  at  the  hands  of  an  exploring 
semi-antiquarian,  who  may  be  allowed  to  subscribe  himself, 

Sbnex,  Jb. 


About  1810  or  1811  the  Wilmington  Gazette^  was  published 
by  a  Mr.  Hasell.  The  Cape  Fear  Recorder  was  established  in 
the  spring  of  1818.  Later,  for  several  years,  it  was  edited  by 
Archibald  McLean  Hooper.  Contemporaneously  with  the  Re- 
corder ioT  a  short  time  the  Wilmington  Herald,  a  TJniversalist 
paper,  was  published  by  Rev.  Jacob  Frieze,  assisted,  perhaps, 
by  others.  In  the  Recorder  of  February  6,  1828,  appears  a 
very  suggestive  advertisCTient  announcing  that  the  Herald  was 
necessarily  discontinued.  On  January  9,  1833,  appeared  the 
first  number  of  the  People's  Press,  edited  by  P.  W.  Fanning 
and  Thomas  Loring.  The  Wilmington  Advertiser,  edited  by 
H.  S.  Ellenwood,  was  published  at  this  time;  how  long  before 
this  is  not  known.  On  April  2  of  this  year  Mr.  Ellenwood  died. 
His  reputation  as  that  of  a  gentleman  of  scholarly  tastes  and 
aptitudes  survives  until  the  present.  Mr.  Fanning  soon  learned, 
as  so  many  who  essay  newspaper  publication  do,  that  the  edi- 
torial chair  is  far  from  being  a  post  of  luxurious  ease,  and  on 
May  1, 1833,  he  laid  down  the  pen  after  an  article  in  which  with 
the  honesty  and  frankness  characteristic  of  him  he  explained 
his  disgust  with  the  profession,  or  rather  with  his  experience 
of  the  journalistic  life.  The  People's  Press  then  combined  with 
the  Advertiser,  having  as  sole  editor,  Mr.  Thomas  Loring.    On 

'This  account  of  Wilmington  newspapers  is  published,  notwithstand- 
ing a  fuller  account  elsewhere  in  the  Chronicles,  because  of  much  inti- 
mate information  here  given  which  is  supplementary  to  the  longer 
article  on  this  subject. 


12 


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178  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

January  8,  1836,  the  name  People's  Press  was  dropped  and 
the  paper  appeared  as  number  one,  volume  one,  of  the  Wil- 
mington Advertiser.  The  Press  and  the  Press  and  Advertiser 
had  been  known  as  ultra-Jacksonian  papers.  The  Advertiser 
as  successor  had  become  exceedingly  moderate,  if  not  independ- 
ent in  its  tone,  and  on  the  27th  of  May  Mr.  Loring  retired. 
Here  is  a  gap  in  our  history ;  Mr.  Loring  sold  out  and  presum- 
ably the  Advertiser  was  continued.  Trace  of  it  is  foimd  in 
1839  and  1840,  and  the  valedictory  of  Mr.  Frederick  0.  Hill, 
under  whose  editorial  management  it  was  published  during 
these  last  years,  appeared  in  the  issue  of  May  27,  1841.  The 
paper  ceased  to  exist  from  that  date.  Mr.  Hill  was  highly  edu- 
cated, a  gentleman  of  refined  manners  and  scholarly  tastes  and 
reputed  to  have  wielded  the  pen  in  a  telling  way.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  the  files  of  the  Advertiser  are  lost;  not  even  a 
single  number  of  the  paper  is  within  reach.  This  paper  was 
intensely,  not  necessarily  violently.  Whig  in  politics. 

The  Wilmington  Chronicle  was  established  by  Asa  A.  Brown 
March  12,  1839.  Mr.  Brown  had  for  many  years  been  a  mer- 
chant in  Wilmington  and  presumably  was  a  novice  in  journal- 
ism, but  from  the  first  the  Chronicle  was  ably  edited,  and  dur- 
ing the  dozen  or  more  years  of  its  existence  it  did  yeoman  ser- 
vice in  advocating  and  defending  the  principles  of  the  Whig 
party.  Of  the  Wilmington  Messenger,  edited  by  Dr.  William 
J.  Price  in  advocacy  of  Democratic  principles,  nothing  accurate 
can  be  learned.  That  it  was  published  in  May,  1843,  is  known, 
and  reference  to  it  in  the  Chronicle  of  April  3,  1844,  shows  that 
it  was  in  existence  at  that  time.  In  the  same  way  it  is  known 
that  the  Wilmington  Journal,  its  successor,  was  published  in 
IsTovember  of  the  same  year.  The  Messenger,  material  and  good 
will,  it  is  understood,  between  the  dates  last  named  and  probably 
after  the  presidential  election  of  1840,  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  David  Fulton  and  Alfred  L.  Price.  These  gentlemen 
published  the  Journal  imtil  the  death  of  the  former,  when  his 
brother,  James  Fulton,  took  editorial  charge.  The  Journal 
(weekly)  has  continued  to  this  day,  and  is  now  owned  and 
edited  by  Joshua  T.  James,  Esq.  The  Daily  Journal  under 
Messrs.  Fulton  and  Price  did  not  appear  until  sometime  in  the 
early  fifties  and  does  not  come  within  our  scope.  Of  Dr.  Price's 
management  and  success  we  can  not  speak  knowingly,  but  doubt 
not  the  paper  was  altogether  satisfactory  to  the  Democratic 
party,  whose  principles  it  championed.     The  Fultons  were  ex- 


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Early  Years  179 

ceptionally  able  in  their  profession,  Irishmen,  native  bom,  if  we 
mistake  not,  and  their  paper  wielded  great  influence  throughout 
the  Cape  Fear  section  and  beyond. 

Mr.  Loring,  formerly  editor  of  the  Advertiser,  published  the 
Independent  in  Raleigh  for  a  while  from  early  in  July,  1843 ; 
but  in  February,  1846,  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and  with 
Mr.  William  Stringer  published  the  TrirWeekly  Commercial 
Review.  They  claimed  that  their  paper  was  Whig  in  politics, 
but  independently  so.  It  was  published  well  into  the  fifties, 
whither  we  do  not  follow  it. 

Other  papers  may  have  been  published,  but  if  such  is  the  case 
no  information  concerning  them  is  now  available.  Perhaps 
these  articles  may  bring  to  light  something  essential  to  a  com- 
plete history  of  these  matters.  It  will  be  gladly  welcomed. 
Whether  or  not  the  Wilmington  Christian  Herald,  to  be  pub- 
lished by  Samuel  Chandler,  ever  materialized  does  not  appear. 
The  prospectus  was  published  in  1839. 

It  is  usual  to  decry  the  avidity  with  which  the  papers  of  the 
nineties  gather  up  the  most  trivial  matters  of  local  happening, 
but  one  who  gleans  from  the  papers  of  "auld  lang  syne"  can  not 
but  wish  they  had  possessed  the  disposition  complained  of. 
Very  many  matters  that  would  go  far  to  throw  light  upon  the 
people  or  the  times  of  those  days  apparently  were  too  well 
known  to  need  be  chronicled,  and  so  many  an  important  link  to 
history  is  wanting.  The  local  editor  and  the  ubiquitous  re- 
porter were  not  known  in  those  days. 

And  now  let  us  get  more  definitely  and  distinctly  into  the 
forties,  leaving  any  digressions  to  come  in  incidentally.  Time, 
Wednesday,  January  1, 1840.  Place,  intersection  of  Front  and 
Market  Streets.  Occasion,  annual  hiring  of  negroes.  Various 
colors  were  there,  black  perhaps  predominating.  It  was  a  time 
of  times,  a  busy  time,  for  in  a  few  hours  all  the  domestic  ar- 
rangements depending  on  servitude  were  to  be  unsettled  and  for 
twelve  months  rearranged.  Many  a  housewife  had  been  looking 
to  the  first  of  the  year  in  the  hope  of  a  change  that  would  give 
her  more  of  ease  and  less  perhaps  of  labor  than  she  had  enjoyed 
or  suffered  during  the  year  just  past,  and  many  a  servant  had 
been  bearing  with  more  or  less  of  patience,  longingly  looking  to 
a  change  of  master  or  of  mistress.  Some  were  to  be  bettered, 
some  to  be  worsted,  but  the  star  of  hope  was  over  all,  and  though 
there  would  be  rain — ^was  there  ever  a  first  without  rain  ? — and 
though  it  had  passed  into  a  proverb  that  the  heavens  wept  on 


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180  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

hiring  day  for  the  deeds  of  darkness  done,  still  it  was  hardly  to 
be  reckoned  a  day  of  sadness  or  of  gloom.  Uncertainty  there 
was,  and  with  uncertainty  a  donbt  akin  to  fear,  yet  over  all  and 
above  all  the  star  of  hope  arose.  There  were  some  tears,  but 
there  were  many  smiles.  There  was  some  gloom  as  one  went  to 
a  master  always  reckoned  hard,  and  there  was  also  gladness  as 
another  went  to  his  or  her  chosen  place  of  servitude.  Owners 
in  general  heard  the  complaints  of  their  slaves,  and  in  tender- 
ness and  sympathy  as  well  as  from  self-interest  provided  for 
them;  they  saw  that  they  were  fed  and  clothed  or  they  would 
know  the  reason  why. 

But,  whether  bright  or  dark,  those  days  are  gone,  and  who 
would  bring  them  back  ?  And  yet  it  is  easier  to  call  them  wrong 
than  to  prove  them  so. 

In  1840,  as  has  been  said,  Wilmington  contained  4,268  souls. 
Of  these  1,004  were  white  males  and  916  white  females.  Of 
free  colored  people  there  were  356,  of  slaves  1,992.  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Anderson  was  magistrate  of  police.  At  that  date  every 
little  town  or  village  did  not  aspire  to  be  governed  by  a  mayor, 
and  despite  the  title  of  the  chief  officer,  guardsmen  were  simply 
town  guards  and  not  policemen  or  police.  Mr.  Anderson  had 
resided  in  Wilmington  just  forty  years;  he  arrived  here  from 
the  North  January  1,  1800.  He  was  at  the  time  president  of 
the  Branch  Bank  of  the  State,  and  was  occupying  or  had  occu- 
pied every  office  of  honor  or  trust  the  citizens  could  confer  upon 
him.  He  rises  before  our  memory  as  very  like  his  son,  Dr. 
Edwin  A.  Anderson,  who  was  taken  from  us  but  a  year  or  two 
ago.  Quite  as  venerable  he  was  in  appearance;  indeed,  for 
years  before  his  death  he  was  known  as  "Old  Mr.  Sandy  Ander- 
son."   He  died  November  15,  1844,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 

James  F.  McKee,  Armand  J.  DeRosset,  sr.,  E.  P.  Hall,  and 
W.  J.  Harriss  had  been  elected  town  commissioners  in  1839  and, 
save  Dr.  Harriss,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1839,  were  still  in 
office.  Senbx,  Jb. 

VI. 

It  might  properly  have  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  newspapers  published  in  Wilmington,  that  the  Chron- 
icle in  the  opening  days  of  1840  was  printed  in  a  building  stand- 
ing where  the  shoe  store  of  Peterson  &  Rulf  s  now  stands,  on  the 
west  side  of  Front  Street,  a  very  few  yards  above  Market.    The 


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Early  Years  181 

building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  January  of  that  year,  and  dis- 
continuance of  the  paper  was  enforced  for  eight  or  ten  weeks. 
When  revived  the  printing  and  publishing  quarters  were  in  a 
warehouse  in  the  alley  north  of  the  Cape  Fear  Bank  building 
until  June,  1840,  when  the  office  was  reestablished  in  a  building 
which  had  been  erected  on  the  old  site.  Here  it  continued 
through  the  forties,  and  until  it  ceased  to  appear. 

The  Wilmington  Journal,  in  the  fall  of  1844,  was  published 
in  the  Bettencourt  Building,  comer  Front  and  Princess  Streets, 
now  occupied  by  I.  H.  Weil.  The  Journal  Building,  on  Prin- 
cess Street,  was  built  for  it  when  it  launched  out  into  publica- 
tion of  the  daily  edition,  and  there  it  remained  for  probably  a 
quarter  of  a  century  or  more. 

The  TrirWeekly  Commercial  was  published  by  Stringer  & 
Whitaker — ^not  Loring  &  Stringer  as  we  stated — on  the  south- 
west comer  of  Front  and  Market  in  what  was  long  afterwards 
known  as  the  Commercial  Building,  and  which  is  now  occupied 
by  the  confectionery  establishment  of  Mrs.  E.  Warren  &  Son. 
The  offices  and  pressroom  were  in  an  upper  story,  the  lower 
being  occupied  as  a  dry-goods  store  by  Kahnweiler  Brothers. 
For  the  convenience  of  the  public,  the  arrivals  of  the  mails  then 
being  exceedingly  irregular,  there  stood  upon  the  roof  of  the 
Commercial  Building  a  flagstaff  from  which  a  flag  floated  at  the 
proper  times,  with  the  word  "Steamboat"  in  white  letters  upon 
a  blue  groimd,  or  "Cars"  in  white  upon  a  red  ground,  thus  an- 
noimcing  that  the  mails  had  arrived  and  soon  would  be  at  the 
disposal  of  the  public. 

Some  information  has  come  to  hand  relative  to  Mr.  William 
Soranzo  Hasell,  who  edited  the  Wilmington  Gazette:  He  was 
bom  in  Wilmington  and  here  lived  and  died.  Graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  1799,  being  then  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
studied  for  the  profession  of  law,  but  soon  abandoned  it  and  for 
a  time  kept  a  bookstore  and  circulating  library,  afterwards  along 
with  this  occupation  editing  the  Gazette  \mtil  1815,  when  he 
died,  aged  thirty-four.  In  1840  there  stood  on  the  southwest 
comer  of  Third  and  Ann  Streets — set  well  back  from  either 
street  and  fronting  on  Ann — a  house  showing  decided  marks  of 
the  ravages  of  time,  but  still  a  building  of  massive  proportions, 
pink-stuccoed,  and  bearing  indications  otherwise,  especially 
taken  along  with  the  surroundings,  of  having  been  the  residence 
of  people  of  wealth.  It  was  known  at  the  period  of  which  we 
write  as  the  ^^illiams  Castle,"  but  was  understood  to  have  been 


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182  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

formerly  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Hasell,  almost  certainly  of  the 
gentleman  of  whom  we  have  been  writing  or  his  parents. 

Of  the  physicians  of  Wilmington  in  1840  Dr.  John  D.  Bel- 
lamy alone  survives.  Mentally  his  bow  still  abides  in  strength, 
and  the  chances  and  changes  of  well-nigh  fourscore  years  have 
not  otherwise  in  the  main  dealt  unkindly  with  him.  He  came 
to  Wilmington  late  in  the  thirties,  studied  with  Dr.  William  J. 
Harriss,  and  at  the  death  of  Dr.  Harriss,  in  1839,  succeeded  to 
his  extensive  and  laborious  practice.  In  May,  1846,  Dr.  Wil- 
liam W.  Harriss  was  taken  into  copartnership,  and  in  the  course 
of  three  or  four  years  Dr.  Bellamy  retired  and  devoted  himself 
to  other  business,  principally  farming.  He  owned  large  estates, 
the  work  of  superintending  and  managing  which  was  quite  as 
lucrative  as  medical  practice,  and  far  less  toilsome. 

The  loss  of  a  physician  in  large  practice  for  obvious  reasons 
causes  deeper  sorrow,  and  sorrow  more  extensive  in  its  reach, 
than  that  of  any  other  member  of  a  community,  not  even  faith- 
ful pastors  being  excepted,  and  this  affection,  which  entwines 
around  the  hearts  of  those  who  receive  the  doctor's  services, 
doubtless  is  the  great  compensation  for  the  privations  and  trials 
and  strains  upon  the  sympathetic  nature  which  inevitably  attend 
medical  practice.  Especially  must  this  be  so  in  villages  and 
smaller  towns,  where  physicians  come  into  closer  social  rela- 
tions than  in  the  larger  cities.  These  observations  apply  with 
special  force  to  the  loss  sustained  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Harriss, 
who  has  been  referred  to,  and  of  others  who  are  yet  to  be 
mentioned. 

Dr.  Armand  J.  DeBosset,  sr.,  in  1840  was  seventy-three 
years  of  age,  and  still  in  vigorous  practice.  He  had  been  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  in  charge  of  the  Seamen's  Hospital  and 
continued  in  service  until  late  in  the  fifties,  practicing  on  horse- 
back when  ninety  years  of  age.  He  died  in  1859,  aged  ninety- 
two. 

Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  sr.,  was,  like  Dr.  DeBosset,  not  only  a 
skiUful  and  beloved  physician,  but  one  of  the  most  influential 
citizens  of  his  day.  It  has  been  noted  that  both  these  gentle- 
men were  commissioners  of  the  town  in  1840.  In  1840,  and 
possibly  for  years  thereafter,  Dr.  McBee  was  magistrate  of 
police,  the  chief  officer  of  the  place.  On  April  26,  1843,  he 
took  into  copartnership  his  son.  Dr.  J.  F.  McBee,  jr.,  and  not  a 
great  while  after  retired  to  enjoy  abimdant  and  well-earned  rest. 


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Early  Years  183 

while  engaging  in  the  scientific  studies  to  which  he  was  natur- 
ally disposed  and  in  which  he  greatly  delighted. 

Before  settling  in  Wilmington  Dr.  William  A.  Berry  had 
been  in  the  medical  service  of  the  United  States.  He  retired 
from  practice  in  the  later  fifties  with  ample  means.  He  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  DeBosset  as  hospital  physician  in  1845,  and  died 
in  1875. 

The  profession  did  not  hold  Dr.  Edwin  A.  Anderson  continu- 
ously in  its  practice.  In  1840  and  for  a  year  or  two  thereafter 
he  followed  it,  and  then  went  into  sawmilling  and  afterwards 
into  merchandizing  and  turpentine  distilling.  Subsequently  he 
resumed  practice  and  was  engaged  in  it  up  to,  or  nearly  up  to, 
his  death,  about  a  year  ago. 

The  recollections  of  the  writer  as  concerns  the  doctors  of 
fifty-five  years  ago  are  more  vivid  regarding  Dr.  Louis  J. 
Poisson,  perhaps,  than  any  other.  He  comes  before  the  mind, 
not  very  distinctly,  it  is  true,  as  of  medium  height,  spare  in 
figure,  with  an  intellectual  cast  of  countenance  and  features 
rather  sharp,  though  not  unpleasantly  so.  A  gentleman  of 
affable  manners  without  the  least  suspicion  of  lack  of  frankness, 
one  whose  gentleness  would  win  a  boy  of  eight  or  ten,  even  in 
spite  of  the  dread  which  must  needs  accompany  his  ministra- 
tions. For  a  while  before  the  death  of  Dr.  Poisscm  he  was  quite 
infirm  in  health.  In  1842  or  1843  he  took  into  copartnership 
Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  who  had  returned  from  New  York  City, 
and  October  26,  1843,  he  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four. 

It  has  been  said  that  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago  physicians  com- 
pounded their  own  prescriptions  and  practiced  on  horseback. 
The  diseases  they  had  to  meet  were  not  those  which  are  now 
encountered,  nor  the  medicines  they  used  the  same  as  now.  The 
old-fashioned  bilious  fever  was  a  terror  in  those  days.  We  now 
never  hear  it  mentioned.  Those  were  the  days  of  bloodletting 
and  of  cataplasms.  Salts  and  senna  and  calomel  and  jalap  were 
household  articles,  and  the  children  in  the  spring  were  regularly 
called  up  to  receive  the  matutinal  dose  of  aloes.  Quinine  was 
hardly  known  and  Peruvian  bark  had  to  do  its  work,  along  with 
dogwood  bitters  and  other  things  which  now  will  hardly  be 
found  in  the  pharmacopceia. 

No  profit  was  to  be  had  certainly  in  taking  medical  care  of 
the  poor  of  the  county  and  furnishing  the  medicines  for  them  at 
$50  a  year,  yet  that  was  all  allowed  for  the  service.    The  slaves. 


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184:  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

however,  who  were  over  half  the  population,  were  provided  for 
by  their  masters. 

What  has  been  written  has  referred  only  to  the  regular  allo- 
pathic practice.  Homeopathy,  though  Hahnemann  had  done 
and  suffered  in  behalf  of  his  principle  of  simUia  for  thirty 
years  or  more,  was  not  known  here.  The  Thompsonian  Botanic 
practice,  in  which  number  six  figured  conspicuously,  was  repre- 
sented by  Dr.  W.  H.  Buffaloe,  who  held  forth  on  Second  Street, 
near  what  is  now  called  Meginney's  comer,  as  the  successor  of 
one  Dr.  Foy  who  had  engaged  in  similar  practice  about  this  time. 

The  county  poorhouse  throughout  the  forties  stood  on  the 
square  bounded  by  Fourth,  Walnut,  Fifth,  and  Red  Cross 
Streets.  It  was  located  near  the  center  of  the  square  and  was 
the  only  house  within  the  area.  But  the  "Poorhouse  Square," 
as  it  was  called,  was  not  the  only  one  upon  which  a  single  build- 
ing stood  on  guard,  as  it  were,  to  all  the  space  aroimd.  The 
"Thimder-and-Lightning  House"  occupied  in  1840  a  similar 
position  on  the  square  bounded  by  Fourth,  Orange,  Fifth,  and 
Dock  Streets.  The  peculiar  name  attached  to  the  building,  it 
has  always  been  supposed,  was  because  of  its  having  several 
times  received  the  bolts  of  the  elements.  On  the  square  upon 
which  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  now  stands  there  was  in 
1840  but  one  house  occupied  by  white  people.  That  was  the 
building,  pulled  down  a  few  years  ago,  which  stood  immediately 
in  the  rear  of  the  church  and  which  was  purchased,  with  the 
land  upon  which  the  house  of  worship  stands,  from  the  late  A. 
H.  VanBokkelen.  The  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Capt. 
John  F.  Divine,  was  owned  by  Mr.  Aaron  Lazarus  in  1840  and 
was  the  only  dwelling  on  that  square.  The  greater  part  of  the 
square,  all  owned  by  Mr.  Lazarus  and  known  as  the  Lazarus 
lot,  was  a  delightful  grove,  where,  by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
owners,  Queen  of  May  celebrations  were  held.  Possibly  other 
localities  might  be  cited  like  to  these,  but  it  is  unnecessary.  The 
town  was  not  compactly  built  and  some  not  yet  in  their  seventies 
remember  picking  chinquapins  where  the  synagogue  now  stands, 
gathering  persimmons  in  the  "Old  '76"  lot  on  Ann  between 
Front  and  Second,  or  picking  low-bush  huckleberries  on  Church 
near  Fourth.  Here  and  there  all  over  the  present  city  are 
dwelling-houses  that  were  built  many  years  before  1840.  On 
Market  the  present  residence  of  Dr.  A.  J.  DeEosset  is  one  of 
them — in  1840  and  long  before  occupied  by  Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset, 
sr.     Opposite,  on  the  southwest  comer  of  Market  and  Third, 


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Early  Years  185 

still  stands  the  house  which  was  the  headquarters  of  Lord  Com- 
wallis  in  1781.  The  building  on  the  northeast  comer  also  dates 
back  a  hundred  years  or  so — so  the  building  adjoining  on  the 
east  and  others  in  the  same  locality.  The  present  residence  of 
Mr.  M.  Cronly  and  some  others  on  that  square  go  back  many 
decades;  indeed,  one  might  count  a  full  half  score  between 
Orange  and  Ann,  Fifth  Street  and  the  river.  So  on  the  west 
side  of  Second  Street  between  Market  and  Dock  are  houses  that 
carry  us  back  to  the  days  of  yore.  In  1840  Mr.  Murdock 
McKay  lived  in  one,  a  Mrs.  Bishop  in  another.  Around  the 
comer  on  Dock  going  towards  the  river  are  two  residences  of 
the  kind  we  are  speaking  of.  It  is  not  necessary  to  mention 
others;  they  can,  when  built  of  wood,  easily  be  distinguished. 
Whenever  the  sides  are  built  of  common  three-inch  cypress  or 
juniper  shingles  they  go  back  almost  certainly  well  on  to  a  cen- 
tury in  age — sometimes  over.  The  brick  store  on  the  southwest 
comer  of  Front  and  Princess,  occupied  by  I.  H.  Weil,  and  the 
wooden  buildings  on  the  southwest  comer  of  Market  and  Second 
Streets  along  the  southern  line  of  Market,  known  as  the  Betten- 
court  property,  might  be  termed  fire  repellers.  The  flames  have 
surged  aroimd  them  time  and  again  but  have  never  left  even  the 
smell  of  fire  upon  them. 

The  buildings  mentioned,  and  others,  have  been  more  or  less 
modernized  from  time  to  time,  sometimes  to  the  extent  of  entire 
transformation.  But  the  dwelling-house  on  the  southwest  comer 
of  Fifth  and  Orange  Streets,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev. 
Daniel  Morrelle,  in  1840  the  residence  of  Qen.  Alexander 
MacRae,  and  years  before  that  of  Mr.  Davis,  the  father  of  Hon. 
George  Davis,  is  very  likely  more  nearly  now  what  it  was  one 
hundred  years  ago  .than  any  other  residence  in  the  city. 

Before  we  leave  this  subject  let  us  call  attention  to  the  fact 
that  on  the  organization  of  St.  John^s  Lodge  of  Masons,  say 
one  hundred  years  ago,  they  occupied  the  old  Brown  building 
on  the  south  side  of  Orange  between  Front  and  Second  Streets. 
The  lodge  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  comer  of  Front  and 
Chestnut  Streets — southwest  comer — and  again  to  Front  near 
Red  Cross,  where  early  in  1841  the  building  was  sold  and  con- 
verted into  a  hotel  kept  by  David  Jones — ^not  the  proprietor  of 
that  dread  place  so  well  known  to  seamen  as  "Davy  Jones's 
locker."  In  the  same  year,  1841,  the  lodge  found  rest  from  its 
wanderings  in  its  present  location  on  Market  Street. 

One  of  the  most  noted  buildings  of  "auld  lang  syne,"  which 


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186  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

was  razed  to  the  ground  only  a  few  years  since  to  give  place  to 
the  dwellings  on  the  east  side  of  Front  Street,  between  Orange 
and  Ann,  was  the  "Old  '76."  It  was  a  large  two^tory  brick 
building,  stuccoed  white,  with  wide  piazzas  above  and  below 
running  all  the  way  around.  It  sat  right  upon  the  run  of  Tan 
Yard  Branch,  and  its  first  floor  was  several  feet  lower  than  the 
present  level  of  Front  Street.  It  was  a  sailor  boarding  house, 
but  was  utilized  by  the  politicians  of  the  early  days  as  a  rallying 
place  for  their  forces  on  the  eve  of  exciting  elections. 

Sbnez,  Jb. 

VII. 

Attention  has  been  called  to  the  fact  that  in  enumerating 
buildings  of  great  age  or  of  peculiar  construction  the  residence 
of  the  late  John  Walker,  Esq.,  is  worthy  of  being  considered. 
This  building  stood  near  the  center  of  liie  square  bounded  by 
Front,  Princess,  Second,  and  Chestnut  Streets,  fronting  on 
Princess.  Set  back  well  from  the  street,  it  had  a  very  spacious 
yard  in  front.  The  house  was  built  of  brick,  had  a  double  piazza 
— such  is  the  recollection  of  the  writer — and  was  covered  with 
Dutch  tiles  in  corrugated  form.  There  is  reason  to  believe  it 
was  built  in  1781.  It  had  been  tenantlees  for  a  long  time  pre- 
vious to  its  destruction,  which  was  several  years  ago. 

It  may  as  well  be  confessed  here  that  the  list  of  boys  in  the 
classical  school  of  Mr.  Robert  Lindsay — which  list  was  given 
recently — was  sadly  defective  in  omitting  the  names  of  Oscar 
G.  Parsley  and  David  S.  Cowan,  those  truly  good  boys. 

In  the  early  forties  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Courts  were 
Dick,  Manly,  Settle,  Battle,  Bailey,  Nash,  and  Pearson.  Some 
of  these  afterwards  attained  eminence  in  the  Supreme  Court. 
The  Court  of  Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions,  commonly  known  as 
the  County  Court,  had  a  session  each  spring,  summer,  fall,  and 
winter.  Attorneys  were  licensed  first  to  practice  here,  and  later, 
very  soon  after  ordinarily,  received  license  to  practice  in  the 
Superior  Courts.  The  last  County  Court  held  in  New  Hanover 
in  the  name  of  the  King  was  held  on  January  2,  1776,  and  the 
next  court  was  on  January  7,  1777.  The  justices  present  were 
George  Moore,  William  Purviance,  John  Bobinson,  Timothy 
Bloodworth,  Sampson  Moseley,  John  Lillington,  Samuel  Swann, 
John  Ancrum,  William  Wilkinson,  William  Jones,  and  John 
DuBois.    They  were  commissioned  by  the  Governor,  and  after 


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Early  Years  187 

duly  organizing  they  elected  two  inspectors  for  Wilmington  and 
a  sheriff  for  the  county.  Jonathan  Dunbibin  was  elected  regis- 
ter in  place  of  Adam  Boyd,  who  held  the  position  under  the  old 
regime.  We  digress  here  to  say  that  this  Adam  Boyd  formerly 
edited  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury,  which  appeared  in  Wilmington 
October  13,  1769,  and  was  discontinued  in  1775. 

The  county  justices  seem  to  have  undergone  little  or  no  change 
throughout  their  entire  existence  of  nearly  a  century.  In  ordi- 
nary trial  sessions,  one  magistrate  presided,  having  on  the  bench 
with  him  two  or  three  other  magistrates.  The  position  of  chair- 
man, or  chief  magistrate,  required  considerable  legal  knowledge 
and  invested  one  with  a  good  deal  of  power.  Col.  James  T. 
Miller  and  Mr.  William  A.  Wright  held  the  post  and  performed 
the  duties  admirably  for  years. 

Not  one  of  the  resident  lawyers  of  1840  is  now  living.  Mr. 
M.  London,  who  died  quite  recently,  had  been  engaged  in  mer- 
chandizing for  several  years  before  he  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  law.  He  was  licensed  to  practice  about  January  1, 1840,  and 
was  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  who  ever  practiced  at  the  bar  in 
New  Hanover  County.  Owen  Holmes  died  suddenly  in  June, 
1840.  Messrs.  William  A.  Wright,  Joshua  G.  Wright,  T.  C. 
Miller  and  Daniel  B.  Baker  lived  and  practiced  throughout  the 
forties.  Mr.  George  Davis  was  admitted  to  practice  very  early 
in  1841;  afterwards  John  London,  who  died  soon  after  licen- 
sure; and  Griffith  J.  McRee  still  later;  Thomas  D.  Meares, 
James  A.  Peden,  John  A.  Lillington,  T.  Burr,  jr.,  Hill  Bur- 
gwyn,  Thomas  D.  Walker,  David  Fulton,  William  Hill,  John  L. 
Holmes,  and  others  whose  names  are  not  at  hand.  Mr.  William 
B.  Meares,  one  of  the  strongest  members  of  the  bar,  had  retired 
before  1840  to  give  attention  to  other  interests.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 11,  1842.  Messrs.  David  Reid  and  Hardy  Lucian  Holmes 
came  to  Wilmington  from  other  counties.  They  stood  high  on 
the  roll  of  attorneys. 

In  those  days  the  whipping  post  was  an  instrument  or  an  in- 
stitution or  a  means  for  punishment  of  offenders — a  most  effi- 
cient one,  too.  It  savored  of  barbarity  undoubtedly  and  was  ter- 
ribly degrading,  still  there  are  crimes  for  which  the  whipping 
post  is  and  ever  will  be  the  only  befitting  punishment.  As  to 
barbarity,  it  does  not  approach  in  that  respect  the  public  stran- 
gling to  death  of  human  beings.  This  was  universal  in  those 
days,  and  even  now  is  tolerated  in  North  Carolina  where  the 
county  commissioners  find  a  public  demand  for  it.    Happily  the 


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188  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

day  is  past  when  any  such  heathenism  can  be  exhibited  in  New 
Hanover  County. 

Many  now  living  will  remember  that  Charles,  a  slave  of 
P.  K.  Dickinson,  was  publicly  hanged  between  Seventh  and 
Eighth  Streets  about  midway  and  a  few  yards  back  of  the  south- 
em  line  of  the  street.  A  few  years  later  Thomas  Broughton 
was  hanged  on  the  square  to  the  north  and  just  opposite  for  the 
murder  of  a  Portuguese  named  De  Silva.  A  curious  incident  is 
connected  with  the  trial  and  execution  of  Broughton.  For  quite 
a  while  no  clue  could  be  found  leading  to  the  detection  of  the 
assassin  of  De  Silva.  But  Broughton,  why  so  impelled  is  not 
known,  went  before  the  grand  jury  and  attempted  to  criminate 
another  man.  His  examination  brought  suspicion  upon  himself 
and  led  to  further  investigation.  Articles  that  had  belonged  to 
De  Silva  were  found  in  his  possession  and  other  criminating  cir- 
cumstances were  brought  to  light.  He  was  tried  and  on  purely 
circumstantial  evidence  was  convicted.  An  appeal  was  taken  to 
the  Supreme  Court  on  the  ground  of  inadmissibility  of  the  testi- 
mony of  the  foreman  of  the  grand  jury  above  referred  to,  which 
testimony  was  given  on  the  trial.  This  was  the  grand  jury  be- 
fore the  one  that  indicted  Broughton.  The  higher  court  over- 
ruled the  objection  and  Broughton  was  hanged.  He  protested 
his  innocence  on  the  gallows.  Nevertheless,  the  impression  was 
well-nigh  universal  that  he  was  guilty  of  the  crime  for  which  he 
suffered. 

The  courthouse  on  the  first  of  January,  1840,  stood  at  the 
intersection  of  Front  and  Market  Streets,  say  about  50  feet 
across  Front  and  about  75  or  80  feet  across  Market.  The  brick 
pavement,  answering  to  the  lower  floor  of  a  residence,  was  about 
one  foot,  possibly  a  little  more,  above  the  level  of  the  street.  A 
broad  arch  gave  entrance  at  either  end  on  Front  Street.  On  the 
sides  running  across  Market  a  small  arch  in  the  center  served 
as  entrance,  and  on  each  side  of  this  arch  and  on  both  sides  of 
the  building  were  similar  arches  across  which  were  benches, 
rather  shelves,  serving  as  seats.  The  boys  of  that  day  found 
delight  in  playing  in  and  around  this  part  of  the  courthouse, 
and  the  older  ones  met  there  in  the  hot  summer  afternoons  to 
discuss  politics  and  save  the  country. 

The  court  room  proper  and  such  other  rooms  as  were  necessary 
were  in  the  upper  story  and  were  reached  by  a  stairway  located 
in  the  southwest  comer.  The  building  was  constructed  of  brick 
and  was  painted  bright  yellow  on  the  outside,  trimmed  with 


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Early  Years  189 

white  and  painted  white  on  the  inside.  By  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  1756,  the  courthouses  of  the  State  were  to  be  used  for 
all  public  purposes.  Somewhere  about  1843  or  1844  the  County 
Court,  overlooking  this  or  in  ignorance  of  it,  prohibited  political 
meetings  in  the  courthouse,  but  they  were  very  soon  set  back  on 
the  matter. 

The  town  hall  in  1840  stood  at  the  intersection  of  Market  and 
Second  Streets,  and  was  in  structure  very  much  like  the  court- 
house, though  not  provided  with  seats,  we  think,  for  the  comfort 
of  loungers.  It  was  open  below  and  paved,  and  may  at  one  time 
have  been  used  as  a  market  house  in  the  lower  part.  The  locality 
went  by  the  name  of  "Mud  Market."  The  market  house  of  the 
writer's  day  was  a  most  unsightly  structure  which  stood  on  Mar- 
ket Street  between  Front  Street  and  the  river,  about  150  feet 
from  Front  Street  and  rimning  back  some  fifty  or  sixty  feet.  It 
was  built  of  brick.  The  pavement  serving  for  the  floor  was 
reached  by  mounting  a  large  piece  of  ton  timber  which  served 
for  a  step.  The  entrance  was  a  wide  arch,  and  the  entire  roof 
was  supported  by  pillars  forming  the  upright  sides  of  arches. 
At  the  farther  end,  because  of  elevation  in  consequence  of  slope 
of  the  streets,  were  a  platform  and  stairs  as  means  of  entrance 
and  exit.  Under  this  end  of  the  market  house  was  a  room  which 
at  one  time  served  as  a  guardhouse.  This  building  gave  place 
in  the  spring  of  1848  to  a  market  house  on  the  same  site ;  a  very 
great  improvement  in  appearance  and  in  suitableness  for  its 
purpose.  It  was  25  feet  wide  and  about  100  to  125  feet  long, 
with  a  roof  of  galvanized  iron  resting  on  light  iron  pillars.  In 
turn  this  gave  place  some  twenty  years  later  to  the  present  one 
on  Front  Street. 

William  Henry  Harrison  was  nominated  on  December  4, 
1839,  as  the  Whig  candidate  for  President.  A  meeting  to  ratify 
the  nomination  was  held  in  the  courthouse  on  the  night  of  Janu- 
ary 16,  1840,  and  was  addressed  by  delegates  who  had  returned 
from  the  nominating  convention.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th 
the  courthouse  was  in  ashes.  About  midnight,  or  a  little  before, 
of  the  17th  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  store  of  John  Dawson  on  the 
northeast  comer  of  Front  and  Market  Streets  and  rapidly  swept 
into  ruin  all  the  houses  on  the  entire  square  except  the  building 
(which  is  still  there)  on  the  southeast  comer  of  Front  and  Prin- 
cess and  the  dwelling-house  of  Mr,  J.  P.  Calhorda  immediately 
in  the  rear.  The  flames  crossed  Front  Street  and  were  arrested 
at  the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear  building  in  their  progress  north.    But 


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190  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

they  swept  off  everything  between  the  comer  of  Front  Street 
and  the  river  and  destroyed  every  building  on  the  river  front. 
On  the  square  where  the  fire  originated  the  Clarendon  Hotel 
stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  Purcell  House,  and  the  post  office 
was  a  room  on  the  alley.  Wilkings'  stables,  as  they  were  called, 
though  Winslow  S.  Wilkings  had  died  in  October,  1837,  stood 
where  Fennell's  stables  are  now.  The  northern  side  of  Market 
Street  was  then  as  now  occupied  by  grocery  and  dry-goods  and 
other  stores;  and  on  the  alleys  were  dwellings,  as  well  as  on 
Front,  Market,  and  Princess  Streets.  In  many  cases  those 
dwellings  were  rooms  above  the  stores. 

On  the  other  square,  at  the  comer  just  across  from  Dawson's, 
stood  the  shop  (office  it  would  now  be  called)  of  Dr.  Armand  J. 
DeEosset,  sr.  This  was  consumed  with  the  Chronicle  office  just 
north  of  it  and  the  dry-goods  and  general  sales  stores  of  Wright 
and  Savage,  John  Wooster,  Samuel  Shuter,  C.  B.  Miller,  Daniel 
Dickson,  Kelly  &  McCaleb,  and  others  on  the  line  of  Market 
Street,  the  custom  house,  then  standing  on  the  same  site  as  now, 
the  store  and  warehouses  of  Aaron  Lazarus,  and  the  business 
houses  of  many  others  on  Water  Street,  north  of  Market. 

The  shop  of  Dr.  DeRosset  was  entered  by  a  row  of  steps 
cornering  on  Market  and  Front  Streets,  and  running  up  some 
six  or  eight  feet  from  the  street.  The  custom  house  is  not  re- 
membered by  the  present  writer,  to  whom  the  river  front  at  that 
time  was  forbidden  groimd.  The  customs  were  collected  and 
the  business  appertaining  thereto  transacted  for  a  while  after 
the  fire  in  a  room  just  where  is  now  the  office  of  A.  S.  Heide, 
Esq.,  Danish  vice  consuL  At  this  time  Gen.  Louis  H.  Mar- 
steller  was  collector  of  customs.  Afterwards  the  custom  house 
was  on  North  Water  Street  between  Princess  and  Chestnut 
Streets.  Mr.  W.  C.  Lord  was  collector  here  under  appointment 
of  President  Tyler,  but  in  a  few  months,  the  President  having 
changed  his  political  status,  Mr.  Lord  was  superseded  by  Mr. 
Murphy  V.  Jones.  The  present  custom  house  became  ready  for 
occupancy  during  Mr.  Jones's  incumbency  of  the  coUectorship, 
or  possibly  a  very  little  while  before  he  entered  upon  its  duties, 
say  in  the  latter  part  of  1842  or  early  in  1843. 

One  incident  connected  vith  this  fire  every  one  then  in  his 
teens  or  older  very  vividly  remembers — the  blowing  up  of  Philip 
Bassadier.  In  those  days  when  water  had  to  be  pumped  into 
and  thrown  from  fire  engines  by  the  hardest  kind  of  physical 
labor,  it  might  seem  unnecessary  to  say  that  other  means  than 


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Early  Years  191 

throwing  water  had  to  be  resorted  to  to  stay  the  progress  of  the 
flames.  The  most  efficient  means  then  known  was  the  blowing 
up  of  buildings  by  gunpowder — no  dynamite  then.  This  work 
was,  if  not  in  1840,  certainly  afterwards,  confided  to  persons  of 
discretion  who  received  their  authority  direct  from  the  town 
commissioners.  It  became  necessary  to  resort  to  the  means  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Dawson  fire,  and  in  blowing  up  some  buildings 
about  the  center  of  the  square,  where  the  fire  originated,  Philip 
Bassadier  went  up.  He  was  taken  off  terribly  bloody  and  very 
seriously  wounded,  it  was  supposed  at  the  time  mortally 
wounded.  But  Philip,  who,  by  the  way,  was  one  of  the  politest 
of  men,  albeit  not  of  the  Caucasian  race,  lived  to  be  the  admira- 
tion of  the  small  boys  of  the  period,  and  to  furnish  music  for 
pleasure-loving  youllis  for  many  years.  But  of  this  we  may 
come  to  speak  at  another  time.  Sbnex,  Jb. 

(Since  writing  the  above  a  letter  has  been  received  from  one 
unusually  informed  and  accurate  on  local  matters  of  the  olden 
time,  and  who,  but  for  the  disrespect  seemingly  attached,  and 
the  utter  incongruity  of  association,  might  be  called  "Old 
Nick."    It  will  receive  due  attention  hereafter.) 

VIII. 

The  friend  referred  to  in  the  last  article  furnishes  some  cor- 
rections or  additions  from  very  accurate  remembrance,  and 
place  is  gladly  given  them.  He  was  a  pupil  of  Miss  Laura 
Rankin  (since  Mrs.  Rothwell)  when  she  taught  in  what  was 
and  is  known  as  Northrop^s  Alley,  running  through  from  Front 
to  Second  Street  between  Dock  and  Orange.  Other  boys  were 
George  Harriss,  Mike  Cronly,  Eli  Hall,  Henry  Law,  and  of  a 
younger  set,  Nehemiah  Harriss,  John  Morris,  Dick  Savage, 
Nick  Schenck,  and  so  on.  Girls  in  the  same  school  were  Sarah 
Peck,  Augusta  Law,  Emily  Howard,  Fanny  Lippitt,  Caroline 
VanViel,  Caroline  and  Clarissa  Northrop,  Mag  and  Kate 
McLaurin,  Aletta  Jane  Schenck,  Sarah  and  May  Savage,  Har- 
riet and  Caroline  Brown,  and  others.  Mr.  Walsh,  later  a  Pres- 
byterian minister,  afterwards  taught  in  the  same  place. 

We  are  reminded,  too,  that  Mr.  Jesse  Mulock,  who  came  from 
Orange,  N.  Y.,  first  taught  in  a  house  on  the  site  now  occupied 
by  Burr  and  Bailey,  and  afterwards  where  mentioned  in  a 
former  article.     His  school  became  very  prosperous  and  he 


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192  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

brought  out  his  brother  Charles  (was  it  not  John?),  but  was 
driven  from  the  field  by  the  Odd  Fellows'  School.  He  then  went 
into  the  shipping  commission  business,  having  for  his  clerk  An- 
thony D.  Cazaux.  Afterwards,  he  engaged  in  turpentine  distill- 
ing, and  finally  returned  North,  where  he  died  in  a  good  old  age, 

Mr.  Mulock's  principle  in  teaching  was  thoroughness.  There 
were  no  heads  nor  tails  to  his  classes.  Boys  came  up  to  the  front 
bench  to  recite  and  standing  erect  were  questioned,  or  went  to 
the  blackboard  to  do  the  "sums,"  as  the  problems  in  mathemat- 
ics were  called.  Smith's  granmiar  was  used  and  Walker's  dic- 
tionary. A  part  of  speech  was  named  and  parsed,  with  the  rea- 
son why  for  everything.  A  word  was  spelled  and  defined,  and 
a  sentence  constructed  with  the  word  properly  used  therein. 
There  was  no  precise  verbal  memorizing  required,  and  there 
could  be  no  dodging  nor  evasion.  The  chinquapin  was  always 
ready  for  use  and  was  in  frequent  demand.  Boys  were  detained 
sometimes  until  long  after  nightfall,  as  "Nick"  puts  it,  "staying 
in  until  perfect,  even  to  the  bringing  of  your  candle  for  night 
study."  Being  a  very  small  boy,  the  writer  was  excused  from 
night  service.  Day's  algebra,  we  thought,  was  the  hardest  alge- 
bra to  be  sure.  It  most  certainly  tried  one's  intellectual  calibre 
more  than  Davies',  which  was  used  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  School. 
But  we  are  reminded  that  Mr.  Mulock  was  patient  with  all  boys 
and  helpful  to  all,  even  while  he  required  good  conduct  and 
exacted  perfect  lessons. 

As  to  Madame  Clement's  and  Miss  Verina  Moore's  schools, 
about  which  we  are  asked,  they  came  on  after  the  forties — that 
is  our  recollection.  Miss  Verina  afterwards  married  Dr.  K.  H. 
Chapman,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  taught  school  in  Goldsboro, 
perhaps  also  in  Asheville,  and  died  at  the  latter  place  a  few 
years  since. 

Our  last  article  closed  with  the  blowing  up  of  Philip  Bassa- 
dier.  He  was,  as  has  been  said,  of  mixed  blood  and  appears  to 
have  come  to  Wilmington  from  one  of  the  West  Indian  Islands 
long  before  the  days  of  the  forties.  At  that  time  he  was  recog- 
nized as  a  character.  He  was  exceedingly  Frenchy  in  his  polite- 
ness and  doubtless  the  only  tonsorial  artist  in  the  town.  At  least 
the  following  advertisement,  which  appeared  in  the  Chronicle 
of  November  1,  1843,  would  indicate  that  then  for  the  first  time 
Walsh  Revells  or  some  one  else  was  making  his  opposition  felt. 
Here  is  Philip's  ad.,  after  an  announcement  of  his  readiness  to 
serve  the  public :   "He  has  carried  on  this  business  in  Wilming- 


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Early  Years  193 

ton  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  which  he  thinks  some  evidence 
of  merit  in  the  use  of  razors  and  scissors,  and  as  giving  him 
some  claim  to  pubKc  patronage."  There  seems  to  be  force  in  the 
claim.  Philip,  with  his  grey-white  kinky  hair,  brown  com- 
plexion, and  knee  breeches — ^well,  maybe  not — ^looms  up  before 
us  now.  His  shop  stood  at  the  comer  of  the  alley  next  north  of 
Boatwright's  store,  on  the  precise  site  of  that  store  in  fact,  a 
small  one-story  wooden  building  with  the  inevitable  striped  pole 
in  front,  and  there  he  was  to  be  found  presumably  for  forty 
years  before  1843.  The  shop  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  early 
morning  of  November  26,  1846.  Perhaps  too  much  time  and 
space  are  given  to  Philip  Bassadier,  but  he  can  not  be  dismissed 
without  reference  to  his  musical  ability,  displayed  as  violinist 
on  festive  occasions  of  all  kinds,  at  the  theatres,  etc.,  and  espe- 
cially of  his  services  as  bugle  man  to  the  Clarendon  Horse 
Guards  about  1845  and  later.  The  Horse  Guards,  under  com- 
mand of  Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  jr.,  and  later  of  Capt.  William 

C.  Howard,  to  the  small  boys  of  the  period  stood  a^  representa- 
tive of  military  pomp  and  prowess,  but  the  company  itself  did 
not  call  forth  more  admiration  than  Philip  Bassadier  as,  early 
in  the  morning  on  the  day  of  the  "turn  out,"  he  blew  his  bugle 
at  one  street  comer,  then  in  a  gallop  rushed  to  another,  reined 
up,  and  again  awakened  the  echoes  with  his  blast.  We  see  him 
now  in  his  cocked  hat  and  red  flannel  coat  and  note  the  beaming 
pride  on  his  countenance,  and  we  almost  hear  the  shouts  of  de-  • 
light  of  the  urchins  enjoying  it  all. 

The  Wilmington  Volunteers  on  April  30,  1840,  celebrated 
their  ninth  anniversary.  They  were  then  in  command  of  Junius 

D.  Gardner.  Afterwards  Capt.  O.  G.  Parsley  was  chief  in  com- 
mand, and  previously,  probably,  Capt.  John  MacRae.  This 
company  was  the  pride  of  our  town  in  those  days,  and  on  the 
anniversaries  it  always  had  target  practice  at  Hogg's  Folly,  and 
thereafter  marched  through  the  streets,  the  well-torn  target  in 
the  rear  and  the  best  marksman,  usually  Billy  Burch,  or  Mr. 
Jimmy,  his  brother,  conspicuous  in  the  ranks  by  reason  of  the 
yellow  plume  which  decorated  his  cap  and  proclaimed  his  skill. 
The  New  Hanover  Rifle  Corps  paraded  the  first  time  Novem- 
ber 3,  1841,  with  R  F.  Brown  as  captain,  R.  G.  Rankin,  first 
lieutenant,  J.  B.  Camming,  second  lieutenant,  and  Louis  H. 
Pierce,  third.  In  1846,  about  June,  the  Wilmington  Guards 
were  formed,  with  James  Anderson,  captain,  Alexander  Mac- 
Rae, jr.,  first  lieutenant,  Henry  Nutt,  second  lieutenant,  and 


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194  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

James  Burch,  orderly  sergeant.  These  companies  might  come 
and  they  might  go,  but  it  was  the  militia  unimiformed — ^not 
necessarily  uninformed — ^that  rolled  on  forever.  The  Thirtieth 
Regiment  of  North  Carolina  Militia,  \mder  command  of  Col. 
John  MacKae,  and  afterwards  of  others,  was  a  great  institution. 
The  upper  division  paraded  at  Long  Creek  and  the  lower  divi- 
sion assembled  annually  at  Wilmington  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 
On  this  review  Brigadier  General  Marstellar  came  out  with  his 
staff  and  sometimes  Maj.  Gen.  Alexander  MacRae  with  his. 
Colonel  Andrews,  Col.  James  T.  Miller,  Col.  John  MacRae, 
Maj.  W.  N.  Peden,  and  maybe  others  graced  these  occasions. 
It  was  a  time  of  times  for  the  boys.  The  Wilmington  Militia, 
with  Dr.  Billy  Ware  as  orderly  sergeant  in  front,  stretching  his 
abbreviated  limbs  to  keep  the  regulation  step,  was  a  conspicuous 
part.  The  parade  took  place  in  what  was  then  called  "Ore- 
gon." It  was  about  the  time  that  the  Oregon  boundary  question 
was  up,  and  the  politicians  shouted  for  "phifty-four  phorty  or 
phight,''  and  afterwards  fell  back  to  "phorty-nine."  In  "Ore- 
gon"— ^that  is  about  where  the  Chestnut  Street  Presbyterian 
Church  now  stands,  or  a  little  north  of  it. 

The  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  Company  was  char- 
tered by  the  Legislature  early  in  1834.  On  January  1,  1836, 
annoimcement  was  made  that  $200,000  had  been  subscribed  to 
the  capital  stock,  and  when  $300,000  should  be  subscribed  the 
company  would  be  organized  and  work  commenced.  Work  was 
commenced  in  October  of  the  same  year,  and  after  struggling 
against  difficulties  such  as  are  not  known  in  these  latter  days, 
and  at  an  immense  sacrifice  to  those  who  put  their  financial 
means  into  the  work  and  to  those  who  gave  their  business  time 
and  energies  to  it,  the  last  spike  was  driven  March  7,  1840.  The 
road  was  chartered  in  the  expectation  of  running  from  Wil- 
mington to  the  State  capital,  but  it  was  soon  found  that  the 
funds  for  completion  could  not  be  obtained  in  that  direction 
and  the  present  route  was  located.  The  name  was  not  changed 
to  Wilmington  and  Weldon  until  comparatively  recently.  None 
of  the  equipment  was  what  we  are  accustomed  to  now.  The 
engines  could  not  pull  even  a  light  train  up  a  slight  incline,  and 
so  the  passengers  and  baggage  had  to  be  run  up  the  hill  as  at 
present,  and  while  the  passengers  descended  a  long  flight  of  steps 
and  walked  to  the  boat  landing,  one  or  two  hundred  yards  away, 
the  baggage  was  shot  down  an  incline  to  a  hand-car  and  rolled 
away  to  the  steamers  in  waiting.     Happily,  baggage  smashers 


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Early  Years  195 

had  not  arrived  at  the  perfection  to  which  they  have  since  at- 
tained and  Saratoga  trunks  were  then  unknown.  It  was  the 
day  of  bandboxes  and  bundles  to  try  the  patience  of  husbands 
or  other  male  attendants.  Checks  for  baggage  were  unknown. 
They  soon  came  into  vogue,  but  for  special  railroad  lines  only. 
Engines  in  those  days  were  doll  babies  or  sandfiddlers  to  the 
giants  in  size  and  weight  and  power  of  the  present  time,  A 
train  of  eight  or  ten  cars  each  with  carrying  capacity  not  one- 
fourth  probably  of  the  present  was  a  sight  to  see,  and  the 
coaches  were  not  coaches  as  we  know  them  at  all,  but  cars  made 
somewhat  like  unto  the  stagecoaches  they  superseded.  Think 
of  the  time  advertised  between  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
100  miles,  being  eight  hours. 

Capt.  James  Owen  was  president  of  the  road  at  its  comple- 
tion, Gen.  Alexander  MacEae,  superintendent,  and  Walter 
Gwyn,  who  had  been  in  charge  throughout  the  building,  was  still 
chief  engineer  of  construction.  The  four  steamers  owned  by 
the  company  and  forming  a  line  to  Charleston — ^the  VanderhUt, 
Oovemor  Dudley,  North  Carolina,  and  Wilmington — ^were 
not  comparable  in  size  or  in  convenience  to  the  palaces  of  the 
present  day  in  similar  service  elsewhere,  but  they  were  never- 
theless very  comfortable,  very  staunch  and  strong,  and  com- 
manded by  experienced,  careful,  and  fearless  seamen — such 
men  as  Captains  Davis,  Marshall,  Ivy,  Smith,  Bates,  Sterrett, 
Wade,  and  others.  One  or  two  accidents  occurred,  however, 
but  without  loss  of  life.  On  or  about  January  7,  1839,  the 
North  Carolina  and  the  Vanderbilt  collided  off  Georgetown 
Light,  and  both  had  to  go  into  Charleston  for  repairs.  On 
Sunday,  July  26,  1840,  at  1  a.  nu,  thirty  miles  northeast  of 
Georgetown,  the  Oovemor  Dudley  and  the  North  Carolina 
came  into  collision,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  the  latter  vessel 
went  down  beneath  the  waves.  All  the  passengers  were  saved, 
but  some,  all  probably,  without  befitting  clothes.  Some  mem- 
bers of  Congress  were  aboard,  among  them  Hon.  Dixon  H. 
Lewis,  the  500-po\mder  of  Alabama.  In  his  disrobed  state  he 
was  a  curiosity  as  well  as  an  object  of  sympathy  when  he  ar- 
rived in  Wilmington.  The  Oovemor  Dudley  was  not  hurt  by 
the  collision  and  came  on  to  port.  She  was  seriously  delayed, 
of  course.  The  North  Carolina  had  not  been  long  in  the  ser- 
vice since  her  former  accident.  The  steamer  Huntress  was 
put  on  the  line  temporarily  in  place  of  the  sunken  steamer, 
and  the  Oladiator  afterwards  came  in  permanently.    When  the 


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196  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

boats  were  first  put  on  the  line  between  Wilmington  and  Charles- 
ton, say  in  1839,  possibly  a  little  before,  the  Cape  Fear  River 
had  to  be  lighted  at  the  expense  of  the  railroad  company,  as 
navigation  at  night  was  a  necessity,  but  Congress  in  1840  appro- 
priated $5,000  a  year  for  this  service  and  lighting  the  river  has 
since  been  a  charge  of  the  General  Gk)vemment. 

Perhaps  nothing  more  strongly  marks  the  difference  in  rail- 
roads between  1842  and  1895  than  the  fact  that  between  Mon- 
day noon,  July  11,  1842,  and  Thursday  night,  July  14,  1842, 
three  heavy  trains  were  lost  between  Wilmington  and  Weldon. 
No  one  could  tell  what  had  become  of  them.  A  deluging  rain 
had  submerged  the  country  between  the  Roanoke  and  the  Tar 
Rivers,  causing  three  breaches  in  the  road-bed.  One  or  more 
trains  got  between  the  rivers  and  lost  all  communication  with 
the  outer  world,  and  one  or  two  others  had  been  thrown  from 
the  track,  in  a  like  situation,  by  fallen  trees. 

Nothing  has  been  said  about  perils  of  travel  in  those  days 
of  snakeheads  and  slow  brakes,  but  time  and  space  are  up. 

Senex,  Jb. 


THE  PUBLIC  SPIRIT  OF  WILMINGTON. 

(The  Fayetterille  Observer  of  January,  1850.) 

The  public  spirit  of  the  citizens  of  our  sister  town  is  really 
amazing;  it  seems  to  have  no  limit  when  any  scheme  is  pre- 
sented which  is  regarded  as  essential  to  the  prosperity  or  honor 
of  the  place.  And  the  resources  of  the  community  seem  to  be  as 
abundant  as  the  spirit  with  which  they  are  employed  is  liberal. 

Some  twelve  or  fourteen  years  ago,  when  the  population  was 
but  three  or  four  thousand,  she  undertook  to  make  a  railroad 
161  miles  long  (the  longest  in  the  world),  and  a  steamboat  line 
of  equal  length.  For  this  purpose  she  subscribed  more  than 
half  a  million  dollars,  we  believe. 

This  accomplished  with  almost  the  total  loss  of  the  half  mil- 
lion, so  far  as  the  stock  was  concerned,  however  profitable  in 
other  respects,  one  might  have  expected  a  pause  at  least  if  not  a 
total  cessation  in  the  march  of  improvements,  and  so  it  would 
have  been  with  almost  any  other  people.  But  soon  the  Wil- 
mington and  Manchester  Railroad  was  projected,  and  Wilming- 
ton subscribed  to  it  $180,000.  Then  came  the  Deep  River  and 
Navigation  Company,  and  she  gave  $30,000  to  $40,000,  we 
believe,  to  that.    Next  the  Central  Railroad,  and  she  subscribed 


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Early  Years  197 

about  $60,000,  and  finally,  it  being  found  necessary  to  raise  an 
additional  sum  for  the  Manchester  Eoad,  she  held  a  meeting 
on  the  5th  inst.,  at  which  $50,000  more,  making  $230,000  in 
all,  was  subscribed  to  that  work.  (This  was  increased  to 
$100,000  by  the  10th,  making  $280,000.) 

Thus  this  community,  even  now  not  containing  more  than 
eight  or  nine  thousand  inhabitants,  of  whom  probably  not  more 
than  two-thirds  are  white,  has  contributed  to  public  works  eight 
or  nine  hundred  thousand  dollars — ^nearly  as  much  as  is  re- 
quired from  the  State  to  secure  the  Central  Eailroad. 

With  all  this  prodigious  expenditure,  who  hears  of  any  pres- 
sure of  bankruptcy — any  interruption  of  her  onward  course 
of  prosperity?  Truly,  "There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  in- 
creaseth." 

It  is  not  for  the  purpose  of  honoring  Wilmington  merely 
that  we  make  this  statement,  but  it  is  to  encourage  the  friends 
of  internal  improvement  throughout  the  State,  and,  if  possible, 
to  remove  the  objections  of  those  who  doubt  the  policy  or  profit- 
ableness of  the  system. 


ACTIVITIES  ON  THE  RIVEE,  1850-1860. 

In  the  fifties  there  were  frequently  as  many  as  ninety  vessels 
in  the  port  of  Wilmington  loading  or  unloading,  or  waiting  for 
berths  at  anchor  in  the  stream.  The  wharves  were  lined  two 
vessels  deep,  and  those  waiting  for  orders  were  moored  nearly 
as  far  down  the  river  as  the  Dram  Tree.  It  was  a  season  of 
great  activity. 

Also,  a  large  coastwise  business  in  com  in  bulk  was  carried 
on  wilt  Hyde  County,  and  for  this  trade  a  fleet  of  small 
schooners  called  "Com  Crackers''  was  employed.  It  was  most 
exhilarating  on  a  fine  day  to  see  this  tiny  fleet,  twenty  to  thirty 
white  wings,  rounding  the  Dram  Tree,  led  by  the  We're  Here, 
Fm  Coming,  and  So  Am  I,  with  every  stitch  of  canvas  spread  to 
the  favoring  breeze  on  the  last  stretch  to  the  Custom-house 
Wharf. 

Direct  importations  of  coffee  from  Eio  de  Janeiro,  of  sugar 
and  molasses  from  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  Demerara,  of  hoop- 
iron  and  cotton  ties  from  England,  of  salt  from  Turks  Island 
and  Liverpool  employed  many  square-rigged  foreign  vessels; 
and  three  times  as  many  beautifully  lined  American  schooners 


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198  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

added  miscellaneous  cargoes  from  the  North  to  the  overladen 
wharves  of  Wilmington. 

The  following  table  illustrates  the  business  of  Wilmington 
from  December  1,  1851,  to  December  1,  1852: 

Coastwise  Exports  fbom  Wilmington  fbom  December  1,  1861,  to 
December  1,  1852. 

Sawed  timber.  17.135,889  feet   $272,585.77 

ntch-pine  timber,  1,025,202  feet 12,815.01 

Spirite  turpentine,  96,277  barrels 1,707,999.75 

Rosin,  320,219  barrels 560,383.26 

Tar,  17,522  barrels 35,044.00 

Pitch.  6,660  barrels 9,157.00 

Turpentine,  raw,  63,071  barrels 220,748.50 

Cotton,   12,988   bales    454,580.00 

Rice,  clean,  2,300  casks   37,375.00 

Rice,  rough,  64,842  bushels   58,357.80 

Peanuts,  93,255  bushels   93,255.00 

Corn,  Indian.  5,663  bushels  3,009.64 

Staves,  27,000 105.00 

Cotton  yarn,  2,434  bales  97,360.00 

Sheetings,   1,702   bales    102,120.00 

Flax  seed,  165  casks  | 

Flax  seed,  1,253  bags   /  ^'"^^'^^ 

Sundries    320,613.86 

Coastwise  total    $3,991,561.84 

Foreign   exports    549.107.74 

Total  coastwise  and   foreign $4,540,669.58 

A  Few  of  the  Principal  Foreign  Exports  are  Subjoined. 

Lumber,   feet 15,201,000 

Timber,  feet   2,383,814 

Turpentine,  barrels 33,596 

The  class  of  merchants  and  professional  men  of  those  days 
was  highly  respectable  and  respected;  nearly  all  were  men  of 
education  and  refinement,  and  they  were  always  keenly  inter- 
ested in  public  affairs.  I  note  from  memory  some  of  the  more 
important  business  men  and  firms  of  importers,  commission 
merchants,  and  shipbrokers,  physicians,  bankers,  and  lawyers 
who  were  established  between  Orange  Street  and  Red  Cross 
Street  on  the  river  front,  along  Water  Street  and  Nutt  Street, 
and  uptown: 

T.  C.  ft  B.  G.  Worth  James  H.  Chadboum  ft  Co. 

N.  O.  Daniel  Kidder  ft  Martin 

Pierce  ft  Dudley  Joseph  H.  NefF 


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Early  Years 


199 


C.  W.  Styron 

James  D.  Gumming 

W.  H.  McKoy  &  Co. 

Houston  &  West 

J.  R.  Blossom  &  Co. 

A.  H.  VanBokkelen 

J.  E.   Lippitt 

H.  B.  Eilers 

J.  L.  Hathaway  &  Utley 

A.  W.  Coville 
DeRosset  &  Brown 
Murray  &  Murchison 
James  T.  Petteway  &  Co. 
Ellis  &  Mitchell 

Hall  &  Armstrong 
W.  H.  McRary  &  Co. 
M.  Mclnnis 
Avon  E.  Hall 
Harriss  &  Howell 
J.  &  D.  MacRae  &  Co. 

B.  G.  &  W.  J.  Monroe 
Clark  A  Turlingtcm 
Henry  Nutt 

C.  H.  Robinson  &  Co. 
A.  D.  Cazaux 
Alexander  Oldham 
Smith  &  McLaurin 
O.  G.  Parsley  &  Co. 
Joseph  H.  Planner 
W.  B.  Flanner 
James  I.  Metts,  sr. 
G.  O.  VanAmringe 
H.  P.  Russell  &  Co. 
P.  K.  Dickinson 

Thomas  D.  Walker,  president 
Wilmington  &  Manchester 
Railroad. 

William  S.  Ashe,  president  Wil- 
mington &  Weldon  Railroad. 

John  Dawson 

P.  W.  Fanning 

John  S.  James 

W.  C.  Bettencourt 

Zebulon  Latimer 

Adam  Empie 

Thomas  C.  Miller 

Thomas  H.  Wright,  banker 

Joshua  G.  Wright 

Gilbert  Potter 

James  S.  Green 

William  A.  Williams 


Rankin  &  Martin 

Anderson  &  Savage 

O.  P.  Meares 

W.  B.  Meares 

George  Davis 

W.  A.  Wright 

Robert   Strange 

Duncan  K.  MacRae 

Samuel  J.  Person 

DuBrutz  Cutlar 

Griffith  J.  McRee 

Alexander  Anderson 

Dr.  E.  A.  Anderson 

Stephen  Jewett 

Timothy  Savage 

H.  R.  Savage 

L.  A.  Hart 

George  Myers 

Charles  D.  Myers 

J.  S.  Robinson 

Hedrick  &  Ryan 

J.  S.  Williams 

James  Dawson 

Richard  J.  Jones 

Dr.  J.  Fergus  McRee 

Dr.  J.  F.  McRee,  Jr. 

Dr.  James  H.  Dickson 

Dr.  F.  J.  Cutlar 

Dr.  William  J.  Harriss 

Dr.  John  D.  Bellamy 

Dr.  William  George  Thomas 

Dr.  F.  J.  Hill 

Dr.  John  Hill 

Dr.  W.  A.  Berry 

Dr.  J.  C.  Walker 

John  Wood 

Dr.  F.  W.  Potter 

Dr.  John  Hampden  Hill 

Louis  Erambert 

CoL  James  G.  Burr 

Alfred  Alderman 

James  S.  Alderman 

Edward  B.  Dudley 

James  Owen 

Alexander  MacRae 

Asa  A.  Brown 

E.  P.  Hall 

Joseph  H.  Watters 

Rev.   Father  Murphy 

Rev.  John  L.  Pritchard 

S.  D.  Wallace 


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200 


Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


John  Cowan 

John  Wooster 

A.  M.  WaddeU 

William  C.  Lord 

R.  W.  Brown 

George  W.  Dayis 

J.  W.  K.  Dix 

John  C.  Latta 

Isaac  Northrop 

Zeno  H.  Green 

Jacob  Lyon 

James  Wilson 

S.  P.  Walters 

Walker  Meares 

Talcott  Burr,  Jr. 

James  T.   Miller 

Alexander  Sprunt 

Rt  Rey.  Bishop  Atkinson 

Cyrus  S.  Van  Amringe 

H.  R.  Savage 

Daniel  B«  Baker 

N.  N.  Nixon 

Daniel  L.  Russell 

R.  H.  Cowan 

John  A.  Taylor 

Rev.  Dr.  R.  B.  Drane 

Dougald  McMillan 

Samuel  Davis 

W.  S.  Anderson 

Eli  W.  Hall 

William  MacRae 

W.  L.  Smith 

Thomas  L.  Colville 

John  C.  Bailey 

James  M.  Stevenson 

James  Dawson 

Robert  B.  Wood 

George  R.  French 


A.  L.  Price 

John  L.  Holmes 

M.  London 

John  C.  Heyer 

E.  A.  Keith 

P.  J.  Lord 

T.  D.  Love 

Rev.  M.  B.  Grier 

Rev.  Charles  F.  De^ns,  D.D. 

Joseph  Price 

G.  H.  Kelly 

Henry  Flanner 

W.  P.  Elliott 

M.  M.  Kattz 

L.  B.  Huggins 

William  G.  Fowler 

L.  Vollers 

Edward  Savage 

A.  H.  Cutts 

G.  A.  Peck 

Hugh  Waddell 

James  A.  Willard 

W.  H.  Lippitt 

Junius  D.  Gardner 

John  Judge 

James  Fulton 

Thomas  Loring 

William  B.  Giles 

Richard  A.  Bradley 

William  N.  Peden 

Gaston  Meares 

Joseph  S.  Murphy 

William  Reston 

John  Reston 

John  Colville 

William  Watters 

A.  A.  Willard 


And  last,  but  not  least,  mine  host,  Jack  Bishop,  who  kept  the 
Pilot  House  on  the  wharf  and  furnished  the  best  table  fare  in 
Wilmington  to  a  large  number  of  merchants,  master  mariners, 
and  pilots  at  very  moderate  prices — ^he  whose  breadth  of  beam 
and  suggestive  sign  combined  to  make  him  known  as  "Paunch- 
ous  Pilot" — and  his  genial  neighbor  at  the  foot  of  Dock  Street, 
Jimmie  Baxter,  who  always  wore  a  battered  beaver  hat,  regard- 
less of  corresponding  conventionalities  of  dress,  and  with  his 
brother  Barney  supplied  the  ships  with  pantry  stores. 


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Early  Years  201 

Some  of  us  still  remember  Jimmie  Baxter's  kindly  salutation 
with  its  warning  for  the  day :  "And  if  ye  meet  the  Divil  in  the 
way,  don't  shtop  to  shake  hands  wid  him.^' 


FOEGOTTEN  AIDS  TO  THE  NAVIGATION  OF  THE 
CAPE  FEAR. 

In  June,  1851,  the  topsail  schooner  Oallatin,  of  the  United 
States  Coast  Survey,  appeared  oflF  the  Main  Bar  and  sailed  into 
the  quiet  harbor  of  Smithville,  the  base  of  operations. 

She  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Commanding  John  New- 
land  Maffitt,  United  States  Navy,  and  the  six  lieutenants  under 
him  included  several  who  rose  to  the  rank  of  commander,  and 
one  to  the  distinction  of  admiral  in  the  United  States  Navy. 
Three  of  them  were  subsequently  distinguished  in  the  annals  of 
the  Cape  Fear :  Maffitt,  the  daring  commander  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  Corvette  Florida;  J.  Pembroke  Jones,  conmiander 
of  the  Confederate  States  Eam  Raleigh,  and  subsequently  com- 
mander of  other  vessels  of  war,  and,  finally,  a  prominent  officer 
in  the  naval  service  of  the  Argentine  Republic;  and  Lieut. 
Charles  P.  BoUes,  a  master  in  the  art  of  triangulation  and 
topography,  whose  name  with  that  of  Maffitt  appears  upon  all 
the  old  charts  of  the  Cape  Fear. 

Professor  Bache,  the  eminent  superintendent  of  the  Coast 
Survey  at  Washington,  in  his  official  reports  to  Secretary  Cor- 
win,  makes  frequent  reference  to  the  valuable  services  of  Lieu- 
tenant Commanding  Maffitt,  who  had  charge  of  the  hydrography 
in  this  section  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  In  one  report  he  says: 
"Lieutenant  Commanding  J.  N.  Maffitt,  United  States  Navy, 
assistant  in  the  Coast  Survey,  in  command  of  the  schooner 
OaUatin,  has  executed  the  soimdings  of  the  bar  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  commencing  at  the  most  southern  point  of  Cape 
Fear,  extending  at  a  distance  of  from  two  and  a  half  to  three 
and  a  half  miles  from  shore  to  the  northward  and  westward, 
including  the  Main  Bar,  middle  ground,  and  Western  Bar,  the 
river  up  to  New  Inlet,  that  bar,  and  Sheep's  Head  Ledge." 

In  the  execution  of  this  work  25,688  soimdings  were  made, 
18,010  angles  measured,  and  389  miles  of  soundings  nm; 
thirty-five  specimens  of  bottoms  were  preserved,  and  fifteen  ob- 
servations of  currents  made.  After  tiiis  work  was  completed. 
Lieutenant  Maffitt  proceeded  to  make  a  hydrographic  reconnais- 


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202  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

sance  of  the  New  River  bars  and  of  the  river  above  the  obstruc- 
tions. In  making  this  reconnaissance,  5,870  soundings  were 
made,  481  angles  measured,  and  fifty  miles  of  soundings  nm. 

With  reference  to  the  social  life  of  these  gentlemen,  Mrs. 
Maffitt  says:  "When  Lieutenant  Maffitt  visited  Smithville  its 
citizens  were  composed  of  the  best  people  in  the  Cape  Fear 
region.  Its  residences,  generally  deserted  in  the  winter  months, 
were  filled  during  the  summer  and  early  fall  with  the  elite  of 
Wilmington  society,  then  in  its  zenith  of  culture,  refinement, 
and  that  open  and  profuse  hospitality  for  which  it  has  from 
early  colonial  times  been  distinguished.  The  officers  of  the 
Coast  Survey  and  their  families  were  domiciled  at  the  barracks 
in  the  garrison  groimds.  The  residents  opened  their  hearts  and 
homes  to  them  and  vied  with  each  other  in  rendering  their  stay 
a  pleasant  one. 

"Like  most  small  conmiimities  having  few  interests  outside 
of  themselves,  there  was  at  times  a  tendency  to  indulge  in  lui- 
pleasant  gossip,  and  in  order  to  quell  this  by  giving  a  new 
source  of  interest,  Lieutenant  Maffitt  proposed  organizing  a 
dramatic  company;  and,  to  insure  the  actors  against  unkind 
criticism  of  amateurs,  he  made  it  a  condition  of  entrance  to  the 
plays  that  all  who  desired  to  witness  the  performance  should 
sign  their  names  as  members  of  the  company  before  receiving 
their  tickets.    And  this  proved  a  perfect  success." 

Dr.  W.  G.  Curtis  says:  "The  old  residents  of  Smithville, 
before  the  season  was  over,  gave  this  troupe  the  credit  of  driv- 
ing out  the  gossips  or  closing  their  lips.  In  a  word,  the  whole 
society  became  a  mutual  admiration  society.  Harmony  pre- 
vailed everywhere.  Sermons  were  preached  every  Sunday  at 
the  chapel  and  the  services  were  well  attended;  but  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  often  said  that  the  good  feeling  of  all  the 
attendants,  brought  about  by  our  troupe,  put  them  in  a  better 
frame  of  mind  to  listen  to  the  teachings  from  the  pulpit.'* 

Of  Captain  Maffitt  of  the  Confederacy  much  has  been  written. 
Of  this  intrepid  conmiander,  it  was  said  by  a  distinguished 
visitor  in  1868:  "Amongst  the  many  interesting  men  I  met  at 
Wilmington  was  the  well  known  Captain  Maffitt,  whose  adven- 
turous career  upon  the  high  seas,  as  conmiander  of  the  Florida, 
excited  so  much  attention  at  the  time. 

"I  found  the  captain  a  cultivated  and  gentlemanly  man, 
small-sized  and  spare  in  figure,  but  with  a  finely-cast  head,  a 
dark,  keen  eye,  a  strong  tuft  of  black  whiskers  on  his  chin,  and 


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Early  Years  203 

a  firm  little  mouth  that  seemed  to  express  the  energy  and  de- 
termination of  his  character.  I  remember  very  well  his  digni- 
fied appearance  as  he  stepped  about  in  his  short  military  cloak, 
with  his  keen  and  somewhat  stem  look.  He  was  in  reduced 
circumstances,  having  staked  his  whole  fortune  and  position 
upon  the  Lost  Cause ;  but,  like  so  many  of  his  old  military  and 
naval  associates,  he  was  trying  his  hand  at  business  and  striving 
to  reconcile  himself  to  the  new  order  of  things." 

In  The  Life  and  Services  oi  this  remarkable  man  of  the  Cape 
Fear,  his  gifted  widow,  Mrs.  Emma  Martin  Maffitt,  has  con- 
tributed to  our  history  a  volume  of  intensely  interesting  and 
instructive  literature. 

Well  may  we  say  of  him,  as  was  said  of  the  gallant  Ney, 
"He  was  the  bravest  of  the  brave." 


CAPE  FEAE   COAL. 

I  am  informed  by  Mr.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  geologist, 
that  coal  was  foimd  in  two  sections  of  our  State,  one  in  Chat- 
ham and  Moore  Counties,  the  other  in  Stokes  County. 

Mining  was  done  on  the  deposits  of  Chatham  and  Moore 
Counties,  and  for  many  years  a  small  amount  of  coal  was  gotten 
out ;  but  the  industry  was  not  profitable  because  the  coal  basin 
is  not  extensive.  The  seams  are  thin;  and  the  few  wider  ones 
are  cut  up  with  slate,  and  so  mixed  with  sulphur  that  the  qual- 
ity has  always  been  bad. 

The  use  of  this  North  Carolina  coal  during  the  War  between 
the  States  led  to  the  capture  of  several  fine  blockade-running 
steamers,  whose  supply  of  Welsh  coal  had  been  seized  by  the 
Confederate  officials  and  "Egypt"  coal  substituted.  This  was 
so  worthless  that  it  was  impossible  to  raise  and  keep  steam, 
and  consequently  these  unfortunate  and  valuable  ships  fell  an 
easy  prey  to  the  Federal  cruisers. 

With  reference  to  my  further  inquiries  on  this  subject,  Dr. 
Joseph  Austin  Holmes,  late  director  of  the  Bureau  of  Mines  at 
Washington,  says:  "Coal  was  opened  up  between  1855  and 
1858  in  Chatham  County  at  a  place  called  Egypt,  under  the 
advice  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Emmons,  then  State  geologist.  The 
coal  was  at  that  time  regarded  as  of  considerable  promise. 

^TDuring  the  year  1858  an  examination  was  made  of  the  Deep 
River  region,  one  of  the  principal  tributaries  of  the  Cape  Fear, 


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204  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

by  Captain  Wilkes  and  other  officers  of  the  United  States  Navy, 
in  compliance  with  a  Senate  resolution  adopted  on  April  13, 
1858.  As  a  result  of  this  investigation,  and  in  a  report  pub- 
lished as  an  executive  document  early  in  1869,  Captain  Wilkes 
and  his  associates  reported  favorably  on  the  proposition  that  the 
Deep  Kiver  region  was  a  suitable  one  for  the  establishment  of 
foundries  and  other  plants  for  the  production  of  naval  ordnance 
and  supplies." 

Captain  Wilkes  made  the  following  statement  in  regard  to 
the  coal : 

"It  is  a  shining  and  clean  coal,  resembling  the  best  specimens 
of  Cumberland  (Md.).  It  ignites  easily,  and  bums  with  a 
bright,  clear  combustion,  and  leaves  a  very  little  purplish-grey 
ash.  It  is  a  desirable  coal  for  blacksmiths'  use,  for  the  parlor, 
and  superior  to  most  coals  for  the  production  of  gas,  for  which 
it  is  likely  to  be  in  great  demand.  Its  freedom  from  sulphur  is 
another  of  its  recommendations." 

These  favorable  preliminary  reports  by  Captain  Wilkes  of 
the  Navy  Department,  and  Dr.  Emmons,  the  State  geologist 
of  North  Carolina,  awakened  considerable  interest  in  the  devel- 
opment of  this  coal.  But  it  was  f  oimd  in  subsequent  operations 
that  the  coal,  as  mined,  generally  contained  a  considerable 
quantity  of  slate  and  other  black  earthy  material,  that  its  ash 
formed  a  slag  on  the  grate  bars,  and  that  it  contained  no  little 
sulphur.  This  composition  made  it  a  rather  difficult  coal  to  use 
in  ordinary  furnaces.  But  during  the  war,  it  was  extensively 
used  to  make  coke  for  the  iron  works  established  in  the  Deep 
River  region.  It  was  also  used  as  a  steam  coal;  but  its  use  on 
board  blockade  runners  and  other  ships  was  found  highly  objec- 
tionable, both  on  account  of  the  poor  quality  of  the  coal  and  the 
smoke  which  resulted  from  its  use. 

At  intervals  between  1870  and  1900  the  shaft  at  the  Egypt 
coal  mine  (about  465  feet  deep)  was  again  opened  and  the 
mine  worked  on  a  small  scale,  the  coal  being  shipped  to  Raleigh, 
Fayetteville,  and  other  local  markets;  but  it  never  became  a 
good  merchantable  coal,  and  its  use  remained  limited  and  local. 

Besides,  the  coal  itself  gave  off  in  the  mine  considerable 
quantities  of  explosive  gas,  and  there  were  several  bad  explo- 
sions, one  of  which,  in  December,  1895,  killed  thirty-nine  men, 
and  another,  in  May,  1900,  killed  twenty-three  men.  The 
operating  company  was  much  discouraged  by  these  disasters, 
and  the  mine  was  closed. 


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Early  Years  205 

There  is  probably  a  considerable  quantity  of  coal  still  to  be 
obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  Egypt  mine,  and  if  the  mine 
were  worked  with  modem  safety  precautions,  to  prevent  dis- 
astrous explosions,  and  the  coal  were  washed  so  as  to  remove  the 
dirt,  it  would  be  found  to  be  a  fairly  satisfactory  fuel.  If 
briquetted  (as  is  frequently  done  in  European  countries),  it 
would  be  both  suitable  and  available  for  domestic  use  in  the 
adjacent  markets. 

The  formation  in  which  this  coal  occurs  extends  from  the 
South  Carolina  line  northward  to  near  Oxford  in  Granville 
Coimty,  its  greatest  width  being  from  twelve  to  fifteen  miles. 
At  different  points  in  this  formation  there  are  beds  of  sand- 
stone available  for  building  purposes;  but  the  workable  coal 
seems  to  be  limited  to  a  few  thousand  acres  in  that  part  of  Chat- 
ham County  near  the  old  hamlet  of  Egypt,  formerly  known  as 
the  "Gulf,'*  but  which  during  the  past  few  years  has  been  called 
"Cumnock.^^ 


FATETTEVILLE  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAE. 

Known  as  Cross  Creek  and  Campbellton  up  to  1784,  the 
name  of  this  interesting  old  town  was  then  changed  to  Fayette- 
viUe,  in  tribute  to  the  services  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  who 
visited  Fayetteville  in  1824. 

The  people  of  Fayetteville,  between  whom  and  the  people  of 
Wilmington  there  have  been  for  a  hundred  years  the  most  cor- 
dial social  and  business  relations,  were  ever  as  thrifty  and  enter- 
prising as  hospitable  and  cultured.  They  were  among  the  first  in 
the  State  to  establish  cotton  factories ;  and,  being  at  the  head  of 
water  transportation  and  having  an  extensive  system  of  plank 
roads  into  the  interior,  Fayetteville  was  the  great  mart  of  trade 
in  North  Carolina,  especially  for  the  extensive  country  lying 
west  to  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  even  for  the  transmontane  country 
comprising  parts  of  East  Tennessee  and  Southwest  Virginia. 
This  trade  was  carried  on  by  canvas-topped  wagons  as  vehicles 
of  transportation,  drawn  by  two,  four,  and  even  six  horses,  for 
mules  in  those  days  were  seldom  employed.  Said  Mr.  J.  H. 
Myrover,  the  historian  of  Fayetteville : 

"The  starting  point  of  all  this  vast  back-country  carrying 
trade  was  the  wharves  and  Water  Street  in  Wilmington,  though 
in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  wagoning  was  done  by 


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206  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

stages,  or  relays,  between  Fayetteville  and  Philadelphia,  before 
the  first  steamer  was  put  on  the  Cape  Fear.  Among  the  pio- 
neers of  steamboat  building  and  operating  on  the  Cape  Fear 
Kiver,  though  perhaps  not  the  first,  was  Mr.  Seawell.  One  of 
the  first  boats  to  ply  the  stream  bore  the  same  name  as  one  of 
the  last — ^the  City  of  Fayetteville.  It  was  launched  not  far 
from  the  Clarendon  Bridge,  and  it  has  been  related  that  some 
one  having  prophesied  that  it  would  'turn  turtle'  when  it 
reached  the  water,  the  architect  boldly  rode  its  bow  as  it  slipped 
off  the  ways,  and  the  event  justified  his  faith  in  his  work. 

'T^t  is  impossible,  with  the  lapse  of  time,  to  enumerate  all  the 
craft  that  formed  the  Cape  Fear  merchant  marine.  The  Henri- 
etta, Fanny  Lutterloh,  Cotton  Plant,  Zephyr,  Magnolia,  Halcyon, 
Governor  Worth,  North  State,  A.  P,  Hurt,  D.  Murchison,  and 
R.  E.  Lee  are  recalled  as  leading  among  the  passenger  and 
freight  steamers  from  the  thirties  up  to  and  for  some  time 
after  the  War  between  the  States.  Equally  impossible  would 
it  be  to  give  the  names  and  record  of  the  services  of  the  faithful 
captains. 

"Notable  commanders  in  the  history  of  Cape  Fear  navigation 
were  Captains  John  P.  Stedman,  who  lost  his  life  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  the  boiler  of  the  Fanny  Lutterloh,  Kush,  A.  P.  Hurt, 
after  whom  a  steamer  was  named,  Phillips,  Skinner,  Green, 
Worth,  Smith,  Garrason.  The  captain's  rule  on  board  was 
autocratic  but  patriarchal.  He  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table  and 
served  the  passengers  as  the  father  of  a  family  would  his  chil- 
dren. The  fare  was  plain  but  wholesome  and  abundant,  and, 
with  good  weather  and  a  fair  depth  of  water,  the  trip  between 
Fayetteville  and  Wilmington  was  very  pleasant.  The  river 
goes  on  its  way  to  the  sea  with  many  a  wind  and  bend,  its 
banks  steep  and.  heavily*  wooded,  the  wild  grape  climbing  the 
tall  trees,  and  the  wild  jasmine  and  flowering  honeysuckle  giv- 
ing forth  their  fragrance.  Those  veteran  captains  knew  the 
river  well  and  most  of  the  people  on  either  bank  clear  to  Wil- 
mington; the  pilots,  many  of  whom  were  negroes,  knew  every 
crook  and  eddy  of  the  stream.  Dan  Buxton,  an  esteemed  colored 
man  of  this  city,  has  a  record  of  fifty  years  faithful  service  as 
a  pilot  on  the  Cape  Fear.  The  late  Col.  Thomas  S.  Lutterloh, 
always  a  large  boat  owner,  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  Cum- 
berland man  to  become  sole  owner  of  a  steamer  on  the  river. 
Many  of  the  business  men  of  Fayetteville  and  Wilmington  were 
stockholders  in  these  boat  lines. 


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Early  Years  207 

"The  oldest  inhabitants  still  look  back  on  those  times  as  the 
^good  old  days'  of  Fayetteville.  The  merchants  were  not  the 
progressive  men  of  the  20th  century;  they  were  conservative 
and  cautious  and  honest  as  the  day,  with  their  word  as  bond. 
They  made  money  slowly,  but  they  lived  simply,  and  gradually 
accumulated  modest  fortunes." 

Mr.  Myrover  overlooked  in  his  sketch  a  very  prominent  Cape 
Fear  mariner,  who,  during  his  long  and  useful  career,  com- 
manded successively  the  well-known  river  steamers  Henrietta, 
Brothers,  Scottish  Chief,  James  B.  Grist,  James  T.  Petteway, 
and  Johrh  Dawson.  A  hearty,  genial,  bright-eyed  Scotsman 
of  superior  attainments  was  Capt.  John  Banks,  in  some  respects 
the  most  notable  of  all  the  river  captains.  He  was  a  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  Wilmington  and  he  owned  a  valuable  resi- 
dence on  the  comer  of  Market  and  Seventh  Streets,  where  he 
reared  an  interesting  family,  several  members  still  surviving. 
Other  commanders  were  Capt.  James  Barry,  of  the  A.  P.  Hurt; 
Captain  Driver  of  the  Flora  Macdonald;  Capt.  Koderick  Mac- 
Kae,  of  the  Bowan;  Captain  Stedman,  of  the  Kate  McLaurin; 
Capt.  Jesse  Dicksey,  of  the  Black  Biver;  Captain  Peck,  of  the 
Nellie  Hart,  and  Captain  Jones,  of  the  Enterprise.  There  were 
two  other  boats,  the  North  Carolina  and  the  T.  8.  Lutterloh, 
the  names  of  whose  commanders  I  have  forgotten. 

United  States  Minister  E.  J.  Hale  says : 

"From  the  close  of  the  Revolution  and  up  to  the  building  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  [Weldon]  Railroad  and  the  Ra- 
leigh and  Gaston  Railroad  (about  1838),  the  great  mail  stage 
lines  from  the  North  to  the  South  passed  through  Fayetteville. 
There  were  four  daily  lines  of  four-horse  post  and  passenger 
coaches  to  Raleigh,  Norfolk,  Charleston,  and  Columbia  ;^  and, 
in  addition,  two  tri-weekly  lines  to  New  Bern  and  Salisbury. 

"The  L^slature  sat  in  Fayetteville  in  1788,  1789,  1790, 
and  1793.  At  the  convention  at  Hillsborough  in  1788,  called  to 
deliberate  on  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of  the  United  States 
Constitution,  Fayetteville  failed  to  secure  the  location  of  the 
permanent  capital  by  one  vote,  that  of  Timothy  Bloodworth,  of 
New  Hanover,  who  subsequently  was  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate.  The  ordinance  adopted  fixed  the  location  of  the 
capital  on  Joel  Lane^s  plantation  in  Wake,  on  the  ground  that 
this  point  was  nearer  the  centre  of  the  State  than  Fayetteville.^' 


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Notable  Incidents 

VISITS  OF  PKESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
TO  WILMINGTON  BEFOEE  THE  WAR 

^^ilmington,"  said  Iredell  Meares,  Esq.,  in  an  interesting 
pamphlet,  *lias  been  honored  by  the  visits  of  five  of  the  Presi- 
dents of  the  United  States — ^Washington,  Monroe,  Polk,  Fill- 
more, and  Taft."  We  may  now  add  the  name  of  Wilson,  who, 
as  stated  elsewhere,  once  lived  in  Wilmington. 

General  Washington,  in  1791,  made  a  tour  of  the  South- 
em  States.  One  of  his  biographers  relates  that  "no  royal  prog- 
ress in  any  country  ever  equaled  this  tour  in  its  demonstrations 
of  veneration  and  respect."  His  visit  to  Wilmington  was  pre- 
served in  the  traditions  of  the  people  for  many  years.  The  old 
folks  used  to  tell  of  its  incidents,  and  the  ladies  of  "ye  olden 
times'^  of  an  elaborate  ball  given  in  his  honor.  In  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Clayton  Giles,  of  this  city,  is  a  letter  in  excellent 
state  of  preservation  giving  some  account  of  this  interesting  in- 
cident. It  was  written  by  Mrs.  Jane  Anna  Simpson  to  her 
sister  on  the  day  of  the  reception,  and  is  dated  the  "25th  April, 
1791."    The  letter,  among  other  things,  says: 

"Great  doings  this  day.  General  Washington  arrived  yester- 
day. The  Light  Horse  went  to  meet  him.  The  artillery  were 
ready  to  receive  him  with  a  round  from  the  batteries,  four  guns. 
This  day  he  dines  with  the  Gentlemen  of  the  town ;  in  the  even- 
ing a  grand  ball  and  illumination ;  tomorrow  takes  his  leave.  I 
believe  the  Light  Horse  are  to  escort  him  a  day's  journey  on 
his  way  to  Chas'ton. 

"Half -past  four — ^just  going  to  dinner — cannons  firing; 
Chrissy  and  the  children  all  gone  to  see  the  procession.  I  don't 
go  to  the  ball  this  evening,  as  Mary  can  not  accompany  me. 
She  desires  me  to  ask  if  you  have  many  beaux  at  the  Marsh. 
Adieu.    I  must  get  the  candles. 

"Mrs.  Quince  has  given  up  her  house  to  the  General  and  she 
stays  with  our  uncles.     *     *     *'' 

The  place  at  which  the  Light  Horse  met  General  Washington 
was  at  the  House  House,  about  fifteen  miles  out  on  the  New 

[208] 

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Notable  Incidents  209 

Bern  Eoad.  Here  was  fought,  during  the  Revolutionary  War 
a  small  battle  between  the  Patriots  and  the  English  forces  under 
the  command  of  Major  Craig.  It  is  described  as  a  massacre  by 
the  historian  Caruthers,  for  Craig  gave  iio  quarter  and  killed 
every  one  of  the  Patriots,  who  were  overwhelmed  by  numbers, 
save  one  boy,  who  escaped. 

It  is  a  tradition  handed  down  by  the  old  folks  that  upon  the 
occasion  of  General  Washington's  visit  to  the  residence  of 
(Jeneral  Smith,  at  his  plantation  Belvidere,  which  is  situated 
across  the  river  in  Bnmswick  County,  he  was  met  at  the  river 
landing  by  a  group  of  thirteen  young  ladies,  all  dressed  in  white 
and  representing  the  thirteen  colonies,  who  preceded  him  up 
the  avenue  of  old  trees  leading  from  the  river  to  the  brick  resi- 
dence, bestrewing  his  path  with  flowers  as  he  approached. 

The  ball  which  was  given  to  him  by  the  people  of  Wilming- 
ton was  held  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Assembly  Hall,  also 
called  "Old  '76,"  because  of  having  been  built  in  1776.  In 
time  it  was  used  as  a  sailor  boarding-house,  and  was  subse- 
quently taken  down  in  1876  to  make  way  for  the  present  build- 
ing. It  stood  on  Front  Street,  east  side,  between  Orange  and 
Ann  Streets,  where  now  stands  a  two-story  brick  tenement  house. 

"Wilmington,"  vn-ote  President  Washington  in  his  diary, 
"has  some  good  houses,  pretty  compactly  built — ^the  whole 
under  a  hill,  which  is  formed  entirely  of  sand.  The  number 
of  souls  in  it  amount  by  enumeration  to  about  1,000. 

*^ilmington,  unfortunately  for  it,  has  a  mud  bank — ^miles 
below,  over  which  not  more  than  ten  feet  of  water  can  be 
brought  at  common  tides.  Yet  it  is  said  vessels  of  250  tons 
have  come  up.  The  quantity  of  shipping  which  loads  here  an- 
nually amounts  to  about  12,000  tons.  Exports  are  Naval  stores 
and  lumber;  some  tobacco,  com,  rice,  and  flax  seed  and  pork." 

'Td^onday,  25th.  Dined  with  the  citizens  of  the  place — went 
to  a  Ball  in  the  evening  at  which  there  were  62  ladies — illumi- 
nations, bonfires,  &&." 

James  Monboe,  the  fifth  President  of  the  United  States, 
visited  Wilmington  on  the  12th  day  of  April,  1819. 

In  an  old  copy  of  the  Raleigh  Minerva,  bearing  date  April 
23,  1819,  we  find  a  letter  from  Wilmington,  giving  an  account 
of  the  visit  of  President  Monroe  and  his  suite : 

"The  Presidential  cortege  was  met  about  twelve  miles  from 
town,  on  the  old  New  Bern  Boad,  somewhere  near  Scott's  Hill, 

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210  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

and  escorted  into  the  city  by  the  Wihnington  Light  Horse,  a 
volunteer  organization,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Cowan, 
The  entrance  into  the  town  was  made  on  Market  Street,  the 
boundary  being  on  Fifth.  They  then  proceeded  down  Market 
to  Front  and  up  Front  to  the  Wilmington  Hotel,  where  the 
usual  formalities  of  a  grand  reception  were  tendered  to  the 
President. 

"His  Excellency  was  the  guest,  while  here,  of  Robert  Coch- 
ran, Esq.,  who  resided  on  Second  Street,  between  Chestnut  and 
Mulberry;  and  John  C.  Calhoun,  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  his 
Lady,  received  the  hospitalities  of  Dr.  A.  J.  DeEosset,  sr.,  at 
the  brick  house  standing  on  the  comer  of  Market  and  Third 
Streets.  It  was  on  Thursday  that  the  President  arrived  here, 
and  on  Friday,  accompanied  by  Judge  Murphey,  he  paid  a  visit 
to  WrightsviUe.  On  his  return  he  partook  of  a  dinner  with  the 
citizens  at  the  Wilmington  Hotel  and  the  next  day  left  this 
place  on  the  steamer  Prometheus  for  Fort  Johnston,  from 
whence  he  proceeded  immediately  to  Georgetown,  S.  C." 

At  the  dinner  given  in  his  honor,  Hanson  Kelly,  Esq.,  pre- 
sided, assisted  by  Robert  Cochran,  Esq.  The  former  was  magis- 
trate of  police  (now  the  office  of  mayor),  and  the  latter  was  the 
collector  of  customs  for  the  district  of  Cape  Fear.  There  were 
a  number  of  patriotic  toasts  drunk,  the  list  being  published  in 
the  papers  of  the  day,  and  among  those  who  responded  were  the 
President,  Hon.  John  C.  Calhoun,  J.  R.  London,  Esq.,  Gten. 
James  Owen,  Judge  Archibald  Murphey,  Colonel  Cleary, 
Robert  Cochran,  Esq.,  John  D.  Jones,  Esq.,  Gen.  Thomas 
Davis,  William  B.  Meares,  Esq.,'  and  Alfred  Moore,  Esq.,  all 
prominent  citizens  of  the  Cape  Fear  in  that  day  and  time. 

In  a  formal  letter  addressed  to  the  President  by  Hanson 
Kelly,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of  the  citizens,  occurs  this  sentiment: 
"Events,  the  most  propitious,  have  rendered  your  administra- 
tion an  epoch  of  national  security  and  aggrandizement.  The 
united  voice  of  your  country,  from  Maine  to  Mexico,  proclaim 
the  wisdom  of  councils  honorable  to  you;  and  in  their  result, 
glorious  to  our  extended  empire."  To  this  letter,  the  President 
responded,  as  follows : 

Sib:  On  the  principle  on  which  I  have  thought  it  proper  to  visit  our 
Atlantic  frontier,  this  town,  with  its  relation  to  the  ocean,  had  a  Just 
claim  to  attention.  It  was  always  my  intention  to  visit  it  when  I 
should  be  able  to  examine  the  Southern  coast;  and  I  am  much  gratified 
in  having  done  it,  as,  in  addition  to  the  satisfaction  of  having  per- 


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Notable  Incidents  211 

formed  an  interesting  part  of  my  public  duty,  it  has  afforded  me  an 
opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  a  portion  of  my  fellow- 
citizens,  whose  kind  reception  and  obliging  attention  I  shall  always 
recollect  with  great  interest  To  secure  you  in  peace,  and  all  the 
advantages  in  commerce  which  a  kind  Providence  has  enabled  you  to 
enjoy,  and  all  the  protection  in  war,  to  which  your  situation  may  ex- 
pose you,  are  objects  which  will  never  fail  to  receive  the  unwearied  at- 
tention of  the  General  Government  in  all  its  branches,  according  to 
their  respective  powers.  On  my  exertions,  in  those  concerns  which  fall 
within  the  department  which  I  have  the  honor  to  fill,  you  may  con- 
fidently rely.  In  the  late  event  to  which  you  allude,  I  concur  in  all 
the  favorable  anticipations  which  you  have  suggested  of  its  happy 
effects  on  the  best  interests  of  our  country.  In  contemplating  this 
epoch  we  must  all  derive  peculiar  satisfaction  from  the  reflection 
that  it  was  the  result  of  an  arrangement  by  which  our  differences  were 
settled  with  a  friendly  power,  and  our  peace  secured  against  the  pros- 
pect of  early  interruption,  on  conditions  equally  honorable  to  both 
parties. 

Should  I  be  able  by  my  future  conduct  in  the  public  service  to  carry 
with  me  into  retirement  the  same  favorable  opinion  of  my  fellow- 
citizens  which  you  have  kindly  expressed  of  the  past,  it  will  afford  me 
the  high  consolation  to  which  I  have  invariably  aspired. 

James  Monboe. 

Jambs  K.  Polk,  the  eleventh  President  of  the  United  States, 
just  after  his  retirement,  visited  Wilmington,  upon  invitation 
of  its  citizens.  The  files  of  the  newspapers  published  here  at 
the  time,  which  will  be  found  in  the  Wilmington  Public  Lib- 
rary, contain  reports  of  his  reception.  From  the  Commercial, 
issue  of  Thursday,  March  8,  1849,  we  clip  this  mention  of  his 
visit: 

"The  ex-President,  Mr.  Polk,  and  Lady  and  Niece,  together 
with  Mr.  Secretary  Walker  and  Niece,  and  Mr.  Ghrahame,  solic- 
itor of  the  Treasury,  and  Lady,  reached  our  town  at  10  o'clock 
yesterday  morning.  Their  arrival  was  heralded  by  the  boom- 
ing of  cannon,  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  the  floating  aloft  of  ban- 
ners and  streamers  from  stalls,  housetops,  and  mastheads.  The 
magistrate  of  police.  Col.  James  T.  Miller,  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  and  a  large  concourse  of  citizens  were  ready  at 
the  railroad  to  receive  the  ex-President  and  suite,  and  they  were 
greeted  by  Colonel  Miller  in  a  brief  and  cordial  address,  to 
which  the  ex-President  warmly  responded.  The  whole  suite 
was  then  escorted,  according  to  the  program  heretofore  pub- 
lished, to  Mrs.  Swann's  boarding-house,  on  the  balcony  of  which, 
in  view  and  hearing  of  the  assembled  crowd,  Mr.  William  Hill 
welcomed  the  ex-President  and  suite  in  a  cordial,  chaste,  and 


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212  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

eloquent  address,  during  which  he  alluded  to  the  birth  and 
education  of  the  ex-Pr^ident  in  North  Carolina,  and  to  many 
of  the  leading  measures  of  his  administration.  Mr.  Polk's  re- 
sponse was  feeling  and  patriotic.  He  fondly  acknowledged  his 
attachment  to  North  Carolina,  and  the  gratification  which  it 
gave  him  to  receive  from  the  archives,  and  to  transmit  to  our 
State  Executive,  the  recorded  evidence  of  the  early  disloyalty 
and  independent  resolves  of  different  portions  of  North  Caro- 
lina. He  spoke  of  the  inestimable  value  of  our  Union,  and  of 
the  bright  destiny  in  store  for  our  country,  provided  we  shall 
adhere  to  this  glorious  Union,  and  the  teachings  of  the  Father 
of  the  Eepublic.  When  he  had  closed.  General  Marstellar  an- 
nounced to  the  crowd  that  at  12  o'clock  Mr.  Polk  and  suite 
would  be  happy  to  see  their  fellow-citizens  at  the  Masonic  Hall. 
And,  accordingly,  at  that  hour,  hundreds  repaired  thither  and 
offered  their  salutations  to  our  distinguished  guests." 

MiLLABD  Fillmore,  the  thirteenth  President  of  the  United 
States,  after  his  retirement,  visited  Wilmington  on  the  12th 
day  of  May,  1854.  He  had  contemplated  a  tour  of  the  South 
in  1853,  and  on  March  10,  1853,  the  citizens  of  the  town  met 
and  passed  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  twenty-four  persons,  and  the  magis- 
trate of  police,  be  appointed  to  correspond  with  MiUard  FiUmore,  late 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  such  of  the  members  of  his  late 
cabinet  as  may  accompany  him  on  his  projected  visit  to  the  South, 
and  tender  to  him  and  to  them  the  hospitalities  of  our  town. 

Under  this  resolution  the  following  gentlemen  were  ap- 
pointed: Talcott  Burr,  jr.,  John  L.  Holmes,  William  A. 
Wright,  William  C.  Bettencourt,  E.  H.  Cowan,  E.  H.  Beery, 
George  Davis,  S.  J.  Person,  James  S.  Green,  John  Walker, 
John  MacKae,  E.  Strange,  jr.,  J.  G.  Wright,  Gaston  Meares, 
E.  Kidder,  S.  D.  Wallace,  A.  A.  Brown,  E.  W.  Hall,  D.  Dupre, 
Miles  Costin,  J.  J.  Lippitt,  P.  M.  Walker,  O.  P.  Meares,  and 
J.  T.  Miller. 

A  sub-conmiittee  consisting  of  Messrs.  James  S.  (Jreen,  John 
L.  Meares,  S.  J.  Person,  and  Adam  Empie,  jr.,  were  appointed 
to  go  to  Eichmond  and  tender  the  hospitalities  of  the  town  to 
the  ex-President,  who  was  supposed  to  be  on  a  visit  there  at  the 
time,  and  to  his  suite.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Fillmore  caused  the 
postponement  of  Mr.  Fillmore's  tour  in  the  South  that  year, 
but  in  1854  he  fulfilled  his  desire  to  make  such  a  tour,  with  the 


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Notable  Incidents  213 

assurance  to  the  public  that  he  "earnestly  wished  to  avoid  the 
pomp  and  pageantry  of  a  public  reception."  In  the  Daily  Jour- 
nalj  issue  of  Friday,  May  12,  1854,  the  files  of  which  are  in  the 
local  library,  is  an  account  of  the  ex-President's  visit,  as 
follows : 

"Ex-President  Fillmore,  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  Kennedy,  of 
Maryland,  Secretary  of  the  Navy  imder  his  administration,  ar- 
rived here  this  morning  on  the  Manchester  cars  from  Columbia. 
A  very  large  number  of  our  citizens  of  both  parties  have  called 
upon  our  distinguished  visitors  at  their  rooms  at  Mr.  Holmes's 
hotel  [now  a  store,  southeast  comer  Market  and  Front  Streets]. 
Owing  to  the  illness  of  Mrs.  Kennedy  they  are  anxious  to  reach 
Baltimore  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  and  are  thus  com- 
pelled to  leave  for  the  North  by  the  2  o'clock  train.  In  accord- 
ance with  the  earnest  wish  of  the  people,  Mr.  Fillmore  had  de- 
signed to  make  a  short  address  from  the  balcony  of  the  hotel  at 
11  o'clock,  but,  in  consequence  of  the  rain,  his  intention  could 
not  be  carried  out.  We  are  pleased  to  see  both  gentlemen  appar- 
ently in  the  enjoyment  of  high  health  and  spirits.  Mr.  Fillmore 
is  certainly  a  gentleman  of  exceedingly  prepossessing  appearance 
and  manners;  and  bears  little  evidence  of  the  cares  of  state 
having  pressed  heavily  upon  him. 


THE  VISIT  OF  HENRY  CLAY. 

The  happy  occasion  of  a  visit  by  Henry  Clay  to  Wilmington 
while  he  was  canvassing  the  South  during  his  presidential  cam- 
paign in  1844,  is  described  by  the  Wilmington  Chronicle  as 

follows:  .     >^  o    1QAA 

April  3,  1844. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangement  for  the  reception  and  enter- 
tainment of  our  distinguished  fellow-citizen,  Henry  Clay,  who 
in  compliance  with  the  invitation  of  the  citizens  of  this  town  is 
expected  to  visit  us  on  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  April,  1844,  have 
adopted  the  following  measures : 

[Here  follows  an  elaborate  program.] 

The  following  gentlemen  are  appointed  marshals  of  the  day, 
viz. :  O.  G.  Parsley,  Thomas  W.  Brown,  G.  B.  Alsaps,  James 
Anderson,  George  W.  Davis,  James  F.  McBee,  jr.,  John  L. 
Meares,  Nathaniel  HilL 

The  following  gentlemen  compose  the  accompanying  commit- 


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214  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

tee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Clay  from  Charleston,  viz. :  James  Owen, 
John  MacRae,  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright,  Gen.  Alexander  Mac- 
Rae,  Gilbert  Potter,  F.  C.  Hill,  Asa  A.  Brown,  William  A. 
Wright,  A.  J.  DeRosset,  jr.,  George  Davis,  R.  G.  Rankin,  Por- 
ter Strode,  Thomas  Sanford. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  been  appointed  to  act  as  man- 
agers of  the  ball :  R.  W.  Brown,  Edward  B.  Dudley,  P.  K. 
Dickinson,  James  S.  Green,  G.  J.  McRee,  M.  London,  James  H. 
Dickson,  Thomas  D.  Meares,  John  Hall,  and  Nathaniel  Bill. 

April  10,  1844. 
Mb.  Clay  in  Wilmington. 

The  publication  of  the  Chronicle  has  been  delayed  a  day  to 
enable  us  to  give  some  account  of  the  reception  and  entertain- 
ment of  Mr.  Clay  in  Wilmington,  where  he  arrived  yesterday 
morning. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  between  three  and  four  o'clock,  the 
Committee  of  Thirteen  deputed  by  the  Clay  Club  to  wait  upon 
Mr.  Clay  at  Charleston  and  escort  him  to  this  town,  received 
him  on  board  the  fine  steamer  Gladiator,  Captain  Smith.  The 
steamer  had  quite  a  pleasant  night  for  the  run,  and  reached 
Smithville  about  sunrise.  Mr.  Clay  was  there  welcomed  to  the 
State  by  the  Committee  of  Ten,  consisting  of  the  chairman  of 
the  Whig  Central  Committee  and  one  gentleman  from  each  of 
the  nine  congressional  districts.  After  an  hour's  delay  at 
Smithville  the  steamer  was  again  in  motion,  and  reached  here 
at  the  time  named  above.  From  a  point  three  or  four  miles 
below  town  until  the  boat  touched  the  wharf,  a  piece  of  ordnance 
on  board  was  fired  at  regular  intervals  and  the  reports  were 
answered  from  numerous  other  pieces  of  artillery  stationed  at 
various  places  along  the  river.  The  steamer  came  to  on  the 
south  side  of  Market  Dock.  Here  an  immense  throng  had 
gathered  to  greet  the  distinguished  man,  and  as  soon  as  the  boat 
touched  the  wharf  there  were  repeated  bursts  of  the  people's 
welcome.  Mr.  Clay  was  then  introduced  to  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  and,  a  procession  having  formed  in  the  pre- 
scribed order,  he  was  escorted  to  his  private  lodgings  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Joseph  A.  Hill,  southeast  comer  of  Front  and 
Dock  Streets. 

At  11  o'clock  Mr.  Clay,  accompanied  by  the  Clay  Club,  com- 
mittees, and  citizens,  repaired  to  the  new  and  commodious  man- 


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Notable  Incidents  215 

sion  of  Capt.  Samuel  Potter,  on  Market  Street.  Here,  upon  the 
balcony  of  the  house  facing  Market  Street,  he  was  addressed  in 
a  most  appropriate  manner  by  ex-Govemor  Dudley,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Clay  Club.  The  address  referred  to  the  long  and 
arduous  public  services  of  Mr.  Clay,  the  great  debt  of  gratitude 
the  country  justly  owes  him,  the  strong  interest  and  regard  the 
people  throughout  the  Union  have  manifested  for  him  on 
numerous  occasions,  the  warm  affection  entertained  for  him  by 
so  large  a  portion  of  the  citizens  of  Xorth  Carolina,  and  ap- 
pealed to  the  multitude  of  upturned  faces  as  furnished  evidence 
that  'Welcome  to  Henry  Clay^'  were  the  words  then  gushing 
spontaneously  from  the  hearts  of  thousands.  Mr.  Clay  made 
only  a  short  reply,  not  exceeding  twenty  minutes  in  length. 

He  said  he  had  long  looked  forward  to  this  visit  to  North 
Carolina  (which  he  had  promised  to  make  when  a  fitting  op- 
portunity should  occur)  with  a  pleasing  hope,  and  now  having 
set  foot  upon  her  soil  for  the  first  time,  his  fondest  anticipations 
were  in  course  of  being  realized,  and  the  event  would  form  an 
epoch  in  his  life.  He  had  for  many  years  wished  to  visit  the 
State,  and  the  repeated  invitations  formed  motives  of  still 
weightier  influence. 

He  utterly  disclaimed  all  electioneering  designs  or  selfish 
purposes  pertaining  to  his  journey.  He  was  traveling  on  busi- 
ness and  to  enjoy  the  hospitality  of  his  friends ;  the  people  had 
tendered  him  unexpected  civilities,  which  he  could  not  without 
rudeness  decline.  He  had  also  been  brought  out  on  political 
topics,  and  had  not  hesitated  to  declare  his  sentiments,  as  be- 
came an  American  citizen. 

He  glanced  at  the  two  principal  parties  of  the  country,  ex- 
pressing his  conviction  that  both  of  them  are  in  the  main  gov- 
erned by  honest  views.  Men,  he  said,  should  act  with  that  party 
in  whose  principles  they  found  the  least  to  condemn,  after  hav- 
ing given  them  a  thorough  examination.  None  could  expect  to 
find  in  any  party  everything  exactly  as  they  would  have  it; 
small  defects  must  be  overlooked,  as  are  those  which  a  man  dis- 
covers, perchance,  in  the  woman  of  his  admiration.  He  had  at- 
tached himself  to  the  Whig  party  as  the  result  of  his  investiga- 
tions of  the  great  principles  of  its  existence.  But  every  man,  he 
said,  should  hold  party  fealty  as  subordinate  to  that  due  his 
country.  Properly,  parties  were  but  instruments  for  promoting 
our  country's  good. 

Mr.  Clay  excused  himself  for  the  briefness  of  his  discourse 


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216  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

by  reference  to  the  fatiguing  circumstances  of  his  journey  thus 
far. 

The  view  below  and  around  the  place  where  Mr.  Clay  stood 
was  striking  beyond  any  effort  of  ours  to  portray.  The  wide 
street,  for  a  considerable  distance  on  either  hand,  was  one  dense 
mass  of  human  beings,  whilst  the  balconies,  windows,  etc.,  were 
crowded  with  ladies,  all  eager  listeners  to  the  words  of  the  great 
statesman  of  the  West.  Never  was  such  a  scene,  or  anytiiing 
approaching  to  it,  witnessed  in  Wilmington. 

His  speech  ended,  Mr.  Clay  entered  the  reception  room,  and 
was  then  introduced  to  a  rushing  tide  of  people,  made  up  of 
both  sexes  and  all  ages  and  conditions.  He  remained  in  the  re- 
ception rooms  until  one  o'clock,  and  then  retired  to  his  lodgings. 

At  two  o'clock  a  most  boimtiful  collation,  prepared  by  Mr. 
Keith,  was  spread  out  on  tables  in  the  open  space  south  of  Mr. 
John  Walker's  house  on  Princess  Street,  to  which  a  general  in- 
vitation had  been  given,  and  of  which  hundreds  partook.  Mr. 
Clay  was  not  present,  desiring  to  have  a  few  hours'  rest.  The 
company  was,  however,  highly  gratified  with  able  and  instruc- 
tive speeches  from  Hon.  A.  H.  Stephens,  member  of  Congress 
from  Georgia,  who  being  on  his  way  to  Washington  was  in- 
duced to  remain  over  a  day;  CoL  William  W.  Cherry,  of  Bertie, 
an  orator  of  surpassing  eloquence ;  Col.  B.  F.  Gaither,  of  Burke, 
and  others.  Mr.  Stephens  well  sustained  the  reputation  which 
had  preceded  him  of  being  an  eloquent,  humorous,  and  effective 
speaker. 

At  night  there  was  a  superb  ball  and  party  at  the  Carolina 
Hotel  and  Masonic  Hall — all  the  rooms  being  connected  for 
the  occasion.  The  whole  affair  was  got  up  under  the  superin- 
tendency  of  ladies  of  Wilmington.  It  could  not,  therefore,  but 
be  an  elegant  one.  The  rooms  were  beautifully  decorated,  the 
refreshments  choice,  the  supper  in  refined  taste  and  order,  the 
music  inspiring,  and  a  hilarious  spirit  reigned  throughout  the 
well-filled  apartments.  How  many  hours  of  the  morning  heard 
the  festive  strains  we  do  not  exactly  know  and  will  not  hazard  a 
conjecture.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  Mr.  Clay  visited  the 
place  of  gaiety  and  remained  a  couple  of  hours  or  so. 

Between  seven  and  eight  this  morning  Mr.  Clay  took  his  de- 
parture for  Raleigh,  by  way  of  the  railroad,  cheered  by  many, 
many,  newly-awakened  and  newly-born  wishes  for  his  welfare. 

We  have  thus  sketched  a  meagre  outline  of  Mr.  Clay's  visit 
to  Wilmington.    The  glowing  lines  of  the  picture  the  reader's 


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Notable  Incidents  217 

imagination  must  supply.  The  enthusiasm,  the  kindly  feeling, 
the  generous  good  wiU,  all  these  are  to  be  supposed,  for  they 
were  all  exhibited  in  an  eminent  degree. 

There  was  a  very  great  concourse  of  strangers  in  town  from 
this  and  the  neighboring  counties,  Fayetteville,  and  other  parts 
of  the  State,  who  aided  us  in  doing  honor  to  our  venerable  and 
beloved  guest. 


THE  VISIT  OF  DANIEL  WEBSTEK. 

Early  in  May,  1847,  Daniel  Webster  visited  Wilmington  as 
the  guest  of  Gov.  Edward  B.  Dudley.  In  an  old  book  contain- 
ing the  private  correspondence  of  Mr.  Webster  I  found  a  letter 
by  him  dated  Wilmington,  May  6,  1847,  as  follows : 

"At  one  o'clock  yesterday,  ten  miles  from  this  city,  we  met  a 
special  train,  with  a  large  deputation,  headed  by  ex-Governor 
Dudley.  The  weather  was  bad,  and  the  wind  east,  and  I  was 
rather  easily  persuaded  to  stay  over  a  day.  The  Governor 
brought  us  to  his  own  home,  where  we  were  grandly  lodged.  I 
go  to  the  hotel  to  meet  the  citizens  at  11  o'clock,  and  go  off  at 
half-past  two  this  p.  m.,  if  the  wind  goes  down.  At  present  it 
blows  rather  hard.  This  is  an  active  little  city,  built  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  on  sand-hills.  The  good  people  are  Whigs,  but 
out  of  the  city,  and  all  around  for  fifty  miles,  it  is  a  region 
whose  politics  are  personified  by  Mr.  McKay. 

"There  is  a  thing,  Harry,  which  thou  hast  often  heard  of,  and 
it  is  known  to  many  in  this  land  by  the  name  of  pitch,  etc.,  etc. 
We  are  here  in  the  midst  of  this  very  thing,  at  llie  very  center 
of  the  tar  and  turpentine  region.  The  pines  are  long-leaved 
pines.  In  one  of  these,  a  foot  from  the  bottom,  a  notch  is  cut,' 
and  its  capacity  enlarged  and  its  shape  fashioned  a  little,  so  as 
to  hold  the  liquid,  by  chiseling,  and  then  it  is  called  the  Twx.' 
Above  the  box  the  bark  is  cut  off,  for  a  foot  or  so,  and  the  turpen- 
tine oozes  out  of  the  tree  on  to  this  smooth  surface,  and  then 
runs  slowly  into  the  box.  The  box  holds  about  a  quart.  In  a 
good  large  tree  it  will  fill  five  times  a  season.  Sometimes  there 
are  two  boxes  in  one  tree,  so  that  some  trees  will  yield  ten 
quarts  a  year.  But  the  greatest  yield  is  the  first  year ;  after  that 
it  is  gradually  diminished,  and  in  seven  or  eight  years  the  tree 
dies,  or  will  yield  no  more  turpentine.  Tar  is  made  by  bring- 
ing together  wood  full  of  turpentine,  either  trees  or  knots,  and 


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218  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

pieces  picked  up  in  the  woods,  and  burning  it  in  a  pit,  just  as 
charcoal  is  made,  then  running  it  off  into  a  hole  prepared  for  it 
in  the  ground.  At  the  present  price  of  the  article,  this  is  said 
to  be  the  best  business  now  doing  in  the  State.  I  am  told  good, 
fresh,  well-timbered  pine  lands  can  be  bought  for  $1.25  to  $1.50 
per  acre. 

"One  barrel  of  turpentine  distilled  makes  six  gallons  of 
spirits.  The  residuum,  or  resin,  is  not  of  much  value,  say 
twenty-five  cents  a  barrel.  Tar  and  turpentine  are  now  high, 
and  the  business  is  good." 

The  late  Col.  Thomas  C.  Mcllhenny,  always  a  welcome  guest 
of  Governor  Dudley,  often  entertained  me  by  the  recital  of  im- 
portant local  events  of  his  earlier  years,  and  upon  one  occasion 
described  the  visit  of  the  great  Commoner  while  he  was  also  a 
guest  at  the  Gtovemor's  mansion.  The  colonel  said  he  was 
much  impressed  by  the  great  size  of  Mr.  Webster's  head  and  the 
powerful  penetration  of  his  searching  eyes,  and  by  his  fancy  for 
the  Governor's  madeira,  of  which  he  kept  a  pipe  of  superior 
quality.  After  drinking  all  of  the  dining  room  supply,  Mrs. 
Dudley  having  withdrawn,  Mr,  Webster  laid  an  affectionate 
hand  upon  the  colonel's  shoulder  and  said :  "Young  man,  show 
me  where  the  Governor  keeps  that  wine,"  and  being  led  to  the 
cellar,  he  greatly  reduced  the  contents  of  the  cask  with  much 
enjoyment,  but  apparently  not  altogether  with  satisfaction,  be- 
cause he  seldom  knew  when  he  had  enough. 

With  reference  to  Mr.  Webster's  visit  to  Wilmington,  the 
following  from  the  local  newspaper,  the  Commercial,  Thursday 
morning.  May  6,  1847,  is  quoted : 

Hon.  Daniel  Webster. 

The  Hon.  Daniel  Webster  and  family  arrived  at  this  place 
yesterday  in  the  cars  at  a  little  before  2  o'clock. 

Col.  John  MacRae,  magistrate  of  police,  appointed  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  as  a  committee  to  meet  our  distinguished 
guest,  and  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to  entertain  him 
while  here : 

Governor  Dudley,  John  D.  Jones,  L.  H.  Marsteller,  Alexan- 
der MacRae,  Dr.  W.  A.  Berry,  James  T.  Miller,  Dr.  F.  J.  Hill, 
R  W.  Brown,  Samuel  Potter,  Dr.  J.  H.  Dickson,  Gilbert  Pot- 
ter, John  Walker,  C.  D.  Ellis,  Thomas  Loring,  A.  A.  Brown, 
D.  Fulton,  R.  B.  Wood,  J.  Ballard,  H.  W.  Beatty,  J.  Hatha- 


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Notable  Incidents  219 

way,  H.  K.  Savage,  W.  C.  Bettencourt,  Dr.  T.  H.  Wright, 
Thomas  D.  Meares,  John  A.  Taylor,  James  S.  Green,  W.  N. 
Peden,  Owen  Fennell,  Miles  Costin,  Alfred  Bryant,  Dr.  J.  D. 
Bellamy,  Samuel  Black,  Henry  Nutt,  P.  K.  Dickinson. 

A  number  of  the  committee  started  in  an  extra  train  at  about 
eleven  o'clock  and  met  the  regular  train  at  Kocky  Point,  where 
they  entered  the  mail  train,  and  through  Governor  Dudley  prof- 
fered the  hospitalities  of  our  town  to  Mr.  Webster  and  his 
family.  On  arriving  at  the  depot  they  proceeded  to  the  resi- 
dence of  Governor  Dudley  on  the  southwest  comer  of  Front 
and  Nim  Streets. 

Mr.  Webster  will  leave  in  the  boat  today  for  Charleston. 

At  the  request  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  magistrate 
of  police,  Mr.  Webster  wiU  meet  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  at 
the  Masonic  Hall  this  morning  at  eleven  o'clock. 

The  same  paper,  of  May  8,  1847,  contained  the  following: 

Mb.  Webster. 

This  gentleman  left  our  place  in  the  boat  for  Charleston  on 
Thursday  evening.  The  arrangements  indicated  in  our  last 
were  carried  out  by  the  committee.  At  the  Masonic  Hall  Mr. 
Webster  made  a  short  address  to  the  many  citizens  who  had 
assembled  to  pay  their  respects  to  him.  We  believe  men  of  all 
parties  were  very  much  gratified  on  the  occasion. 

Mention  has  been  made  to  me  of  Mr.  Webster's  appreciation 
of  the  excellent  cooking  in  the  South,  and  of  his  preference  for 
a  dish  of  tripe,  which  leads  me  to  copy  a  letter  on  this  subject, 
written  in  December,  1860,  and  addressed  to  his  hostess  at 
Eichmond,  Mrs.  Paige. 

Dbab  Mbs.  Paige: — I  sit  down  to  write  a  letter,  partly  diplomatic 
and  partly  historical.  The  subject  is  Tripe— T-R-I-P-E.  Your  husband 
remembers  Mrs.  Hayman,  who  was  Mrs.  Blake's  cook.  Excelling 
others  in  all  else,  she  excelled  herself  in  a  dish  of  tripe.  I  do  not  know 
that  her  general  genius  exceeded  that  of  Monica  McCarty;  but  in  this 
production  she  was  more  exact,  more  artistical;  she  gave  to  the 
article,  not  only  a  certain  gout,  which  gratified  the  most  fastidious, 
but  an  expression,  also,  an  air  of  haut  ton,  as  it  lay  presented  on  the 
table,  that  assured  one  that  he  saw  before  him  something  from  the 
hand  of  a  master. 

Tradition,  it  is  said,  occasionally  hands  down  the  practical  arts  with 
more  precision  and  fidelity  than  they  can  be  transmitted  by  books, 


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220  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

from  generation  to  generation;  and  I  have  thought  it  likely  that  your 
Lydia  may  have  caught  the  tact  of  preparing  this  inimitable  dish.  I 
entertain  this  opinion  on  two  grounds:  first,  because  I  have  been 
acquainted  with  very  respectable  efforts  of  hers  in  that  line;  second, 
because  she  knows  Mr.  Paige's  admirable  connoiseurship,  and  can  de- 
termine, by  her  quick  eye,  when  the  dish  comes  down  from  the  table, 
whether  the  contents  have  met  his  approbation. 

For  these  reasons,  and  others,  upon  which  it  is  not  necessary  for  the 
undersigned  to  enlarge,  he  is  desirous  of  obtaining  Lydia's  receipt 
for  a  dish  of  tripe,  for  the  dinner-table.  Mrs.  Hayman's  is  before  my 
eyes.  Unscathed  by  the  frying  pan,  it  was  white  as  snow;  it  was  dis- 
posed in  squares,  or  in  parallelograms,  of  the  size  of  a  small  sheet  of 
ladies'  note  paper;  it  was  tender  as  jelly;  beside  it  stood  the  tureen 
of  melted  butter,  a  dish  of  mealy  potatoes,  and  the  vinegar  cruet. 
Can  this  spectacle  be  exhibited  in  the  Vine  Cottage,  on  Louisiana 
Avenue,  in  the  City  of  Washington? 

Yours  truly,  always, 

Dan'l  Websteb. 

P.  S.— Tripe;  the  etymon  is  the  Greek  word  to  "turn,  to  wind,"  from 
its  involutions,  not  the  same  as  "tripod,"  which  means  "having  three 
feet";  nor  the  same  as  "trip,"  which  is  from  the  Latin  tripudiare,  to 
strike  the  feet  upon  the  ground;  sometimes  to  stumble;  sometimes 
to  go  nimbly;  to  "trip  it  on  the  light  fantastic  toe." 

Washington,  29  December,  1850. 


THE  VISIT  OF  EDWAED  EVERETT, 

In  1859  the  renowned  Edward  Everett  delivered  in  hundreds 
of  cities  throughout  the  United  States  his  splendid  address  on 
the  Character  of  Washington,  the  receipts  being  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Ladies'  Mount  Vernon  Association. 

Of  his  visit  to  Wilmington  on  that  occasion  he  wrote  in  his 
Mount  Vernon  Papers:  "Its  population,  as  far  as  I  could  judge 
from  a  short  visit,  is  intelligent,  enterprising,  and  rather  more 
than  usually  harmonious  among  themselves.  The  river  pros- 
pects from  elevated  positions  are  remarkably  fine.  An  immense 
audience,  assembled  in  Thalian  Hall  on  the  11th  of  April  last, 
honored  the  repetition  of  my  address  on  the  Character  of  Wasihr 
ington,  and  the  net  receipts  of  the  evening,  $1,091.80,  were,  in 
proportion  to  population,  far  beyond  those  of  any  other  place  in 
the  Union." 

Mr.  Everett  has  also  been  quoted  as  saying  that  at  Wilming- 
ton alone,  during  his  travels,  he  was  introduced  by  an  orator 
who  surpassed  himself,  Mr.  George  Davis. 


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Notable  Incidents  221 

We  copy  an  interesting  account  of  Mr.  Everett's  oration  in 
Wilmington  from  the  Daily  Journal  of  that  date. 

April  12,  1859. 
Mb.  Everett's  Oration. 

Last  evening  Thalian  Hall  was  filled  by  an  attentive  audi- 
ence eager  to  listen  to  the  Washington  oration  of  Hon.  Edward 
Everett,  of  Massachusetts. 

At  8  o'clock  Mr.  Everett,  accompanied  by  a  committee  of  citi- 
zens, appeared  upon  the  stage  and  was  introduced  to  the  audi- 
ence by  George  Davis,  Esq.,  whose  eloquent  though  brief  re- 
marks formed  a  fitting  prelude  to  the  splendid  composition  of 
the  distinguished  speaker. 

Mr.  Everett  is,  we  believe,  65  years  of  age,  tall,  rather  portly 
than  otherwise,  his  hair,  trimmed  short,  is  nearly  white,  and  we 
learn  from  those  who  have  heard  him  before  that  either  advanc- 
ing years  or  illness  have  considerably  subdued  the  vigor  of  his 
tones  and  the  energy  of  his  delivery.  His  features,  those  of  a 
cultivated  gentleman,  have  been  or  will  be  made  familiar  to 
most  through  the  portraits  of  him  which  have  been  published. 

We  have  no  desire  to  attempt  any  sketch  of  Mr.  Everett's 
address  further  than  to  glance  at  a  very  few  points.  He  spoke 
of  three  eras  in  Washington's  life — ^when  he  fought  in  the  old 
French  War,  when  he  took  command  of  the  American  forces, 
and  when  he  retired  from  that  command.  He  spoke  of  what  he 
denominated  the  "Age  of  Washington,"  reviewed  the  history  of 
the  eighteenth  and  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century ;  enumer- 
ated the  great  things  that  had  been  done,  and  the  great  men 
that  had  figured  within  that  space  of  time  to  which  future  ages 
would  turn  as  the  Era  of  Washington;  contrasted  the  character 
of  the  American  hero  and  statesman  with  that  of  Peter  the 
Great  of  Eussia,  Frederick  the  Great  of  Prussia,  or  Napoleon 
the  Great  of  France. 

From  Major  Washington's  visit  to  Venango  down  to  the  last 
stage  of  President  Washington's  life,  the  speaker  followed  that 
great  man's  career,  dwelling  with  inimitable  skill  upon  the 
great  and  good  points  of  his  character. 

Better  still  than  his  comparison  and  contrast  of  the  character 
of  Washington  with  that  of  the  great  men  of  his  own  immediate 
day,  was  the  episode  in  which  he  turned  back  to  John,  Duke  of 
Marlborough,  the  wittiest  statesman,  the  most  astute  diploma- 


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222  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

tist,  the  greatest  captain  of  hie  day,  yet  a  dishonest  man,  faith- 
less to  his  sovereign,  a  traitor  to  his  country,  and  a  robber  of  the 
brave  soldiers  whose  strong  arms  gave  him  victory.  He  pic- 
tured in  glowing  language  the  beauty  and  the  grandeur  of  *^len- 
heim,"  the  seat  which  national  gratitude  or  kingly  extravagance 
had  given  to  the  great  bad  man,  naming  it  after  that  famous 
victory.  After  all,  'TBlenheim,"  with  its  storied  urn  and  ani- 
mated bust,  its  pompous  eulogy  and  lying  praise,  could  only 
serve  to  perpetuate  the  shame  and  infamy  of  John  ChurchilL 
But  away  on  the  banks  of  the  calm  Potomac,  there  rose  an 
humble  mansion,  bought  with  no  money  wrested  from  the  hands 
of  an  oppressed  and  reluctant  people,  a  mansion  in  which  the 
Father  of  his  Country  lived  quietly  and  well  with  his  beloved 
Martha,  and  from  which  he  passed  away  peacefully  to  the  bosom 
of  his  God.  Around  that  humble  mansion  clustered  hallowed 
recollections  unstained  by  aught  that  could  dim  their  purity. 
That  home  the  women  of  America  sought  to  secure,  that  they 
might  guard  it  as  a  sacred  trust,  restore  it  to  the  pristine  beauty 
and  simplicity  in  which  its  great  owner  had  left  it,  and  transmit 
it  as  a  sacred  heritage  to  their  children  forever. 

In  the  course  of  his  oration,  Mr.  Everett  alluded  very  feel- 
ingly to  Washington's  last  and  most  emphatic  advice  to  his 
countrymen,  to  preserve  the  Union  of  the  States.  He  drew  him- 
self a  most  painful  picture  of  the  probable  effect  of  disunion. 

The  audience  was  the  fullest  we  have  ever  seen  in  Wilming- 
ton. We  should  think  the  receipts  will  not  vary  much  from  a 
thousand  dollars.  We  believe  all  were  pleased,  many  delighted, 
none  dissatisfied,  although  some,  perhaps,  looked  for  a  rather 
different  style  of  speaking,  more,  perhaps,  of  what  is  generally 
regarded  as  oratory,  more  stirring,  more  declamatory.  The  ad- 
dress was  highly  polished,  beautiful  in  conception,  chaste,  yet 
magnificent  in  execution,  the  work  of  a  scholar,  a  rhetorician, 
faultlessly  delivered,  too  faultlessly  for  an  orator,  perhaps,  for 
oratory  is  never  finished,  it  suggests  more  than  it  directly  con- 
veys, its  apparent  failures  are  sometimes  its  most  effective 
points,  its  seeming,  mayhaps  its  real  forgetfulness,  makes  us, 
too,  forget,  carries  us  away,  leads  our  feelings  captive;  we  cease 
to  mark  gesture  or  tone,  we  feel  but  do  not  analyze  our  feelings. 
Mr.  Everett  may  be,  perhaps  is,  something  more  or  higher  than 
an  orator,  but  he  is  also  something  different. 


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Notable  Incidents  223 

RECEPTION  OF  THE  REMAINS  OF  JOHN  C. 
CALHOUN. 

In  April,  1850,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  demonstrations 
in  the  history  of  Wilmington  occurred  on  the  occasion  of  the 
death  of  the  illustrious  John  C.  Calhoun.  The  following  ex- 
cerpts from  the  local  newspapers  of  that  date  indicate  the  pro- 
found emotion  which  stirred  the  hearts  of  our  people : 

Another  of  the  master  spirits  of  the  country  has  passed  from 
time  to  eternity.  John  C.  Calhoun  died  in  the  City  of  Wash- 
ington on  Sunday  morning  last.  The  sad  intelligence  of  his 
death  was  to  some  extent  anticipated  from  recent  reports  of  his 
dangerous  sickness,  yet  it  will  strike  with  heavy  force  upon  the 
public  mind. 

The  following  telegraphic  dispatch,  dated  Washington,  March 
3l8t,  we  copy  from  the  Charleston  Mercury  of  Monday:  "Mr. 
Calhoun  died  this  morning  at  a  quarter  past  seven  o'clock  in 
the  full  possession  of  his  faculties.  A  few  hours  previous  he 
directed  his  son.  Dr.  John  C.  Calhoun,  to  lock  up  his  manu- 
scripts, and  just  before  his  death  he  beckoned  him  to  his  bedside 
and,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  him,  expired.  He  died  without 
the  slightest  symptom  of  pain,  and  to  the  last  his  eyes  retained 
their  brilliancy.  With  his  son,  there  were  at  his  bedside,  Mr. 
Venable,  of  North  Carolina,  and  Messrs.  Orr  and  Wallace,  of 
South  Carolina.  Mr.  Venable  has  been  devoted  in  his  atten- 
tions to  him  for  weeks,  and  is  entitled  to  the  deepest  gratitude. 
The  body  will  be  placed  in  a  metallic  coffin  and  deposited  in 
the  Congressional  Burial  Ground  imtil  the  wishes  of  his  family 
are  ascertained. 

"The  Governor  of  South  Carolina  has  appointed  a  committee 
of  twenty-five,  consisting  of  citizens  of  Charleston,  to  proceed 
to  Washington  to  receive  and  convey  to  his  native  State  the 
remains  of  John  C.  Calhoun." 

Wilmington  Chronicle. 

Wednesday,  April  24,  1850. 

Remains  op  Mb.  Calhoun. 

It  is  expected  that  the  remains  of  Mr.  Calhoun  will  reach 
Wilmington  today  about  12  o'clock.  The  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements publish  the  following : 


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224  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Order  of  Procession. 

For  escorting  the  remains  of  the  Hon.  J.  C.  Calhoun. 

The  procession  will  be  formed  in  the  following  order,  the  right  rest- 
ing on  the  railroad  depot,  in  open  order,  for  the  reception  of  the  corps 
of  attendants  on  the  arrival  of  the  cars. 

Order  of  Procession. 

Clergy  of  the  various  denominations. 
Sergeant  at  arms  and  assistants. 
Pallbearers. 

Coffin. 

Pallbearers. 

Relations  of  the  deceased. 

Committee  of  the  U.  S.  Senate. 

Committee  of  South  Carolina. 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Citizens  of  South  Carolina. 

Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  Superior  Courts. 

Members  of  the  bar. 

Members  of  the  medical  profession. 

Magistrate  of  police  and  commissioners  of  the  town,  collector  of 
customs  and  officers  of  the  United  States  service,  president  and 
directors  of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  R.  R.,  mmnbers  of  the 
various  societies  of  the  town,  in  citizen  dress,  teachers  of  the  schools 
and  academies,  captains  of  vessels  and  seamen,  citizens  and  strangers. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  recommend  the  following 
to  their  fellow-citizens :  A  committee  of  ten,  consisting  of  A.  J. 
DeKosset,  sr.,  James  Owen,  James  F,  McRee,  sr.,  Thomas  H. 
Wright,  P.  K.  Dickinson,  John  Walker,  William  C.  Betten- 
court,  Thomas  Loring,  F.  J.  Hill,  of  Brunswick,  and  James 
Iredell,  of  Kaleigh,  will  proceed  up  the  line  of  the  Wilmington 
and  Raleigh  R.  R.  to  receive  the  remains,  and  escort  them  in 
their  passage  through  the  State.  These  gentlemen  will  also  act 
as  pallbearers  in  the  procession. 

The  citizens  generally  are  requested  to  close  their  stores,  to 
suspend  all  operations  of  business,  and  to  meet  at  the  depot  at 
12  o'clock.  There  the  procession  will  be  formed,  under  the 
direction  of  William  C.  Howard  as  chief  marshal,  to  receive 
the  remains  in  open  order  and  escort  them  to  the  foot  of  Market 
Street,  where  the  boat  for  Charleston,  the  Nina,  will  be  waiting 
to  receive  them. 

A  gim  from  the  wharf  of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  R.  R. 
Co.  will  give  the  earliest  notice  of  the  arrival  of  the  cars.  Imme- 
diately upon  the  firing  of  this  gun,  the  flags  of  the  public  build- 


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Notable  Incidents  225 

ings  and  the  ships  in  port  will  be  struck  at  half-mast ;  the  bells 
of  the  town  will  commence  tolling  and  minute  guns  will  be  fired. 
The  clergy  and  the  pallbearers  are  requested  to  call  at  Messrs. 
Dawsons'  store  for  gloves  and  crape.  The  citizens  will  find  a 
supply  of  crape  at  the  same  place.' 

The  steamer  will  leave  for  Charleston,  it  is  expected,  about 
five  o'clock,  p.  m.  ^^  ^  Howabd,  G.  M. 

J.  G.  Gbebn. 
Eli  W.  Hat.Ti,  Asst.  M. 

Tuesday,  April  23,  1850. 

The  steamer  Nina  arrived  here  yesterday  from  Charleston, 
for  the  purpose  of  conveying  hence  to  that  city  the  remains  of 
Mr.  Calhoun. 

Couetesy:  The  mayor  of  Charleston  has,  on  behalf  of  the 
city,  tendered  its  hospitalities  to  the  magistrate  of  police  of 
Wilmington  and  the  committee  appointed  to  receive  the  remains 
of  Mr.  Calhoim  on  the  passage  through  this  place  to  South  Caro- 
lina. Colonel  Miller,  the  magistrate  of  police,  has  addressed  a 
polite  note  to  the  mayor  accepting  the  courteous  proffer.  The 
South  Carolina  State  Committee  of  Arrangements  has  also  in- 
vited the  Wilmington  committee  to  proceed  to  Charleston,  join 
in  the  fimeral  solemnities,  and  become  the  guests  of  the  city. 

The  committee  of  the  Senate  appointed  to  accompany  the 
remains  of  Mr.  Calhoun  to  South  Carolina  has  invited  three 
gentlemen  of  the  House  to  accompany  them,  to  wit :  Mr.  Holmes, 
Mr.  Winthrop,  and  Mr.  Venable,  all  of  whom  have  accepted  the 
invitation. 

The  following  is  copied  from  the  Wilmington  Chronicle  of 
May  1,1850: 

On  Wednesday  last,  near  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  cars  arrived  from 
Weldon,  bringing  in  the  mortal  remains  of  John  C.  Calhoun, 
in  the  special  charge  of  Mr.  Beale,  the  sergeant  at  arms  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  Senators  Mason,  of  Virginia,  Clarke, 
of  Rhode  Island,  Dickinson,  of  New  York,  Davis,  of  Missouri, 
and  Dodge,  of  Iowa,  and  Mr.  Berrien,  of  (Georgia.  The  other 
members  of  the  Senate  Committee  joined  them  in  Charleston, 
having  gone  on  some  days  before.  Mr.  Venable,  of  North  Caro- 
lina, Mr.  Holmes,  of  South  Carolina,  members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  accompanied  the  committee  by  invitation.  Mr. 
Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  likewise  been  invited  to 
15 


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226  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

form  one  of  the  company,  waB  prevented  from  doing  so.  A  com- 
mittee of  twenty-five  from  South  Carolina  and  three  of  the  sons 
of  the  deceased  also  accompanied  the  remains.  The  citizens  of 
North  Carolina  to  whom  had  been  assigned  the  duty  of  attend- 
ing on  the  remains  whilst  passing  through  Wilmington,  pro- 
ceeded up  the  railroad  and  joined  the  train  some  thirty  or  forty 
miles  above,  and  in  the  procession  from  the  depot  to  the  steamer 
at  the  wharf  acted  as  pallbearers.  The  arrangements  as  to  the 
procession,  etc.,  were  carried  into  effect  in  accordance  with  the 
program  published  in  our  last  issue. 

The  following  we  take  from  the  Journal: 

On  the  arrival  of  the  cars,  the  stores  and  places  of  business 
were  closed,  the  shipping  in  port  struck  their  colors  to  half-mast, 
the  bells  of  the  various  churches  were  tolled,  and  minute  guns 
fired  while  the  procession  moved  from  the  depot  down  Front 
Street  to  the  steamer  Nina,  lying  at  Market  Dock,  where  she 
was  waiting  to  receive  the  remains  of  the  lamented  deceased, 
and  convey  them  to  the  city  of  Charleston. 

Notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  day,  the  procession 
was,  we  think,  the  largest  we  have  ever  seen  in  this  place. 
Everybody  seemed  anxious  to  pay  the  last  respect  to  the  states- 
man and  orator  who  has  so  long  and  so  faithfully  filled  some  of 
the  most  responsible  posts  of  his  country. 

The  steamer  Oovemor  Dudley,  handsomely  decorated  for  the 
occasion,  accompanied  the  Nina,  taking  over  a  portion  of  the 
committees  and  guests  to  the  city  of  Charleston.  Both  steamers 
left  the  wharf  about  half  past  three  o'clock  p.  m. 

Wilmington  Committee. — The  gentlemen  whose  names  follow 
went  to  Charleston  on  Wednesday  last  with  the  remains  of  Mr. 
Calhoun,  as  a  committee  from  the  citizens  of  Wilmington,  in 
manifestation  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  the  illustrious  de- 
ceased :  Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset,  sr.,  J.  T.  Miller,  Gten.  James  Owen, 
C.  D.  Ellis,  Gen.  L.  H.  Marsteller,  P.  M.  Walker,  Thomas 
Loring,  A.  J.  DeRosset,  jr..  Dr.  J.  F.  McRee,  jr.,  Dr.  John 
Swann,  Dr.  William  A.  Berry,  James  Fulton,  James  G.  Green, 
Henry  R.  Savage,  William  C.  Bettencourt,  Edward  Cantwell, 
John  Cowan,  John  L.  Holmes,  Eli  W.  Hall,  Joseph  J.  Lippitt, 
Henry  Nutt,  Robert  H.  Cowan,  and  A.  A.  Brown. 

The  Charleston  Courier  of  Saturday  says:  "A  committee 
appointed  by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  came  on  in  the  steamer 
Nina  and  was  met  at  the  landing  by  the  chairman  of  the  Com- 


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Notable  Incidents  227 

mittee  of  Reception,  who  welcomed  them  to  the  city  and  ex- 
tended to  them  its  hospitalities,  to  which  Dr.  DeRosset,  sr.,  their 
chairman,  responded  in  an  appropriate  manner." 

We  should  be  greatly  lacking  in  courtesy  were  we  not  to  ex- 
press in  this  public  manner  the  high  sense  of  gratefulness  which 
rests  with  the  Wilmington  conmiittee  for  the  manifold  atten- 
tions and  kindnesses  bestowed  upon  them  in  Charleston  by  the 
Committee  of  Reception  and  by  many  others.  The  profuse  and 
elegant  hospitality  of  which  the  members  of  our  committee  were 
the  objects  is  very  deeply  appreciated  by  them  individually  and 
collectively. 


DEATH  OF  GENERAL  JAMES  IVOR  McKAY. 

In  Mr.  Webster's  letter  from  Wilmington,  already  quoted, 
he  makes  reference  to  a  Mr.  McKay  as  personifying  political 
sentiment  outside  the  town  of  Wilmington. 

Qen.  James  Ivor  McKay  was  bom  in  Bladen  County  in  1793, 
and  died  suddenly  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  the  15th  of  September, 
1853,  while  on  his  way  home  from  Tarboro.  His  name,  "Ivor," 
was  altogether  appropriate,  for  he  was  eminently  great.  In  the 
campaign  of  1844  his  report  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Ways  and  Means  constituted  the  Democratic  platform  on  which 
Polk  was  elected  President;  and  in  1848  the  Democrats  of 
North  Carolina  presented  him  as  their  candidate  for  the  Vice 
Presidency. 

It  was  said  of  this  distinguished  son  of  the  Cape  Fear  that 
he  was  very  quiet  and  reserved  in  his  deportment  and  held  in 
contempt  all  manner  of  base  dealing  and  trickery — a  man  of 
such  integrity  that  his  presence  always  inspired  confidence  and 
trustfulness  in  those  whose  expressions  he  desired,  because  they 
believed  in  his  fidelity. 

The  Wilmington  Daily  Journal  of  September  16,  1853,  the 
day  after  his  death,  said : 

"It  becomes  our  painful  duty  this  morning  to  announce  the 
imexpected  death  of  one  of  our  most  worthy  citizens.  Gen. 
James  I.  McKay,  of  Bladen  County.  General  McKay  arrived 
here  on  last  Monday  night  from  his  residence  in  Bladen  en  route 
for  Tarboro,  in  Edgecombe  County,  as  a  witness  in  the  case  of 
the  State  against  Armstrong.  When  we  saw  him  on  Tuesday 
morning  he  was  apparently  in  better  health  than  for  some  time 


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228  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

previous,  and  conversed  freely.  We  learn  that  on  his  return 
from  Edgecombe  yesterday  afternoon  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill 
on  board  the  cars,  and  on  arriving  at  Goldsboro  it  was  found 
necessary  for  him  to  stop,  where  he  expired,  at  Mrs.  Borden's 
hotel,  at  a  quarter  before  8  o'clock  yesterday  evening,  of  bilious 
or  cramp  colic,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

"As  a  public  man.  General  McKay  was  well  known  to  be  a 
firm  and  consistent  Democrat,  having  served  his  constituents 
for  eighteen  years,  from  1831  to  1849,  as  member  of  Congress 
from  this  district,  and  during  that  time,  at  one  period,  occupy- 
ing with  marked  ability  the  high  and  very  responsible  office  of 
chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  of  which  com- 
mittee he  was  chairman  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  Tariff 
Bill  of  1846.  As  a  representative,  no  member  of  Congress  com- 
manded more  attention  or  respect.  He  might  truly  be  said  to 
have  served  his  constituents  *till  he  voluntarily  retired'  as  a 
national  representative,  always  looking  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  whole  country,  and  discarding  all  factions  and  sectional 


At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Wilmington  Bar  held  on 
Saturday,  the  I7th  day  of  September,  1853,  the  following  pro- 
ceedings were  had : 

"On  motion  of  H.  L.  Holmes,  Esq.,  Robert  Strange,  jr., 
Thomas  C.  Miller,  Mauger  London,  and  David  Reid,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  prepare  resolutions  expressive  of  the 
regret  of  the  members  of  the  bar,  upon  hearing  of  the  death  of 
Hon.  James  I.  McKay,  who  died  suddenly  at  Goldsboro,  on 
Thursday  evening  last.  Mr.  Strange,  from  the  conmdttee,  re- 
ported the  following  preamble  and  resolutions : 

This  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Wilmington  Bar  has  heard  with 
deep  regret  of  the  sudden  and  melancholy  death  of  Hon.  James  I. 
McKay,  of  Bladen  (bounty.  General  McKay  for  many  years  was  a 
leading  practitioner  in  the  courts  of  this  circuit,  and  since  he  retired 
from  the  bar,  has  been  greatly  distinguished  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation.  The  force  of  his  Intellect  won  for  him  this  high  position, 
and  strict  adherence  to  his  principles  and  great  regard  for  the  honor 
and  safety  of  his  country,  combined  with  almost  unparalleled  integ- 
rity as  a  public  man,  secured  to  him  a  national  reputation,  of  which 
North  Carolina  may  justly  be  proud. 

While  the  death  of  General  McKay  is  a  loss  to  the  whole  country,  yet 
we  with  whom  he  has  been  more  immediately  associated,  can  not  with- 
hold this  slight  tribute  of  respect  to  his  memory. 

Therefore  resolved,  That  by  the  death  of  Hon.  James  I.  McKay,  North 
Carolina  has  been  deprived  of  one  of  her  most  distinguished  citizens, 


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Notable  Incidents  229 

and  the  whole  nation  of  one  whose  faithful  adherence  to  the  Con- 
stitution of  his  country*  and  whose  great  ability  and  honesty  of  pur- 
pose, have  won  the  admiration  of  men  of  all  parties. 

At  Wilmingtoii,  as  his  remains  were  borne  through  the  city, 
there  was  a  great  public  demonstration.  His  body  was  met  by 
the  military,  all  the  bells  of  the  city  tolled,  and  an  escort  accom- 
panied the  remains  to  their  last  resting  place  in  the  family  bury- 
ing ground  on  the  home  plantation  in  Bladen.  The  steamboat 
which  conveyed  the  sad  cortege  from  Wilmington  to  Elizabeth- 
town  was  decked  in  the  habiliments  of  woe,  and  its  wailing 
monotone  resounded  continuously  through  the  forests  that  lined 
the  banks  of  the  river. 


GOVEENOE  EDWAED  B.  DUDLEY. 

Among  the  many  great  men  who  have  adorned  the  life  of  our 
community  and  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  this  section  of 
the  State,  no  one  has  surpassed  in  usefulness  Edward  B.  Dudley. 

On  the  occasion  of  his  death,  Eobert  H.  Cowan  was  selected 
by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  to  deliver  an  address  commem- 
orative of  his  life  and  character,  and  performed  that  public 
service  on  the  eighth  day  of  November,  1855.  From  Colonel 
Cowan's  address  we  learn  that  Governor  Dudley  was  bom  in 
Onslow  County,  December  15,  1789,  and  died  in  Wilmington 
on  the  80th  of  October,  1855.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age 
he  represented  Onslow  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  in  1818 
and  1814  in  the  Senate.  During  the  war  with  England  he 
came  to  Wilmington,  the  second  in  command  of  the  regiment  of 
volunteers  who  flocked  from  the  neighboring  counties  to  repel 
threatened  British  invasion.  In  1815  he  removed  to  Wilming- 
ton, and  in  1816  and  1817  he  represented  the  town  of  Wilming- 
ton in  the  House  of  Commons.  In  politics  he  was  a  Eepubli- 
can,  as  distinguished  from  the  Federalists.  Governor  Holmes, 
who  was  the  representative  of  the  district  in  Congress,  having 
died  in  November,  1829,  Mr.  Dudley  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  At  that  time  he  was  a  Jackson  man;  but  not  being 
satisfied  with  the  policy  of  the  administration,  in  Congress  he 
attached  himself  to  the  opposition,  and  then  declined  reelection, 
saying,  *1  can  not,  fellow-citizens,  forego  my  own  opinion  for 
that  of  any  man.  I  acknowledge  no  master  but  the  law  and 
duty — ^no  party  but  the  interests  of  my  country.'*     He  was. 


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230  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

more  than  any  other  man,  the  father  of  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  Eailroad  and  was  its  first  president.  He  was  elected 
governor,  in  1836,  the  first  governor  chosen  by  the  people — and 
doubtless  selected  because  of  his  advocacy  of  internal  improve- 
ments. "He  possessed  administrative  ability  of  a  very  rare 
order ;  and  his  administration  as  governor  was  one  of  the  most 
efficient  and  practically  useful  which  North  Carolina  has  ever 
known" — and  moreover  "his  hospitality  was  dispensed  so  liber- 
ally, so  graciously,  and  with  such  a  warm  and  open  heart,  that 
it  will  long  be  remembered  by  all  who  had  occasion  to  visit  the 
capital  while  he  occupied  the  Executive  Mansion.  *  *  *  His 
whole  energies  were  given  to  the  cause  of  internal  improvements, 
for  the  development  of  the  resources  of  North  Carolina,  and  for 
the  building  up  of  her  commercial  greatness.  *  *  *  The 
completion  of  a  liberal  system  of  internal  improvements  and  the 
establishment  of  a  permanent  system  of  common  schools  formed 
the  highest  objects  of  his  ambition.  His  career  proves  that  he  is 
well  entitled  to  the  proud  name  of  Father  of  Internal  Improve- 
ments in  North  Carolina.  He  was  far  in  advance  of  his  age; 
but  he  lived  to  see  the  State  arouse  from  her  lethargy  and  adopt 
the  measures  he  had  forecast  with  sagacity  and  enlarged  and 
enlightened  patriotism." 

Addressing  the  stockholders  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon 
Eailroad  Company,  Colonel  Cowan  said :  "You  must  remember 
that  yours  was  the  pioneer  work  in  North  Carolina,  that  it  was 
an  experiment,  that  it  was  undertaken  without  sufficient  means, 
that  it  was  condenmed  beforehand  as  a  failure,  that  it  encoun- 
tered troubles,  trials,  difficulties  of  the  most  extraordinary  char- 
acter; that  nothing  but  the  most  indomitable  energy,  the  most 
liberal  enterprise,  the  most  unceasing  patience,  the  most  deter- 
mined spirit  of  perseverance,  could  have  enabled  it  to  surmount 
these  difficulties.  Governor  Dudley  brought  all  of  these  quali- 
fications to  the  task  and  commanded  the  success  which  he  so 
eminently  deserved.  He  subscribed  a  considerable  portion  of  his 
large  estate  to  its  completion.  He  devoted  all  his  time,  all  his 
talents,  and  all  his  energies,  and  that  too  at  an  immense  loss 
from  the  neglect  of  his  private  interests,  to  put  it  into  successful 
operation.  Nor  did  his  services  nor  his  personal  sacrifices  stop 
there.  When  your  offices,  your  warehouses  and  your  workshops, 
and  all  of  your  machinery  which  was  not  then  in  actual  use 
were  laid  in  ruins  by  the  terrible  fire  of  1843 ;  when  a  heap  of 
smouldering  embers  marked  the  spot  where  all  of  your  posses- 


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Notable  Incidents  231 

sions  in  Wilmington  the  day  before  had  stood ;  when  your  most 
ardent  friends  had  begun  to  despair;  when  your  own  merchants 
had  refused  to  credit  you,  and,  regarded  merely  from  a  business 
point  of  view,  had  justly  refused,  because  they  had  already  ex- 
tended their  confidence  beyond  the  limits  of  prudence;  when 
your  long  sinking  credit  was  at  last  destroyed  and  your  failure 
seemed  inevitable — Governor  Dudley  came  forward  and  pledged 
the  whole  of  his  private  estate  as  your  security,  and  thus,  with 
renewed  confidence  in  your  solvency,  you  were  enabled  to  go  on 
to  that  complete  success  which  awaited  you  entirely  through  his 
exertions." 

Such  was  the  character  of  the  man — a  man  of  generous  senti- 
ments, of  high  courtesy,  of  true  courage.  He  set  a  noble  exam- 
ple, was  distinguished  in  all  the  practical  elements  of  life,  and 
was  eminently  good  in  all  of  his  social  relations.  Thus  his 
death  was  mourned  as  a  general  loss,  and  his  memory  is  treas- 
ured by  the  people  of  Wilmington. 


THE  WILKINGS-FLANNER  DUEL. 

On  the  evening  of  the  30th  of  April,  1856,  the  old  New  Han- 
over County  Courthouse,  on  Princess  Street  in  Wilmington,  was 
"packed  and  jammed"  by  an  enthusiastic  and  excited  meeting 
of  the  local  Democratic  association,  of  which  Dr.  John  D.  Bel- 
lamy was  the  president,  J.  D.  Gardner,  jr.,  and  C.  H.  Robinson, 
the  secretaries.  Eli  W.  Hall,  Esq.,  a  prominent  lawyer,  was 
called  to  the  chair  and  made  an  eloquent  address  upon  political 
affairs  out  of  which  had  arisen  a  strong  party  contest  for  com- 
missioners of  navigation.  He  showed  how  Know-Nothing  vic- 
tories had  been  won  over  an  unsuspecting  people,  and  party 
issues  forced  upon  a  community  in  whose  local  affairs  they  had 
been  previously  unknown. 

Dr.  W.  C.  Wilkings,  a  prominent  young  physician  and  poli- 
tician, was  loudly  called  for,  and  he  responded  in  an  animated 
and  stirring  address  (so  runs  the  Journal)  in  which  he  por- 
trayed the  absurdity,  the  nonsense,  the  arrogance  of  the  assump- 
tion of  exclusive  Americanism,  made,  he  said,  by  the  anti-Demo- 
cratic party.  He  was  followed  by  Moody  B.  Smith,  a  strong 
speaker,  who  was  listened  to  with  close  attention,  interrupted 
by  frequent  applause. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  speech,  Mr.  Ashe  moved  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  speakers. 


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232  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

On  Saturday,  May  3,  1856,  another  grand  rally  of  the  Demo- 
crats was  held  in  front  of  the  Carolina  Hotel,  on  Market  and 
Second  Streets,  and  the  assembled  crowd  proceeded  thence  with 
torches  at  a  late  hour  in  the  evening  to  "The  Oaks,"  on  Dry 
Pond. 

The  Journal  says  that  insulting  reference  had  been  made  by 
the  Know-Nothings  to  the  "Sand  Hill  Tackies."  Hon.  Warren 
Winslow  was  the  principal  speaker  and  received  the  thanks  of 
the  assembly  for  his  eloquent  address.  He  was  followed  by  Mr. 
John  L.  Holmes,  who  spoke  in  earnest  and  stirring  style.  The 
fateful  election  of  commissioners  of  navigation,  which  was  to 
include  one  of  the  most  painful  tragedies  in  the  history  of  Wil- 
mington, occurred  on  the  5th  of  May,  1856. 

The  Journal  says  that  by  some  strange  mistake  an  active  and 
staunch  Democrat,  in  the  heat  and  excitement  of  the  voting,  got 
hold  of  and  put  in  a  Know-Nothing  vote,  thus  in  fact  electing 
Mr.  Flanner,  whereas,  had  the  mistake  not  occurred,  Mr.  Costin 
would  have  been  elected. 

In  the  meantime,  intense  excitement  throughout  the  town  was 
caused  by  a  rumor  that  Dr.  Wilkings'  speech,  referred  to,  had 
incensed  his  friend,  Mr.  J.  H.  Flanner,  who  had  published  a 
card  which  resulted  in  a  challenge  to  mortal  combat  from  Dr. 
WiUdngs.  I  was  then  nine  years  of  age,  at  Jewett's  school,  and 
I  remember  distinctly  the  excitement  of  the  schoolboys  while 
Mr.  Flanner  dashed  past  the  schoolhouse  behind  his  two  black 
thoroughbreds  on  the  way  to  the  fatal  meeting. 

The  Herald  of  Monday,  May  5, 1856,  said :  "Our  community 
was  painfully  startled  on  Saturday  afternoon  last  by  the  recep- 
tion of  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from  Marion,  S.  C,  to  the  effect 
that  a  hostile  meeting  had  taken  place  near  Fair  Bluff,  between 
Dr.  William  C.  Wilkings  and  Joseph  H.  Flanner,  Esq.,  both 
young  men  and  citizens  of  this  place,  and  that  on  the  third  fire 
the  former  received  the  ball  of  his  antagonist  through  the  lungs, 
and  in  a  very  few  moments  expired.  The  difficulty  grew  out  of 
a  speech  made  by  Dr.  Wilkings  on  Wednesday  evening  last  at 
the  Democratic  meeting  at  the  courthouse.  They  fought  with 
pistols,  at  ten  paces.  Dr.  Wilkings  being  the  challenger."  The 
gloom  over  this  dreadful  affair  hung  for  many  years  over  those 
who  participated  in  it,  and  the  principal  who  survived  the  duel, 
and,  going  abroad  as  a  State  agent,  survived  the  four  years'  war, 
died  some  years  later,  it  is  said  unhappy  and  under  a  cloud  in 
a  foreign  land. 


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Notable  Incidents  233 

The  following  cards  are  taken  from  the  Daily  Journal,  May 
5,  7,  and  8,  1856,  to  show  something  of  the  temper  of  the  public 
mind  with  reference  to  this  sad  and  exciting  affair. 

DrBD. 

Died  in  Marion  district,  S.  C,  on  the  3d  instant.  Dr.  W.  C. 
Wilkings,  of  Wilmington,  N.  C,  aged  about  30  years. 

Lost  to  the  commimity  in  the  full  promise  of  a  glorious  man- 
hood, few  men  could  be  more  deeply  or  more  generally  regretted 
than  our  deceased  friend.  Brave,  ardent,  and  generous,  gifted 
by  nature,  refined  and  strengthened  by  education,  there  lay  be- 
fore him  the  prospect  of  a  long,  useful,  and  honorable  career. 
That  career  has  been  cut  short,  the  promise  of  his  ripe  manhood 
left  unfulfilled,  and  he  has  gone  down  to  his  grave  before  his 
time,  but  his  memory  will  long  survive  in  the  hearts  of  his 
friends,  and  the  turf  that  rests  over  his  cold  form  be  kept  green 
by  the  unbidden  tear  starting  even  from  eyes  that  knew  him  not 
in  life. 

Our  intimate  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Wilkings  was  of  com- 
paratively recent  date,  and  arose  out  of  commimity  of  political 
feeling.  But  we  soon  learned  to  love  and  respect  the  man  for 
himself,  and  we  now  mourn  him  as  a  personal  friend.  It  is 
for  those  who  have  known  him  longer  and  better  than  we  to  do 
justice  to  his  character.  We  could  not  omit  this  feeble  and  in- 
adequate tribute  to  his  memory. 

Yesterday  his  remains  were  followed  to  their  last  resting  place 
in  Oakdale  Cemetery  by  the  largest  and  most  deeply  affected 
concourse  of  people  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  Wilmington. 
Many  an  eye  was  wet,  although  long  unused  to  tears,  and  as  the 
solemn  bell  tolled  all  hearts  throbbed  mournfully  and  painfully. 
When  he  died,  a  MAN,  a  noble,  true-hearted  man,  passed  from 
amongst  us. 

Today. 

Saddened  by  a  great  calamity  in  our  midst,  we  have  no  heart 
today  for  political  discussion.  Overpowered  by  feelings  beyond 
our  ability  to  express,  we  know  that  mere  words  would  be  out  of 
place.  Standing  in  heart  by  the  freshly  opened  grave  of  a  valued 
friend,  whose  warm  grasp  yet  thrills  throng  bur  frame,  can  we 
be  expected  to  raise  a  shout  of  contest  or  victory  ?    Duty  to  our 


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234  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

principles  alone  impels  us,  but,  in  sorrow  or  in  joy,  that  feeling 
should  predominate.  We  trust  that  it  will  prove  so  today,  that, 
though  saddened,  the  Democrats  are  not  disheartened. 

Now  is  not  the  time  to  speak  of  recent  events.  Now  is  not  the 
time  to  harrow  up  hearts  yet  bleeding,  and  we  forbear.  That 
God  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb  will  be  the  com- 
forter and  sustainer  of  the  bereaved  ones  in  their  deep  affliction. 
Let  us  trust  that  His  helping  hand  will  not  be  withheld,  that 
He  will  pour  balm  into  the  bleeding  wounds,  that  He  will  bind 
up  the  broken  hearts  of  those  whose  sorrow  is  more  than  they 
can  bear. 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  May  6,  1856. 

As  there  are  reports  in  circulation  calculated  to  do  the  undersigned 
much  Injustice,  in  reference  to  the  late  unfortunate  difficulty  between 
Mr.  Planner  and  Dr.  Wilkings,  we  feel  compelled  to  state  that  with 
the  advice  of  our  lamented  friend,  Dr.  Wllklngs,  we  expressed  our- 
selves on  different  occasions  as  perfectly  willing  to  agree  to  any 
honorable  settlement;  and  under  the  influence  of  this  feeling,  when, 
after  the  second  exchange  of  shots,  Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  jr.,  who  was 
acting  in  the  capacity  of  surgeon  to  both  parties  (both  being  present), 
approached  and  expressed  a  warm  desire  that  the  matter  should  be 
settled,  saying  that  "it  had  gone  far  enough,  and  ought  to  be  settled, 
that  both  parties  had  acted  fairly  and  honorably,  and  had  shown  to 
us,  as  well  as  to  the  world,  that  they  would  always  be  ready  to  resent 
any  imputation  on  their  honor,"  and  then  proposed,  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  Dr.  Wilkings  an  opportunity  of  making  an  explanation 
of  his  remarks  made  in  the  courthouse,  that  Mr.  Planner  should  with- 
draw his  card  published  in  the  Herald  of  the  1st  Inst,  to  which  we 
assented,  expressing  our  willingness,  if  the  card  was  withdrawn,  to 
disclaim  for  Dr.  Wilkings  using  the  language  imputed  to  him  by  Mr. 
Planner.  This  proposition,  coming  as  it  did  from  a  friend  of  both 
parties,  we  sincerely  desired  would  be  accepted  by  the  opposite  party. 
It  was  not,  and  the  matter  proceeded  to  its  unfortunate  termination. 

W.  M.  Walkeb. 
P.  N.  Waddell,  jb. 

These  are  the  very  words,  we  think.    Dr.  McRee  doubtless  recollects. 

The  above  card,  with  a  few  slight  alterations,  was  prepared 
for  publication  last  evening,  but  was  withheld  at  the  suggestion 
of  a  friend,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  make  a  joint  statement  by 
both  parties.  With  that  purpose  in  view,  I  called  upon  Mr. 
O.  P.  Meares,  and  handed  him  the  card  for  his  perusal,  suggest- 
ing at  the  time  that  if  there  was  any  modification  he  desired 
and  we  approved  of  it,  we  would  sign  it.    He  objected  to  the 


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Notable  Incidents  235 

card  on  the  ground  that  it  did  not  contain  a  proposition  for  a 
settlement  of  the  difficulty  which  he,  Mr.  Meares,  had  offered 
me ;  the  acceptance  of  which,  on  consultation,  was  declined,  be- 
cause we  felt  it  would  sacrifice  the  honor  of  our  friend.  This 
proposition  was  not  inserted  in  the  original  card,  because  we 
did  not  consider  it  pertinent  to  our  exculpation  from  the  charges 
now  rife  in  the  community.  I  then  requested  Mr.  Meares  to 
reduce  his  proposition  to  writing,  which  he  did,  but  as  we  differ 
so  materially  in  our  respective  recollections  of  its  character,  I 
thought  it  but  right  to  publish  his  as  well  as  my  own  recollection 

^*  ^*-  W.  M.  Walkee. 

The  last  conversation  held  between  Mr.  Meares  and  Mr.  Walker,  be- 
fore the  third  fire,  was  after  the  following  manner  and  to  this  effect : 
Mr.  Meares  called  Mr.  Walker  to  him  and  said  that  he  was  willing 
to  make  a  f^r  and  honorable  settlement,  that  he,  Mr.  Meares,  would 
not  make  an  unconditional  retraction  of  Mr.  Planner's  card,  but  he,  Mr. 
Meares,  would  make  in  writing  a  withdrawal  or  retraction  for  a 
specific  purpose,  and  that  specific  purpose  (expressed  in  the  same 
paper  writing)  should  be  to  allow  an  explanation  on  the  part  of 
Dr.  Wilkings,  to  which  Mr.  Walker  replied  that  he  would  consult 
his  friends,  and  then  walked  to  where  his  friends  were,  and  after  con- 
versing with  them  for  a  few  moments,  remarked  that  we  would  have 
to  go  to  work  again.    Whereupon  we  immediately  loaded  the  pistols 

and  the  third  fire  was  had.  _  _ 

O.  P.  Meabes. 

May  6,  1856,  12  o'clock. 

N.  B. — ^Mr.  Meares,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Walker,  gives  him  the  above 
as  his  statement  of  his  proposition  made  to  Mr.  Walker  immediately 
before  the  third  fire. 

Mb.  O.  p.  Meabes, 

Dear  Sir: — ^After  having  duly  considered  the  above  statement,  and  not 
being  able  to  reconcile  it  to  my  recollection  of  our  conversation,  I 
consulted  my  friend,  Mr.  Waddell,  to  whom  I  had  repeated  it  word  for 
word  in  a  few  moments  after  its  occurrence.  I  find  his  recollection 
accords  with  my  own,  and  that  is,  that  your  proposition  made  to  me  on 
the  above  occasion,  was  to  the  following  effect:  Dr.  Wilkings  should 
request  in  writing  a  withdrawal  of  the  card  of  Mr.  Planner  and  in  the 
same  writing  should  state  what  would  be  the  character  of  his.  Dr. 
Wilkings',  explanation.  In  this  event,  you  furthermore  stated  you 
would  consent  to  withdraw  Mr.  Planner's  card  for  that  specific  pur- 
pose, viz.:  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  Dr.  Wilkings'  explanation. 
This  proposition,  as  friends  of  Dr.  Wilkings,  having  his  honor  in  our 

keeping,  we  felt  bound  to  reject.  ,     

W.  M.  Walkeb. 

Biay  6,  1S56,  2  o'clock  p.  m. 


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236  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


To  THE  Public. 

I  take  this  method  of  malriTig  a  few  statements  in  explana- 
tion of  the  course  pursued  by  me  in  connection  with  the  recent 
dueL  I  can  say,  with  a  clear  conscience,  that  I  was  fully  im- 
pressed with  the  responsibility  which  was  attached  to  my  posi- 
tion. I  knew  that  upon  one  unguarded  expression,  or  one  im- 
prudent act  of  mine,  might  depend  the  life  of  a  fellow-being.  I 
can  also  say  that  I  was  not  actuated  by  any  feeling  of  enmity 
towards  the  late  Dr.  WiUdngs.  We  had  been  bom  and  reared  in 
the  same  community,  and  though  not  intimate  friends,  we  had 
never  had  any  personal  difficulty  in  our  lives,  I  can  say,  too, 
that  Mr.  Flanner  made  the  declaration  before  he  left  town,  as 
he  did  on  the  field  after  the  second  fire,  that  he  did  not  desire 
to  take  the  life  of  his  opponent,  and  that  he  hoped  a  fair  and 
honorable  settlement  would  be  made.  For  these  reasons,  I  went 
upon  the  field  with  the  full  determination  to  accept  any  propo- 
sition for  a  settlement  which  I  could  r^ard  as  fair  and  honor- 
able, and  during  the  conversation  which  occurred  after  the  sec- 
ond exchange  of  shots,  I  repeatedly  said  that  I  desired  a  fair 
and  honorable  settlement.  By  way  of  showing  my  willingness 
for  such  a  settlement,  I  call  attention  to  the  fact,  that,  as  the 
representative  of  the  challenged  party,  my  duty  was  simply  to 
receive  and  consider  such  propositions  as  might  be  made  by  the 
challenging  party,  and  such  is  the  course  usually  pursued  by 
persons  when  placed  in  the  same  position,  and  yet  I  went  beyond 
my  duty  by  making  the  proposition  for  a  withdrawal  for  a  spe- 
cific purpose,  as  set  forth  in  the  card  signed  by  me  and  pub- 
lished by  Mr.  Walker  in  the  Journal  of  yesterday. 

I  deem  it  due  to  the  public  to  state,  that  the  first  mention 
which  was  made  of  a  settlement  was  immediately  after  the  first 
fire,  when  Dr.  James  F.  McKee,  jr.,  who  was  acting  as  the  sur- 
geon for  both  parties,  remarked  that  he  hoped  the  difficulty 
could  now  be  settled,  as  the  parties  had  taken  one  fire.  Where- 
upon, I  turned  to  Mr.  W.  M.  Walker,  who  was  the  representa- 
tive of  the  other  party,  and  asked  him  the  question,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  all  the  parties:  '*What  have  you  to  say,  Mr.  Walker?" 
To  which  he  immediately  replied  as  follows :  *%ell,  sir,  we  still 
occupy  our  former  position ;  you  must  retract  and  apologize  for 
your  card.''  I  then  said,  "Is  this  all  you  have  to  say  V^  He  an- 
swered, ^^es."    And  then  I  said,  ^'We  have  no  retraction  or 


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Notable  Incidents  237 

apology  to  make."  We  then  loaded  the  pistols  and  the  second 
fire  was  made. 

The  object  of  this  card  is  not  to  give  a  full  account  of  all  the 
facts  which  occurred  upon  the  field ;  it  is  merely  to  state  what  is 
sufficient,  and  no  more,  to  explain  the  course  which  I  pursued 
upon  the  field.  In  conclusion,  I  will  say  that  the  position  taken 
by  me  with  r^ard  to  a  settlement  was  that  I  was  willing  to 
retract  Mr.  Flanner's  card  for  a  specific  purpose,  it  being  so 
expressed  in  writing,  but  that  I  would  not  make  an  uncondi- 
tional retraction  of  his  card. 

I  regret  the  necessity  which  compels  me  to  publish  even  this 
much  upon  this  subject.  O  P  M 

May  8,  1856.  '     *      ^^^^^' 

The  allegation  in  Dr.  Wilkings^  speech  that  the  ticket  of  the 
opposition  was  composed  of  merchants  who  would  not  hesitate 
to  sacrifice  the  public  interests  (quarantine,  etc.)  for  the  sake 
of  a  dollar  brought  out  the  publication  of  Mr.  Flanner's  card  on 
the  following  day,  that  the  statement  was  false,  and  that  Dr. 
Wilkings  knew  it  was  false  when  he  made  it.  Wilkings  promptly 
challenged  Manner,  whose  first  shot  struck  Wilkings'  hat;  the 
third  penetrated  his  right  lung  and  killed  him  instantly. 


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Interesting  Memories 


OLD  SCHOOL  DAYS  IN  WILMINGTON. 

Mr.  Stephen  Jewett,  a  most  amiable  and  estimable  gentle- 
man, cabinet-maker  by  trade,  settled  in  Smithville  about  the 
year  1839,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment service  and  also  as  postmaster  of  that  village.  While 
residing  there  he  married  Miss  Mary  Gracie,  a  Scotch  lady  of 
great  accomplishments,  intimately  related  to  the  president  of 
the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear,  Dr.  John  Hill.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jewett 
subsequently  opened  a  school  at  Smithville  which  they  con- 
ducted jointly,  she  having  been  previously  engaged  in  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching  in  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Jewett  died  while  on 
her  way  to  Moore  County  with  her  husband. 

Some  years  later  Mr.  Jewett  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Brad- 
ley, sister  of  the  late  Mr.  Richard  Bradley.  He  then  made  his 
home  here,  and  became  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Wilmington,  in 
which  capacity  he  served,  honored  and  respected  by  the  com- 
munity, until  his  death  during  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  in 
1862. 

Mr.  George  W.  Jewett,  a  professional  school-teacher  of  supe- 
rior attainments,  came  to  Wilmington  from  Kent  Hill,  Maine, 
at  the  suggestion  of  his  brother  Stephen,  about  the  year  1852, 
and  opened  the  Wilmington  Male  and  Female  Seminary  in  a 
small  frame  house  on  the  west  side  of  Third  Street,  near  Ann 
Street,  and  later  in  the  old  Society  Hall  in  the  rear  of  St. 
James's  Church.  He  was  assisted  in  the  female  department  by 
his  accomplished  wife  and  two  other  Northern  ladies.  Miss  Stet- 
son and  Miss  Whipple.  A  large  majority  of  Mr.  Jewett's  boys 
at  that  time  were  sons  of  the  best  people  of  our  community,  with 
a  reasonable  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  propriety,  notwithstand- 
ing which  his  school  discipline  was  marked,  under  the  influence 
of  passion,  by  frequent  acts  of  unnecessary  severity,  and,  at 
times,  by  positive  cruelty;  which,  instead  of  breaking  down  his 
institution,  increased  the  patronage,  our  fathers  in  those  days 
evidently  regarding  such  physical  treatment  as  both  wholesome 
and  necessary.  There  were  a  few  very  disorderly  boys,  how- 
ever, who  deserved  a  whipping  as  regularly  as  they  got  it.    Who, 

[238] 


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Interesting  Memories  239 

among  the  survivors  of  the  incorrigibles,  can  forget  the  stem 
command:  "Walk  into  the  recitation  room,  sir,"  over  which 
apartment  might  have  been  written,  "He  who  enters  here  leaves 
hope  behind";  because  the  unhappy  culprit  to  whom  this  com- 
mand was  addressed  at  once  gave  himself  up  for  lost,  reminding 
us  of  Marryat's  boy,  Walter  Puddock,  who,  having  been  hauled 
up  by  his  preceptor,  O'Gallagher,  without  remonstrance  imme- 
diately began  to  prepare  for  punishment  by  the  reduction  of 
wearing  apparel. 

Oft  repeated  flagellations,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the 
old-time  Eton  boys,  render  the  subject  callous,  and  some  of  these 
hopeless  cases  of  Mr.  Jewett's  became  so  hardened  by  this  proc- 
ess that  they  ceased  to  make  an  outcry,  and,  in  the  language  of 
the  prize  ring,  came  up  smiling  after  the  first  round,  while  the 
preceptor  had  evidently  the  worst  of  it. 

Two  habitual  offenders,  Henry  McKoy  and  William  Fergus, 
however,  found  it  necessary  to  protect  themselves  from  the  neck 
downwards  with  padding,  which  sometimes  shifted  during  the 
inevitable  struggle,  causing  yells  of  entreaty  which  could  be 
heard  at  a  great  distance. 

Perhaps  the  most  laughable  scene  in  our  four  years'  prepara- 
tion for  college  was  the  startling  appearance  one  morning  of  one 
of  these  boys  changed  from  his  attenuated  habit  of  a  lean  and 
hungry  Cassius  to  a  wonderful  state  of  exaggerated  obesity, 
which  Mr.  Jewett  promptly  discovered  and  proceeded  to  unroll 
and  reduce  before  punishment,  with  the  anxious  inquiry, 
'^Where  on  earth  did  you  get  all  this  flannel  ?" 

Many  who  were  Mr.  Jewett's  pupils  will  recall  the  compul- 
sory singing  lessons  and  the  noisy  demonstrations  when  the  ex- 
hilarating and  senseless  fugues  of  "Three  Blind  Mice"  and 
"Scotland's  Burning"  were  rendered  in  conclusion. 

Two  or  three  years  later  the  school  was  removed  to  the  prem- 
ises on  the  east  comer  of  Third  and  Ann  Streets  and  continued 
until  the  commencement  of  the  war,  when  Mr.  Jewett  went  to 
Statesvilte,  where  he  taught  for  a  while.  He  returned  to  Wil- 
mington about  the  close  of  the  war  and  resumed  teaching  in  the 
house  occupied  by  the  late  Captain  Divine,  and  subsequently 
on  the  comer  of  Second  and  Chestnut  Streets,  but  left  about  the 
year  1881  for  his  former  home  in  Maine,  where  he  died  of  heart 
disease.  The  siunmons  came  suddenly,  while  he  was  sitting 
dressed  in  his  chair.  He  simply  straightened  out  his  arms  and 
ceased  to  breathe. 


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240  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

While  teaching  in  the  Wood  house,  on  the  comer  of  Second 
and  Chestnut  Streets,  an  incident  occurred  which  has  been 
treasured  by  the  surviving  pupils  as  one  of  the  few  occasions 
when  the  boys  "got  ahead  of"  their  alert  preceptor.  Doc  Nutt 
and  John  Cantwell  were  reckoned  as  the  incorrigibles  of  the 
school,  and  they  ceased  not  to  torment  the  teacher  with  their 
irrepressible  pranks ;  it  was,  therefore,  not  at  all  unusual  when 
Mr.  Jewett,  at  the  closing  hour,  ordered  them  one  fine  afternoon 
to  remain  for  punishment.  The  hours  wore  away  until  night- 
fall, and  as  the  teacher  came  not,  the  truth  dawned  on  the  de- 
linquents that  he  had  forgotten  them.  They  heard  his  tread 
upstairs  returning  from  the  lodge  meeting,  followed  by  a  still- 
ness which  convinced  them  that  he  had  retired  for  the  night. 
Immediately  Doc's  fertile  brain  hatched  out  a  plot ;  a  whispered 
agreement  was  made  in  the  semi-darkness  of  the  room;  the 
window  on  Second  Street,  which  was  only  a  few  feet  from  the 
ground  was  raised;  the  two  boys  climbed  gently  to  the  street 
and  lowered  the  sash  to  a  chip  on  the  sill,  so  that  they  could  grip 
it  on  the  outside.  They  then  proceeded  homeward,  and  after  a 
hearty  supper  and  a  sound  sleep,  they  reappeared  at  school  at 
daylight  and  noiselessly  assumed  their  places  at  their  desks. 
When  the  old  woman  who  made  the  fires  and  swept  the  room 
appeared  later,  she  was  fairly  astounded  to  see  them  sleepily 
conning  the  tasks  assigned  to  them.  With  a  loud  exclamation 
she  brought  Mr.  Jewett  down  in  his  night  clothes.  He  was  pro- 
fuse in  his  apologies — distressed  with  the  thought  of  his  f orget- 
fulness — and  tenderly  solicitous  for  their  welfare.  They  had 
suffered  enough,  he  said,  and  were  excused  from  attendance 
until  the  following  day.  The  scamps  played  their  part  well, 
and  wisely  kept  their  own  counsel. 

Market  Street  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets  was  a  busy 
scene  of  healthful  sport  for  the  boys  during  the  hour  of  recess ; 
"old  hundred,'^  "three-handed  cat,"  games  of  marbles  "for  fun" 
and  "for  winnance,"  spinning  tops  of  all  descriptions — ^the  most 
approved  and  expensive  being  fashioned  by  William  Kellogg — 
"jumping  frog,"  walking  on  the  hands  with  the  heels  in  the  air, 
and  other  diversions  made  Jack  anything  but  a  dull  boy.  John 
Kankin  took  first  distinction  in  putting  a  top  to  sleep;  Steve 
Jewett  was  most  skillful  at  marbles ;  little  Tom  Wright  excelled 
at  the  bat;  Jim  Metts  jumped  without  running  and  turned  a 
somersault  in  the  air ;  he  also  walked  on  his  hands  a  whole  block, 
followed  on  foot  by  an  admiring  throng;  and  Eichard  Moore's 


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Interesting  Memories  241 

wonderful  skill  sent  a  clamshell  straight  over  St.  James's 
Church  tower. 

Periodically,  good  Miss  Urquhart,  who  lived  in  the  house 
now  Dr.  Thomas'  office,  mildly  expostulated  when  the  clamor 
became  imbearable ;  and  "soimders,"  who  drove  their  carts  full 
of  ground-peas  to  market,  complained  that  the  leakage  in  pass- 
ing the  school,  caused  by  large  stones  placed  in  the  cart  ruts  by 
the  boys,  was  intolerable.  These  were  minor  incidents  of  con- 
stant recurrence;  but  when  Mr.  Jewett  himself  marked  time 
with  his  big  brass  hand-bell,  in  the  chorus  of 

Scotland's  burning!     Scotland's  burning! 
Look  out!     Look  out! 
Fire!    Fire!    Fire!    Fire! 
Pour  on  water!    Pour  on  water! 

and  the  town  bell  in  the  market  house  brought  the  Howard  Be- 
lief with  their  hand  engine  and  Captain  Griffith  with  his  Hook 
and  Ladder  Company,  our  joy  was  imconfined. 

Jewett's  boys  generally  turned  out  well;  many  became  emi- 
nent in  their  professions.  One  of  the  most  studious,  dignified 
boys  was  Piatt  Dickinson  Walker,  forecasting  his  elevation  to 
the  Supreme  Court. 

Only  two  of  the  forty  boys  (which  was  the  numerical  limit) 
became  a  reproach  to  the  school ;  neither  was  a  fit  associate,  and 
both  were  finally  expelled.  One  became  a  horse  thief,  and  the 
other  a  murderer ;  both  were  outlawed.  In  my  youth  they  were 
held  up  to  me  by  my  parents  as  horrid  examples  of  total  de- 
pravity, in  striking  contrast  with  the  shining  virtues  of  our 
neighbors,  the  Calder  boys,  whose  footsteps  I  have  always  en- 
deavored to  follow. 

A  system  of  monitors  was  a  part  of  Mr.  Jewett's  method  of 
discipline.  At  first,  in  the  old  school,  these  very  brilliant  exam- 
ples of  his  favor  were  privileged  to  fire  the  stove,  sweep  the 
room,  bring  in  water,  and  to  take  a  half  holiday  on  Friday ;  but 
later  this  espionage  became  offensive  and  fell  into  desuetude. 

Mr.  Jewett  always  wore  rubber  shoes,  which  enabled  him  to 
steal  with  cat-like  tread  upon  an  unsuspecting  culprit  absorbed 
in  the  drawing  of  a  caricature  and  administer  a  form  of  punish- 
ment upon  the  ear  which  we  all  despised. 

The  recitation-room  floggings  were  generally  severe,  but  to 

Mr.  Jewett's  credit  it  may  be  said  that  there  was  no  leniency 

shown  to  his  four  nephews,  who  had  all  "a  hard  road  to  travel" ; 

and  Bradley  Jewett,  a  bright  and  genial  pupil,  was  often  im- 

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242  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

posed  upon  in  order  to  exhibit  the  discipline  of  the  academy. 
On  one  occasion  "Brad"  created  a  sensation  by  exhibiting  a 
brass  pistol,  with  which  he  declared  he  would  shoot  his  uncle; 
but  it  was  found  that  the  lock  was  broken,  and  this  bloodthirsty 
design  came  to  naught. 

Eating  during  school  hours  was  strictly  forbidden,  but  several 
boys  who  were  incapable  of  very  severe  intellectual  exercise 
managed  to  smuggle  apples,  pies,  cakes,  and  chunks  of  molasses 
candy  into  their  desks,  which  they  bartered  for  sundry  informa- 
tion about  the  next  lesson.  Galloway  said  that  Solomon's  dog 
did  not  bark  himself  to  death  trying  to  keep  them  out  of  the 
Temple  of  Wisdom. 

Archie  Worth,  beloved  by  all,  was  so  pestered  by  his  hungry 
associates  while  he  ate  his  pie  at  recess,  that  he  had  to  climb  the 
gatepost  to  enjoy  his  repast  in  peace.  From  that  day  he  was 
known  as  "'Tato  Pie.''  Years  afterwards,  while  he  was  limping 
along  the  roadside  during  the  war,  some  strange  troops  passed 
him,  and  one  of  them  exclaimed,  "Well,  if  there  ain't  old  'Tato 
Pie  from  Wilmington !" 

Wednesday  was  given  up  to  lessons  and  exhibitions  in  decla- 
mation. Bob  McEee,  in  "Robert  Emmett's  Defense,"  and  Eu- 
gene Martin,  in  "The  Sailor  Boy's  Dream,"  headed  the  list  and 
melted  us  to  tears.  Clarence  Martin,  Junius  Davis,  Gilbert  and 
Fred  Kidder,  Alexander  and  John  London,  Cecil  Fleming, 
Duncan  and  Richard  Moore,  Piatt  D.  Walker,  John  D.  Barry, 
John  VanBokkelen,  Willie  Gus  Wright,  Levin  Lane,  Griffith 
McEee,  John  Rankin,  Tom  Meares,  Sam  Peterson,  Sonny  West, 
Eddie  and  Tom  DeRosset,  Stephen  and  Willie  Jewett,  Willie 
Meares,  Willie  Lord,  and  others  not  now  recalled,  gave  promise 
of  undying  fame,  in  their  fervid  renditions  of  "Sennacherib," 
"Marco  Bozzaris,"  Patrick  Henry's  "Liberty  or  Death,"  "Mark 
Antony's  Oration  over  Caesar's  dead  Body,"  "Kosciusko,"  "The 
Burial  of  Sir  John  Moore,"  "Hamlet's  Soliloquy,"  and  "Hohen- 
linden"  (alasl  so  few  survive),  and  John  Walker  and  big  Tom 
Wright  divided  honors  on  the  immortal  "Casablanca."  Henry 
Latimer  and  the  writer  were  "tied"  on  the  same  subject,  and  as 
I  was  without  doubt  the  worst  declaimer  in  school,  my  competi- 
tor had  an  easy  victory. 

Our  teacher  endeavored  to  impress  upon  our  minds,  by  re- 
peated admonitions,  the  importance  of  graceful  pose  and  bear- 
ing upon  the  platform.  The  declaimers  were  required  to  bow  to 
the  preceptor  and  to  the  audience  before  proceeding  with  their 


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Interesting  Memories  243 

speeches.  Some  of  these  motions  were  very  ungraceful,  and 
others  worse.  Willie  Martin's  bow  was  like  the  forward  move- 
ment of  a  muscovy  duck;  whereupon,  Mr.  Jewett  admonished 
him  and  directed  him  to  watch  Mr.  Edward  Everett  on  the  occa- 
sion of  his  forthcoming  eulogy  of  Washington,  which  was  the 
talk  of  the  town.  On  the  following  Wednesday  Willie  was 
called  to  the  stage  to  imitate  the  great  speaker  in  his  bow  to  his 
audience,  which  was  done  with  an  expression  of  intense  pain  in 
his  stomach,  to  the  great  delight  and  derision  of  the  whole  school. 

One  of  the  most  memorable  exploits  of  our  school  days  was 
that  of  Walter  G.  MacBae,  who  came  with  his  brother  Roderick 
to  the  old  school  near  "The  Castle.'*  He  had  the  most  retentive 
memory  I  ever  knew,  and  once  when  a  column  of  the  Daily 
Journal,  edited  by  James  Fulton,  which  usually  contained  (to 
us)  the  dryest  sort  of  political  twaddle,  was  read  over  to  him, 
he  repeated  it  "sight  unseen,'*  almost  verbatim,  to  his  admiring 
audience.  Many  years  after,  we  belonged  to  a  local  debating 
society,  and  on  one  occasion  MacRae  was  obliged  to  comply  with 
his  appointment  as  the  principal  speaker.  Picking  up  a  book 
from  the  table,  he  gave  us  the  finest  selection  of  the  season.  At 
its  conclusion  we  took  the  volume  from  his  hands  and  found  it 
to  be  a  child's  spelling  book.  He  had  recited  one  of  Rufus 
Choate's  celebrated  orations. 

Some  of  the  pupils,  mere  lads  at  the  commencement  of  hos- 
tilities, fell  in  battle  for  the  Lost  Cause;  others  have  dropped 
by  the  wayside  in  the  journey  of  life,  and  only  a  few  survive, 
of  whom  we  recall  the  names  and  well-remembered  faces  of 
Eugene  S.  Martin,  Leighton  Boone,  Thomas  H.  Wright,  Gilbert 
P.  Kidder,  Richard  Moore,  Thomas  D.  Meares,  John  London, 
George  G.  Thomas,  Jordan  Thomas,  Piatt  D.  Walker,  J.  T. 
Rankin,  N.  B.  Rankin,  A.  C.  Worth,  W.  E.  Worth,  John  F. 
Shackelford,  John  T.  Northrop,  James  I.  Metts,  John  B.  Lord, 
Stephen  Jewett,  Henry  G.  Latimer,  John  M.  Walker.  The  roll 
of  living  and  dead  is  an  honorable  one  and,  notwithstanding  un- 
pleasant recollections  by  some  who  were  harshly  treated,  reflects 
honor  upon  the  memory  of  him  who  trained  them.  He  was 
always  proud  of  his  boys ;  and  well  he  might  be,  for  it  is  a  well- 
established  fact  that  Mr.  Jewett's  pupils  were  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  collie  in  all  the  necessary  branches  of  their  matricu- 
lation ;  and  that  many  who  were  unable,  by  the  intervention  of 
the  war,  to  enter  collie,  owed  their  comparative  success  in  life 
largely  to  the  early  mental  training  under  that  able  preceptor. 


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244  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

A  characteristic  incident  occurred  in  St.  John's  Lodge  of 
Masons  a  short  time  before  Mr.  Jewett's  death.  A  member  of 
the  fellowcraft  had  just  been  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of 
Master  Mason,  after  a  highly  creditable  examination,  during 
which  he  exemplified  the  work  of  three  d^rees  with  remarkable 
accuracy,  when  Mr.  Jewett  arose,  and  with  apparent  pride  and 
emotion  expressed  his  profound  satisfaction,  remarking  that  the 
younger  brother  had  been  his  pupil  for  four  years  prior  to  the 
War  between  the  States. 

He  was  most  cultivated  and  refined  in  his  social  intercourse, 
which  was  characterized  by  an  urbanity  entirely  at  variance 
with  his  professional  habit. 

His  estimable  wife  died  some  years  before  him,  leaving  an 
only  daughter,  who  was  at  the  close  of  the  war  a  beautiful  and 
accomplished  yoimg  lady.  Miss  Ella  married  Lieutenant  Cros- 
ley,  of  the  United  States  Revenue-Cutter  Service,  but  she  died 
long  since,  without  issue. 

For  several  decades  before  the  war  Fort  Johnston  was  garri- 
soned, and  the  many  officers  of  the  army  quartered  there  added 
greatly  to  the  social  life  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear.  At  that  period 
Smithville,  being  so  easily  accessible  by  steamer,  was  the  f  avor^ 
ite  summer  resort  of  Wilmington  families ;  and  there  the  belles 
and  epauletted  beaux  found  congenial  pastime,  as  described  by 
Mr.  Jewett  in  the  following  lines : 

THE  WAYFARER'S  ADIEU. 

Farewen,  dear  Smithvine!  from  thy  pleasant  halls 

I  haste  reluctant  whither  duty  calls: 

But  for  a  moment  let  me  linger  here 

To  trace  a  grateful  word  and  drop  a  tear. 

For  who  e'er  left  thy  hospitable  shore 

And  blest  and  wept  thee  not  forever  more? 

If  rash  ambition  tempts  me  to  aspire 

To  seize  the  poet's  pen,  without  his  fire, 

And,  all  unskillful,  venture  to  rehearse 

Thy  lofty  virtues  in  heroic  verse, 

Appear,  O  Muse  propitious,  and  supply 

Such  words  and  thoughts  as  fit  the  purpose  high. 

All  hail,  great  Smithvine!  great  in  origin: 

For  did  not  Smith  thy  great  career  begin? 

Great  in  thy  old  renown,  when  heroes  bore 

Their  martial  honors  up  and  down  thy  shore, 

And,  strutting  stiff,  in  yellow  epaulettes. 

Lured  many  a  fair  one  to  their  gaudy  nets. 


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Great  in  thy  battlefield,  our  garrison. 

Where  Cupid's  contests  still  are  lost  and  won; 

Great  in  the  outspread  beauty  of  thy  bay, 

Great  in  the  tiny  fleets  that  on  it  play, 

Great  in  thy  sunshine;  in  thy  moonlight,  great, 

Great  in  thy  risings  and  thy  sittings,  late, 

Great  in  thy  sandy  streets  and  spreading  shades. 

Great  in  fandangoes,  frolics,  and  charades. 

Great  in  thy  pig-fish,  oysters,  trout,  and  clams. 

Great  in  thy  raging  tempests,  great  in  calms. 

Great  in  thy  t6te-k-t6tes  at  dewy  e'en. 

And  great,  ah!  very  great,  in  crinoline. 

What  visions  rise,  what  memories  crowd  around 

My  toiling  pen  at  that  suggestive  sound! 

But  thickest  cluster  in  the  haunts  of  song. 

Where  crinolines,  in  scores,  are  wont  to  throng. 

And  thou!  oh,  sacred  temple  of  The  Nine, 

Where  wit  and  beauty  spread  their  chains  divine, 

How  shall  I  style  thee?  for  thy  noble  name 

Hath  not  been  soiled  by  lips  of  common  fame. 

They  call  thee  "cottage,"  but  that  name  I  scout. 

And  here  forever  blot  the  scandal  out 

No  name  plebeian,  couched  in  vulgar  words, 

Is  thy  true  title:  thou'rt  a  "House  of  Lords." 

What  though  thou  standest  on  Columbia's  soil, 

Her  sons  would  scorn  thy  regal  halls  to  spoil; 

Here,  noble  lords  and  beauteous  ladies  meet. 

And  their  fair  queen  with  loyal  homage  greet: 

Here,  too,  'twas  mine  to  fill  an  humble  place, 

And  taste,  full  oft,  the  sweets  of  royal  grace. 

Methinks  I  see  thee  as  I  oft  have  seen. 

Spangled  with  beauty,  set  in  crinoline. 

The  fair  Columbia  stands  with  stately  grace; 

Benignant  smiles  illumine  her  queenly  face. 

Victoria's  throne  was  bootless  to  confer 

Imperial  dignity  on  such  as  her. 

And  yet  she  stooped — what  folly  to  record — 

The  royal  lady  stooped — ^to  wed  a  Lord. 

Then  we  turn  to  the  court;  and  first  observe 

The  lady  yonder,  with  the  restless  nerve; 

"A  female  archer":  mark  her  pungent  wit. 

In  random  shots,  regardless  whom  they  hit. 

But  most  she  loves  to  shoot  the  pedagogues, 

As  wanton  boys,  for  pastime,  pelt  the  frogs. 

In  youth  she  wore  the  honored  name  of  Brown; 

"My  name,"  sighed  she,  "is  but  a  common  noun." 

A  son  of  science,  with  no  heart  of  stone, 

O'erheard  her  plaint,  and  offered  her  his  own. 

So  wit  and  genius  she  vouchsafed  to  link 

Forever  with  the  rare  name  of  Frink. 


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246  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

On  yonder  face,  bo  beautiful  to  view, 

How  blend  the  lily's  with  the  rose's  hue; 

Her  flashing  eye,  in  Jetty  radiance  burns, 

And  almost  scorches  him  on  whom  it  turns. 

Forth  fly  thy  arrowy  missiles;  maid,  beware. 

Lest  you  should  pierce  the  heart  you  mean  to  spare. 

Tou  may  not  dream  that  flickering  hopes  and  fears 

Hang  trembling  on  a  glance  of  Addie  Meares. 

Upon  that  ample  brow,  where  Jeweled  thought 

Is  fashioned  and  with  graceful  polish  wrought, 

O'erhangs  an  eye  of  rare  intelligence, 

Whose  lightest  glance  reveals  the  solid  sense. 

Deepest  and  dark,  with  grave  and  pensive  ray. 

Save  when  the  radiant  smiles  around  it  play, 

Who  does  not  see  through  the  clear,  pure  light 

That  ever  guides  the  steps  of  Anna  (W) right? 

My  eager  pen,  impatient  to  advance. 

Compels  me  hence  to  take  a  hastier  glance. 

And  scatter  gems  along  the  glowing  line. 

More  brilliant  than  adorn  Golconda's  mine. 

Brown,  Rankin,  Cowan,  Walker,  Prioleau, 

Shall  in  one  brilliant  constellation  glow. 

I  gaze  bedazzled,  yet  delight  me  still 

My  modest  "Valley"  and  the  favorite  "Hill"  (Miss  Lossie). 

But  can  we,  Muse,  the  starry  sphere  portray. 

By  painting  separate  every  golden  ray? 

Then  let  my  pen  this  endless  task  resign. 

And  bid  our  stars  in  blended  glory  shine. 

But  hark!  from  rosy  lips  there  pour  along 

The  echoing  walls  the  mingled  streams  of  song. 

Quick  to  the  soul  the  conquering  floods  make  way 

And  song  and  beauty  hold  divinest  sway. 

Apollo  could  but  listen,  gaze,  admire, 

And  hate,  henceforth,  his  goddess  and  his  lyre. 

Oh  sacred,  cherished  spot!  to  yield  thee  up 

Is  gall  and  wormwood  in  my  parting  cup. 

Farewell,  farewell!    May  wintry  winds 

Strain  gently  on  thy  braces  and  thy  pins. 

May  no  rude  storm  unroof  thee  and  expose 

Thy  naked  ribs  to  their  remorseless  blows. 

May  time  and  whitewash  still  thy  years  prolong 

To  shelter  beauty,  genius,  worth,  and  song. 

Farewell,  ye  summer  pleasures,  bright  and  brief. 

That  fade  and  fall  before  the  early  leaf; 

With  summer  suns  thy  leaves  again  return. 

The  life  that  bare  you,  there  may  flll  an  urn. 

Farewell,  ye  warblers,  matrons,  maidens,  all. 

Whose  forms  are  wont  to  grace  our  festive  hall. 

Farewell!    May  Heaven  His  sweetest  peace  diffuse 

Through  each  pure  breast  as  sink  the  gentle  dews. 


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'Neath  all  His  shielding  sgis  may  you  rest, 
With  life,  health,  love,  and  friendship  blest 
And  when  from  raging  summer's  heats 
Impelled  again  to  flee, 
You  grace  once  more  the  cool  retreats, 
May  I  be  there  to  see. 


COLONEL  JAMES  G.  BURR. 

Col.  James  G.  Burr,  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  highly  es- 
teemed citizens,  died  November  13,  1898,  aged  80  years. 

He  was  bom  in  Wilmington  and  was  prominent  in  all  of  its 
stirring  events.  For  many  years  he  was  cashier  of  the  Bank  of 
Cape  Fear.  During  the  War  between  the  States,  he  was  colonel 
of  the  raiment  of  Home  Guards.  After  the  war  he  resumed 
his  profession  as  a  banker.  Later,  he  was  assistant  postmaster 
of  Wilmington  under  O.  G.  Parsley,  Esq.,  during  Cleveland's 
administration. 

Colonel  Burr,  like  his  brother  Talcott,  had  fine  literary  at- 
tainments, and  possessed  a  discriminating  mind,  together  with 
an  admirable  judgment  of  men.  He  was  much  interested  in 
local  history  and  was  regarded  as  an  authority  with  reference  to 
important  dates  and  deeds  on  the  Cape  Fear.  He  wrote  with 
precision  and  elegance,  and  contributed  many  interesting  narra- 
tives to  the  local  press  over  his  nom  de  plume,  "Senex." 

Associated  all  through  life  with  our  leading  citizens,  he  knew 
them  well,  and  his  sketches,  valuable  for  their  accuracy,  have 
served  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  memory  of  many  who,  in 
their  day,  adorned  our  conmiunity. 

Attracted  by  mutual  interest  in  the  tales  and  traditions  of 
the  Cape  Fear,  many  years  before  his  death  we  became  devoted 
friends;  and,  in  recognition  of  my  high  regard  for  him,  he 
voluntarily  made  over  to  me  all  his  manuscripts  and  publica- 
tions, of  which  he  had  a  large  accumulation.  A  few  weeks  be- 
fore his  last  illness,  however,  he  came  to  my  office  and  confided 
to  me  that  he  had  destroyed  all  his  manuscripts. 

He  explained  that  he  had  been  prevailed  upon  to  republish 
the  distressing  story  of  the  desecration  of  the  Holy  Sacrament 
by  a  party  of  twelve  local  debauchees  in  the  early  days  of  the 
town,  and  that  he  had  been  reproached  repeatedly  that  morning 
by  some  descendants  of  those  involved  in  that  horrible  affair; 
that  he  had  then  returned  home  and  made  a  bonfire  in  his  back- 
yard of  all  the  manuscripts  which  he  had  promised  to  leave  me. 


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248  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  condensation  of  his  sketch  of  the  Thalian  Association, 
and  the  article  on  Johnson  Hooper  and  the  British  consul,  how- 
ever, may  serve  to  keep  his  memory  green. 


THE  THALIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

In  1871  Col.  James  G.  Burr  performed  a  grateful  service  to 
the  community  by  publishing  a  pamphlet  of  fifty  pages  giving 
an  account  of  the  Thalian  Association,  together  with  sketches 
of  many  of  its  members,  from  which  the  following  has  been  con- 
densed: 

When,  during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  Col.  James  Innes 
was  in  command  of  all  the  colonial  forces  in  Virginia,  he  made 
his  will,  in  which  he  devised  a  large  part  of  his  estate,  after  the 
death  of  his  wife,  for  the  use  of  a  free  school  for  the  benefit  of 
the  youth  of  North  Carolina.  A  quarter  of  a  century  later  the 
Legislature  appointed  trustees  of  "Innes  Academy,"  and  in 
1788  subscriptions  were  taken  up  among  the  citizens,  and  the 
three  lots  next  north  of  Princess  between  Third  and  Fourth 
Streets  were  secured,  and  subsequently,  by  way  of  confirming 
the  title,  were  purchased  from  the  University  "as  escheated 
property  of  Michael  Higgins,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  the 
town  of  Wilmington."^ 

Before  the  completion  of  the  academy  building  a  theatrical 
corps  had  been  organized  in  Wilmington,  and  an  arrangement 
had  been  made  between  them  and  the  trustees  of  the  academy 
for  the  lower  part  of  the  building  to  be  fitted  up  and  used  ex- 
clusively as  a  theatre;  and  a  perpetual  lease  was  made,  con- 
formably, to  the  Thalian  Association.  The  building  was  erected 
about  the  year  1800,  when  the  town  could  boast  of  hardly  more 
than  1,500  inhabitants.  Years  afterwards,  the  academy  fell 
into  ruin  and  was  not  used  for  educational  purposes.  The 
Thalian  Association,  however,  continued  to  hold  possession. 
Its  claim  was  resisted  by  the  University,  and  by  way  of  com- 
promise the  property  was  sold  and  purchased  by  the  town,  it 
being  agreed  that  half  the  purchase  money  should  be  applied  to 
the  erection  of  a  building  with  suitable  rooms  for  theatrical 
performances. 


iThe  investigations  of  W.  B.  McKoy,  Esq.,  show  that  this  property  was 
escheated,  not  because  it  had  belonged  to  Higgins,  but  to  two  Tories. 


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Interesting  Memories  249 

Of  the  members  of  the  first  Thalian  Association,  the  name  of 
Col.  Archibald  McNeill^  alone  has  been  preserved.  He  was  the 
star  performer,  and  in  his  delineation  of  the  character  of  Ham- 
let very  few  professional  actors  could  excel  him. 

After  some  years  a  second  Thalian  Association  was  organ- 
ized, among  the  members  being  Edward  B.  Dudley,  William 
B.  Meares,  Charles  J.  Wright,  James  S.  Green,  William  M. 
Green,  Julius  H.  Walker,  William  C.  Lord,  James  Telfair, 
Charles  L.  Adams,  Dr.  James  F.  McEee,  Col.  John  D.  Jones, 
Robert  Rankin,  William  H.  Halsey,  Thomas  Loring,  John 
Cowan,  and  others  not  now  remembered. 

Of  Governor  Dudley  mention  is  elsewhere  made.  Mr.  Meares 
was  a  lawyer  of  commanding  influence,  at  one  time  coming 
within  one  vote  of  being  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States ;  but,  unhappily,  he  died  suddenly,  while  yet  in  the  full 
maturity  of  his  powers. 

Charles  J.  Wright  was  an  actor  by  intuition.  He  strode  the 
boards  with  a  majesty  and  grace  that  Cooper  or  Cook  might 
have  envied  in  their  palmiest  days.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Judge  J.  G.  Wright,  and  a  lawyer,  but  became  president  of  the 
Wilmington  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State.  His  son,  Lieut. 
William  Henry  Wright,  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  at 
West  Point,  Beauregard  being  next,  and  became  eminent  as  an 
officer  of  the  Engineer  Corps. 

Julius  Walker  was  an  actor  of  extraordinary  merit.  He  had 
great  fondness  for  the  drama,  and  had  few  equals  as  an  amateur 
performer. 

James  S.  Green,  the  treasurer  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon 
Railroad  Company  from  its  organization  till  his  death,  in  1862, 
was  unequaled  as  a  comedian.  He  was  an  admirable  type  of 
the  Cape  Fear  gentleman  of  the  olden  time,  with  a  fund  of 
anecdote  and  wit,  and  as  a  story-teller  unrivaled.  Passionately 
fond  of  music,  he  sang  the  plaintive  ballads  of  the  old  days  with 
great  feeling  and  expression. 

Col.  John  D.  Jones  excelled  in  the  character  of  Hamlet. 
Reared  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  he  early  abandoned  it  for  the 
more  genial  pursuits  of  literature  and  agriculture.  He  was 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  presided  with  great 

lAt  that  time  there  were  two  McNeills,  kinsmen,  in  Wilmington; 
Archibald,  a  grandson  of  Sir  Charles  Wright,  the  last  royal  governor  of 
Georgia,  and  related  to  the  Hasells  and  others;  and  Dr.  Daniel  McNeill, 
father  of  William  Gibhe  McNeill,  the  famous  engineer,  who  was  the 
grandfather  of  the  celebrated  James  Abbott  McNeill  Whistler. 


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250  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ability.  Later,  he  was  naval  officer  of  the  port  and  president  of 
the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear. 

Dr.  James  F.  McRee^  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  his 
profession,  in  this  or  any  other  State ;  a  most  successful  practi- 
tioner and  a  bold  and  brilliant  operator.  He  had  great  scholarly 
attainments,  was  fond  of  the  classics,  wrote  with  ease  and  ele- 
gance, was  equally  at  home  in  the  researches  of  philosophy  and 
the  mazes  of  metaphysics,  the  natural  sciences  and  the  polite 
literature  of  the  day. 

William  M.  Green,  later  bishop  of  Mississippi,  remarkable 
for  intelligence,  suavity  of  manner,  and  for  a  beauty  somewhat 
feminine,  and  David  M.  Miller,  father  of  the  late  lamented  Col. 
James  T.  Miller,  played  with  success  the  role  of  female  chaiv 
acters. 

William  C.  Lord  sustained  the  role  of  the  sentimental  gen- 
tleman with  great  dignity  and  propriety.  He  was  one  of 
nature's  noblemen. 

John  Cowan  was  admirable  in  genteel  comedy.  His  fine 
figure,  graceful  manner,  and  correct  gesticulations  appeared  to 
great  advantage  on  the  stage.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Col. 
Thomas  Cowan,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  town,  and  was  one 
of  the  handsomest  men  of  the  day.  He  became  cashier  of  the 
Bank  of  the  State. 

William  H.  Halsey  frequently  appeared  on  the  stage  and 
was  as  natural  as  life.  He  was  prominent  in  his  profession,  and 
left  the  reputation  of  a  lawyer  of  great  learning. 

Charles  L.  Adams  played  well  his  part  among  the  choice 
spirits  of  those  days  and  added  much  to  the  success  of  their 
representations  by  his  versatility  of  talent,  knowledge  of  scenic 
effects,  and  unfailing  good  humor. 

Thomas  Loring  was  an  excellent  performer  in  the  higher 
walks  of  tragedy.  He  had  a  face  of  marked  expression,  a  voice 
deep-chested  and  sonorous,  and  in  his  rendition  of  the  characters 
of  Shylock  and  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  there  was  an  earnest- 
ness and  a  passion  not  easily  forgotten.  Mr.  Loring  was  one 
of  the  best  known  editors  in  the  State. 

After  an  existence  of  some  years  this  organization  ceased,  but 
not  until  it  had  been  of  much  service  to  the  commimity.  Not 
only  had  it  afforded  entertainment,  but  it  had  been  still  more 
beneficial  in  the  development  of  talent  and  in  fostering  an  inters 
est  in  the  drama,  as  well  as  disseminating  culture  generally 
among  the  citizens.    Nor  was  it  long  before  the  association  was 


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Interesting  Memories  251 

revived  by  another  set  of  aspirants  for  the  buskin  who  did  not 
in  point  of  talent  disgrace  their  predecessors. 

Among  them  were  Joseph  A.  Hill,  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright, 
Robert  H.  Cowan,  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  Dr.  John  Hill, 
Lawrence  D.  Dorsey,  John  Nutt  Brown,  and  many  others. 
They  played  with  very  great  success. 

Joseph  A.  Hill  shone  on  the  mimic  stage,  as  he  did  upon  the 
actual  stage  of  life,  with  unfailing  lustre.  A  son  of  William 
H.  Hill  and  a  grandson  of  John  Ashe,  he  had  no  rival  of  his 
age  as  a  debater  and  orator,  and  no  superior  of  any  age  in 
North  Carolina. 

Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright  played  female  characters  with  great 
success.    He  became  president  of  the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear. 

Robert  H.  Cowan  was  a  very  popular  member  of  the  associa- 
tion and  bore  a  prominent  part  in  all  their  representations. 
After  preparing  for  the  law,  he  abandoned  it  for  agriculture. 

Dr.  James  H.  Dickson  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  asso- 
ciation, appeared  frequently  upon  the  stage,  and  was  regarded 
as  an  exceUent  performer.  Embracing  the  profession  of  medi- 
cine, he  sprang  at  once  into  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He 
possessed  great  power — ^was  a  student  all  his  life,  a  lover  of 
books  and  a  thinker,  a  man  of  scholarly  attainment  and  fond  of 
scientific  study.  He  fell  at  his  post  of  duty,  one  of  the  earliest 
victims  of  the  fearful  epidemic  of  1862. 

Dr.  John  Hill  frequently  appeared  upon  the  boards,  always 
in  genteel  comedy  and  as  the  gentleman  of  .the  piece,  which 
harmonized  well  with  his  graceful  figure  and  easy  manner. 
He  was  a  remarkably  handsome  man.  Endowed  wilJi  versatile 
talents,  he  graced  equally  the  stage  and  the  drawing-room. 
While  eminent  as  a  physician,  he  achieved  a  particular  fame  for 
his  literary  accomplishments.  He  became  president  of  the 
Bank  of  Cape  Fear,  and  was  known  as  Dr.  John  ^TBanF'  Hill, 
to  distinguish  him  from  his  kinsman,  Dr.  James  H.  Hill. 

Eventually  this  association,  like  its  predecessor,  dissolved; 
but  there  came  along  a  strolling  company  of  actors  who  leased 
the  theatre  for  two  or  three  seasons,  and  after  their  departure, 
interest  in  theatricals  having  revived,  a  third  organization  was 
formed. 

The  members  of  the  new  association  well  sustained  the  repu- 
tation of  the  former  players.  For  a  long  time  they  offered  the 
only  source  of  amusement  to  the  public,  and  crowded  houses 
always  greeted  their  performances.    On  tl»  list  of  members  we 


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252  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

find  the  names  of  William  Cameron,  John  S.  James,  L.  H. 
Marsteller,  Bela  H.  Jacobs,  P.  W.  Fanning,  John  MacRae, 
Augustus  Ramousin,  Joshua  James,  E.  H.  Wingate,  J.  F. 
Gianople,  J.  P.  Brownlow,  A.  A.  Brown,  J.  McColl,  W.  E. 
Blaney,  E.  Withington,  Daniel  Sherwood,  C.  Manning,  William 
Lowry,  W.  N.  Peden,  Dr.  W.  J.  Price,  R.  J.  Dorsey,  Daniel 
Dickson,  Roger  Moore,  W.  A.  Allen. 

William  Cameron  was  a  bom  actor,  possessing  great  versa- 
tility of  talents,  and  was  passionately  fond  of  theatrical  amuse- 
ments.   Later  in  life  he  removed  farther  South. 

Lewis  H.  Marsteller,  a  descendant  of  Col.  Lewis  D.  Mars- 
teller,  distinguished  in  the  Revolution  and  one  of  the  pallbearers 
of  General  Washington,  at  an  early  age  came  to  Wilmington 
from  Virginia.  He  played  the  sentimental  gentleman,  and  was 
easy  and  natural  on  the  stage.  He  was  at  one  time  the  most 
popular  man  in  the  coimty  and  was  never  defeated  before  the 
people.    He  was  collector  of  customs  and  clerk  of  the  court. 

Price,  Jacobs,  Wingate,  Brown,  Moore,  Withington,  Ramou- 
sin, Gianople,  Brownlow,  and  Dickson  were  all  good  actors  and 
reflected  credit  on  the  association. 

There  were  but  few  better  amateur  performers  than  John  S. 
James.  His  conception  and  delineation  of  the  powerfully  drawn 
character  of  Pescara  in  The  Apostate,  equaled  and  in  many 
instances  surpassed  the  best  efforts  of  celebrated  performers. 
P.  W.  Fanning  played  the  old  man  with  such  success  that  he  is 
still  remembered  by  the  play-going  people  of  those  days  as  that 
"good  old  man'';  while  Sherwood,  with  his  fine  figure  and 
charming  voice,  bore  off  the  palm  in  genteel  comedy. 

This  association  after  a  time  met  the  fate  of  its  predecessors, 
and  the  theatre  remained  closed  until  about  the  year  1846,  when 
the  fourth  and  last  association  was  organized.  Its  first  presi- 
dent was  Col.  James  T.  Miller;  Donald  MacRae  was  secretary 
and  treasurer ;  S.  R.  Ford,  stage  manager,  and  Dr.  W.  W.  Har^ 
riss,  prompter.  On  the  roll  of  members  were  the  names  of 
Thomas  Sanford,  William  Hill,  Adam  Empie,  E.  D.  Hall,  J.  G. 
Burr,  E.  A.  Gushing,  John  C.  MacRae,  John  R.  Reston,  John 
J.  Hedrick,  Talcott  Burr,  jr.,  A.  O.  Bradley,  John  Walker, 
W.  W.  Harriss,  J.  T.  Watts,  J.  G.  Green,  W.  H.  Lippitt, 
John  L.  Meares,  Donald  MacRae,  John  Cowan,  J.  J.  Lippitt, 
George  Harriss,  Mauger  London,  W.  A.  Burr,  R.  H.  Cowan, 
H.  W.  Burgwyn,  H.  P.  Russell,  Edward  Cantwell,  J.  B.  Rus- 
sell, W.  B.  Meares,  L.  H.  Pierce,  W.  D.  Cowan,  G.  L.  Dudley, 


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E.  F.  Langdon,  E.  A.  Keith,  F.  N.  Waddell,  J.  S.  Williams, 
Eobert  Lindsay,  -Wilkes  Morris,  Eli  W.  Hall,  W.  M.  Harriss, 
S.  E.  Ford,  J.  T.  Miller,  Alfred  Martin,  Stephen  Jet^ett,  A.  H. 
VanBokkelen,  T.  C.  Mellhenny,  F.  J.  Lord,  J.  A.  Baker, 
A.  M.  Waddell,  C.  W.  Myers,  F.  P.  Poisson,  J.  H.  Planner, 
DuBrutz  Cutlar,  Edward  Savage,  Eobert  Strange,  William 
Eeston,  J.  E.  London,  George  Myers,  Henry  Savage,  James  A. 
Wright,  O.  S.  Baldwin,  L.  H.  DeEosset,  J.  Hill  Wright. 

"Of  the  merits  of  this  company,'^  says  Colonel  Burr,  "it  may 
not  be  proper  for  us  to  speak,  as  so  many  of  its  members  are 
still  living  in  our  midst — suffice  it  to  say  that  in  ability  and 
histrionic  talent  it  was  fully  up  to  the  standard  of  the  preceding 
associations."  After  much  labor  and  expense  in  repairing  the 
building,  many  delays,  disappointments,  and  discouragements, 
the  opening  night  at  length  arrived.  The  play  was  The  Lady 
of  Lyons,  the  afterpiece  ^Tis  All  a  Farce,  with  the  following 
cast  of  characters : 

The  Ladt  of  Lyons. 

Claude  Melnotte .William  HiU 

Beauseant A.  O.  Bradley 

Glavis  Talcott  Burr,  jr. 

Colonel  Damas  Robert  Lindsay 

Gaspar  John  Walker 

Mons.  Deschappelles E.  A.  Keith 

Landlord  Gtoorge  Harriss 

First  Officer  Donald  MacRae 

Second  Officer G.  L.  Dudley 

Madame  Deschappelles  W.  B.  Meares 

Pauline J.  T.  Watts 

Widow  Melnotte J.  J.  Lippitt 

'Tis  Aix  A  Fabce. 

Numpo  B.  D.  Hall 

Belgardo   Adam  ESmpie 

Don  Gortes  Mauger  London 

Don  Testy  B.  A.  Gushing 

Carolina    J.  J.  Hedrick 

The  theatre  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity  with  a  brilliant 
and  excited  audience,  for  to  add  to  the  interest  of  the  occasion 
the  names  of  the  debutants  of  popular  favor  had  been  kept  a 
profound  secret.  There  was  not  one  among  them  who  had  ever 
appeared  in  front  of  the  footlights,  and  the  excitement  and  ap- 
prehension, therefore,  behind  the  scenes,  incident  to  a  first  ap- 


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254  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

pearance,  can  only  be  appreciated  by  those  who  have  under- 
gone a  similar  ordeal.  The  performance  was  a  great  success, 
each  actor  was  perfect  in  his  part  and  remarkably  correct  in  the 
delineation  of  the  character  assimied.  The  machinery  of  the 
stage,  that  most  vital  adjunct  to  the  success  of  all  theatrical 
exhibitions,  was  admirably  managed,  and  the  applause,  long 
and  continued  at  the  close  of  the  performance,  testified  in  lan- 
guage too  plain  to  be  misunderstood  the  hearty  approval  of  the 
delighted  audience.  Many  representations  followed  with  equal 
success,  and  the  association  soon  became  a  permanent  institu- 
tion. Allied  to  the  entire  community,  as  nearly  all  its  members 
were,  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity  or  business  relations,  it  was 
felt  that  their  characters  were  suflScient  guaranty  that  nothing 
would  be  presented  that  wotdd  shock  the  sensibility  of  the  mod- 
est or  wound  the  piety  of  the  devout.  The  association  modestly 
but  confidently  appealed  to  the  public  for  generous  support. 
Need  we  say  how  such  an  appeal  was  responded  to  by  a  Wil- 
mington audience?  Their  well-known  liberality  was  bestowed 
with  no  niggard  hand,  and  the  association  flourished  beyond 
measure  and  became  immensely  popular. 

The  great  ability  displayed  by  tie  members  of  this  last  asso- 
ciation was  fully  recognized  and  appreciated  by  all  classes  of 
society,  but  as  most  of  them  are  still  living  and  are  residents 
of  our  city,  it  would  be  rather  indelicate  to  particularize,  and 
we  can  therefore  only  refer  to  them  in  general  terms  of  com- 
mendation; but,  as  memory  brings  up  the  vanished  past  and 
the  virtues  of  the  departed,  we  may  surely  pause,  if  but  for  a 
moment,  to  lay  a  few  mosses  upon  the  mounds  of  some  of  those 
who  joined  with  us  in  sportive  glee  and  shared  alike  our  sorrows 
and  our  joys. 

James  T.  Miller,  the  first  president  of  the  association,  was 
very  active  and  instrumental  in  perfecting  the  organization,  but 
never  appeared  upon  the  stage.  He  took  great  interest  in  its 
success  and  was  always  very  busy  behind  the  scenes  during  every 
performance.  Mr.  Miller  became  quite  prominent  as  a  party 
leader,  served  in  the  House  of  Commons,  was  mayor  of  the  town 
and  also  chairman  of  the  Court  of  Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions, 
and  from  1854  till  his  death  was  collector  of  customs.  Poor 
Miller !  We  miss  thy  familiar  form,  thy  pleasant  greeting,  thy 
hearty  laugh,  thy  harmless  idiosyncrasies;  we  miss  thee  from 
the  favorite  spots  where  friends  did  mostly  congregate  to  while 
away  the  time  in  pleasant  converse  and  innocent  amusement, 


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Interesting  Memories  255 

and  thou,  the  centre  of  attraction,  making  all  merry  with  thy 
playful  humor.  In  the  vigor  of  stalwart  manhood.  Miller  was 
struck  down  by  the  fearful  pestilence  of  1862,  and  our  city 
mourned  the  loss  of  a  most  useful,  most  popular,  and  most  esti- 
mable citizen. 

Eli  W.  Hall  was  an  admirable  light  comedian,  a  capital  repre- 
sentative of  humorous  characters  and  an  actor  of  great  promise 
and  versatility  of  talent.  He  sometimes  essayed  the  higher 
walks  of  tragedy,  commanding  the  attention  of  the  audience  by 
the  power  of  his  representations.  He  became  a  lawyer  and  com- 
manded an  extensive  practice.  He  was  elected  to  tiie  Senate  in 
1860,  1862,  and  again  in  1864,  and  won  fame  in  the  legislative 
halls  as  a  ready  and  able  debater.  He  possessed  a  brilliant 
imagination  and  vivid  fancy,  with  a  wonderful  command  of 
language,  and  few  men  could  address  a  popular  assembly  with 
more  eloquence  and  effect.  He  was  a  courteous,  honorable,  well- 
read  gentleman,  of  strict  integrity,  entirely  devoid  of  ostentation 
or  egotism,  and  justly  poptdar  in  all  classes  of  society. 

Thomas  Sanford  was  the  oldest  member  of  the  association, 
and  one  of  the  best  amateur  performers  that  ever  appeared  in 
Wilmington.  He  was  entirely  at  home  upon  the  stage ;  his  style 
was  easy,  graceful,  and  natural,  and  his  voice,  of  remarkable 
power  and  compass,  never  failed  him  under  any  circumstances. 
He  had  had  much  experience  in  theatricals,  for  in  early  youth 
he  was  a  member  of  a  Thespian  association  in  Philadelphia. 
Edwin  Forrest,  the  eminent  tragedian,  was  also  a  member  of 
the  same  company,  and  at  that  time  Sanford  was  regarded  as 
the  better  actor  of  the  two.  He  was  the  star  of  the  association, 
always  appeared  in  leading  characters,  and  his  appearance  in 
any  character  and  on  any  occasion  was  always  a  success. 

Talcott  Burr,  jr.,  not  only  excelled  in  genteel  comedy  but  was 
most  excellent  in  the  higher  branches  of  dramatic  art.  Gifted 
with  a  strong  and  discriminating  mind,  which  extensive  reading 
had  highly  improved  and  cultivated,  he  at  first  devoted  himself 
to  the  practice  of  law,  but  finding  it  unsuited  to  his  taste, 
adopted  the  profession  of  public  journalist,  in  which  so  many 
men  have  risen  to  eminence  and  usefulness. 

John  R.  Reston — ^who  does  not  remember  and  who  did  not 
love  John  Reston  ?  One  of  the  most  amiable,  kindhearted,  gen- 
erous beings  that  ever  lived ;  guileless  as  a  child,  a  creature  of 
impulse  and  of  the  most  unsuspecting  generosity;  a  friend  to 
every  one  and  an  enemy  only  to  himself,  he  was  never  so  happy 


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256  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

as  when  engaged  in  some  disinterested  act  of  kindness  or  minis- 
tering to  the  pleasure  of  others. 

Nature  had  been  lavish  in  her  gifts  to  him.  No  one  could  be 
in  his  company,  for  however  short  a  time,  without  feeling  the 
influence  of  his  rich  and  imctious  humor,  his  genial  bonhomie, 
his  entire  unselfishness,  and  not  admire,  also,  the  exhibition  of 
that  virtue  which  so  few  of  us  possess,  the  desire  to  avoid,  even 
in  the  slightest  degree,  anything  that  might  give  pain  to  others. 
He  had  a  fine  ear  for  music  and  sang  with  wonderful  sweetness 
and  expression;  his  voice  was  not  cultivated,  but  his  tone  was 
singularly  soft  and  perfect,  like  the  mournful  sighing  of  the 
breeze  through  the  lofty  pines  of  the  forest.  We  were  boys 
together,  and  I  knew  him  well;  "a  fellow  of  infinite  jest,  of 
most  excellent  fancy,  whose  flashes  of  merriment  were  wont  to 
set  the  table  in  a  roar."  Green  be  the  turf  above  and  lightly 
may  it  rest  upon  him,  for  the  earth  covers  not  a  heart  more 
generous  nor  one  more  entirely  unselfish. 

Dr.  Alfred  O.  Bradley  displayed  histrionic  talent  of  a  very 
high  order.  He  was  inimitable  as  Sir  Able  Handy,  most  excel- 
lent as  Max  Harkaway,  in  London  Assurance,  and  as  Beauseant, 
in  The  Lady  of  Lyons,  was  decidedly  the  best  representative  of 
that  character  we  have  ever  seen  on  any  stage.  In  the  beautiful 
play  Fevdal  Times  he  appeared  as  Lord  Angus,  a  fiery  represent- 
ative of  the  haughty  Douglas,  and  played  it  with  a  vehemence 
and  power  that  astonished  all  who  witnessed  the  performance. 

James  A.  Wright  was  one  of  the  most  youthful  members  of 
the  association,  and  his  career  upon  the  stage,  though  very  brief, 
was  full  of  promise.  Few  men  in  our  State — ^few  men  in  any 
State  of  his  age — ^had  brighter  prospects  of  a  more  brilliant 
future.  Descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential 
families  on  the  Cape  Fear,  he  inherited  in  large  degree  the  vir- 
tues for  which  they  have  always  been  so  justly  distinguished. 
Nature  had  been  kind  to  him,  and  education  had  given  polish 
and  brilliancy  to  the  jewels  with  which  he  was  endowed  and  that 
adorned  his  character.  But  alas  I  for  human  hopes  and  human 
calculations.  The  dark  cloud  of  the  War  between  the  States, 
whose  mutterings  had  been  heard  for  years,  at  length  burst  sud- 
denly upon  us,  and  the  State  called  upon  her  sons  to  go  forth 
and  battle  for  the  right.  He  was  among  the  first  to  obey  the  call, 
and  at  the  head  of  his  company  marched  to  Virginia  to  meet 
the  hostile  invaders,  and  at  Mechanicsville,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-six,  he  sealed  his  devotion  to  his  country  with  his  heart's 
blood. 


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We  have  not  the  space  to  speak,  as  we  would  like  to  do,  of 
the  merits  of  Gushing,  Hill,  Lippitt,  Cowan,  Pierce,  Waddell, 
and  Stephen  Jewett.  They  played  well  their  parts  in  the 
world's  great  drama,  and  "after  life's  fitful  fever,  they  sleep 
well"  in  the  vast  and  silent  city  of  the  dead. 

This  association  continued  to  occupy  and  use  the  theatre 
building  until  the  old  building  was  sold,  as  already  mentioned. 
The  authorities  of  the  town  had  determined  upon  the  erection 
of  a  city  hall  on  the  site  of  the  Old  Academy,  and  purchased  the 
property  for  that  purpose.  The  association  received  one-half 
of  the  purchase  money.  Thalian  HaU  was  the  result  Mr. 
Donald  MacEae  was  at  that  time  president  of  the  association, 
and  to  his  energy,  perseverance,  and  acknowledged  business 
ability  are  we  indebted  for  the  beautiful  theatre  which  reflects 
so  much  credit  upon  our  city.  The  new  building  was  leased  by 
Mr.  Marchant,  a  weU-known  theatrical  manager,  and  opened  to 
the  public  in  October,  1859.  The  members  of  the  association 
had  now  grown  older  and  were  more  averse  to  appearing  upon 
the  stage,  and  the  organization  found  itself  hampered  with  a 
heavy  debt.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  a  proposition  was 
made  to  the  authorities  of  the  town  that  if  they  would  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  the  association,  all  the  right,  title,  and 
interest  in  that  part  of  the  building  used  for  theatrical  purposes 
would  be  sxmrendered.  This  was  acceded  to — the  transfers 
made  in  proper  form — and  the  Wilmington  Thalian  Association 
as  a  theatrical  organization  ceased  to  exist. 

However,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  before  its  dissolution,  the 
Wilmington  Thalian  Association  contributed  a  stone,  inscribed 
with  its  name,  to  be  placed  in  the  monument  to  George  Wash- 
ington in  Washington  Gity,  and  that  stone,  now  imbedded  in  the 
monument  to  the  Father  of  his  Gountry,  perpetuates  its  memory. 


17 


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258  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

A  FRAGMENTARY  MEMORY  OF  JOHNSON  HOOPER. 

By  James  G.  Burh. 

The  impressions  made  upon  the  mind  in  childhood  and  youth 
are  always  the  most  vivid  and  enduring,  and  though  in  the 
daily  pursuits  of  life,  in  the  arduous  struggle  for  success  and 
the  jarring  conflicts  of  adverse  elements,  those  impressions  may 
for  a  time  be  obscured  or  forgotten,  yet  they  are  never  lost.  As 
ago  creeps  upon  us  and  we  live  in  recollection  more  than  we  do 
in  hope,  that  longing  for  the  past  of  our  boyhood  cleaves  to  us 
all.  Our  thoughts  fly  backward  to  the  scenes  and  associations 
of  our  youth  and  fasten  themselves  upon  them  with  a  longing 
that  nothing  else  can  satisfy.  The  present  and  the  future  are 
alike  unheeded,  for  our  yearning  hearts  centre  only  upon  the 
days  that  have  faded  into  distance.  At  such  moments,  inci- 
dents the  most  trivial  will  excite  emotions  to  which  we  have  long 
been  strangers — a  withered  leaf,  a  strip  of  faded  ribbon  that 
bound  the  ringlets  of  a  lost  and  loved  one,  a  line  traced  by  a 
hand  long  moulded  into  dust,  a  little  word  in  kindness  spoken, 
a  motion  or  a  tear,  will  evoke  recollections  that  genius  can  not 
trace  or  inspiration  fathom. 

This  train  of  thought  has  been  excited  by  finding  in  a  pack- 
age of  old  papers  that  had  long  lain  hid,  some  lines  written 
many,  many  years  ago  by  one  who  has  long  since  passed  to  his 
rest,  Johnson  Hooper,  a  Wilmington  boy.  He  was  the  son  of 
Archibald  Maclaine  Hooper,  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
scholars  of  his  day,  who  edited  for  a  number  of  years  the  Cape 
Fear  Recorder,  the  only  newspaper  published  in  Wilmington 
for  a  long  period.  He  was  a  near  relative  of  William  Hooper, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The 
family  removed  to  Montgomery,  Ala.,  where  Johnson  became 
connected  with  the  Montgomery  Mail,  a  newspaper  of  extensive 
circulation  and  great  influence.  He  found  time,  however,  from 
his  arduous  duties  to  indulge  his  humorous  fancies,  and  while 
connected  with  that  paper,  gave  the  world  several  humorous 
works  of  great  merit,  viz. :  Taking  the  Census,  Captain  Simon 
Suggs,  and  others  which  gave  him  rank  among  the  best  humor- 
ous writers  of  the  day.  He  died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  shortly 
after  the  transfer  of  the  Confederate  Government  to  that  city. 

Nearly,  if  not  quite  eighty  years  ago,  an  Englishman,  Mr. 
Anthony  Milan,  was  British  consul  at  the  port  of  Wilmington. 


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Interesting  Memories  259 

He  was  an  educated  gentleman,  but  possessed  certain  peculiari- 
ties to  an  unusual  and  disagreeable  extent,  was  dogmatic  and 
overbearing  in  disposition,  and  exhibited  continuously  a 
haughty,  aristocratic  bearing,  which  he  took  no  pains  to  conceal. 
His  "personal  pulchritude"  was  immense,  but  he  was  always 
scrupulously  neat  in  his  attire,  wearing  fine  broadcloth  and 
ruffled  shirts  of  spotless  whiteness.  A  gold-framed  eyeglass 
dangled  from  a  ribbon  around  his  neck  and  was  conspicuously 
displayed  upon  his  breast,  while  a  number  of  massive  gold  seals 
hung  pendant  from  his  watch  fob.  He  was  altogether  English, 
haughty  and  presumptuous,  with  a  growl  at  everything  and  at 
almost  everybody,  and  could  not  tolerate  democracy  in  any  form. 
He  was  an  exaggerated  type  of  class  intolerance  in  the  official 
life  of  the  town,  and  his  pompous  air  and  personal  decorations 
were  the  delightful  derision  of  the  small  boy. 

Upon  one  occasion,  at  the  comer  of  Market  and  Front  Streets, 
Mr.  Milan  was  discussing  with  an  important  functionary  a 
question  of  public  affairs  in  the  presence  of  the  newly  elected 
constable — the  only  policeman — who  incautiously  interjected 
the  remark  that  in  his  opinion,  etc.  Mr.  Milan  stared  at  him 
with  immitigated  contempt — "And  pray,  sir,"  said  he,  "what 
right  have  you  to  an  opinion?"  (Tempora  mutantur,  et  nos 
mviamur  in  illis,) 

About  that  time  a  ship  had  been  built  at  the  southern  ex- 
tremity of  the  town,  and  the  day  appointed  for  the  launching 
had  arrived.  As  the  building  of  a  ship  in  those  days  was  quite 
an  event  in  the  history  of  the  town,  almost  the  entire  population 
turned  out  to  witness  the  launching,  and  an  immense  crowd 
gathered  on  the  wharves  and  the  surrounding  hills.  Of  course, 
the  British  consul  was  there  in  full  dress.  The  tide  imfortu- 
nately  was  too  low  at  the  time  for  the  ship  to  float  when  she  loft 
the  ways ;  she  grounded,  and  just  then  Mr.  Milan,  by  some  acci- 
dent, fell  overboard,  but  was  quickly  hooked  up  out  of  the  river 
all  dripping  wet,  with  his  bald  head  glistening  in  the  sun  like 
burnished  gold.  He  was  not  at  all  injured  by  his  involuntary 
ducking,  but  excessively  chagrined.  Of  course,  the  boys  were 
delighted,  for  he  was  exceedingly  unpopular  with  them,  and  the 
next  day  Johnson  Hooper,  one  of  the  youngsters,  produced  the 
following  lines,  which  exhibit,  even  at  that  early  age,  his  playful 
fancies : 


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260  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

ANTHONY  MILAN'S  LAUNCH. 

Ye  who  pretend  to  disbelieye 

In  fixed  degrees  of  fate, 
Give,  I  beseech  you,  listening  ear 

To  what  I  now  relate. 

It  is  about  the  launching  of 

A  stately  ship  I  tell, 
And  of  a  fearful  accident 

That  then  and  there  befell 

To  one  well  known  to  all  in  town, 

A  man  of  portly  size. 
Who  carries  watch  seals  in  his  fob 

And  glasses  in  his  eyes. 

He  holds  a  high  position  from 

His  Majesty  Britannic, 
And  claims  to  be  a  member 

Of  the  breed  aristocratic. 

He  looks  with  sovereign  contempt 

On  those  whose  daily  toil 
Brings  out  in  rich  abundance 

The  products  of  the  soil. 

He  does  not  care  a  pin  for  him 
Who  weareth  not  fine  clothes. 

And  he  uses  linen  cambric 
With  which  to  wipe  his  nose. 

He  has  no  need  for  comb  or  brush, 
For  his  cheeks  are  rosy  red, 

And  a  microscopic  lens  can  find 
No  hair  upon  his  head. 

His  boots  are  always  polished  bright. 

His  beaver  sleek  as  silk, 
His  ruflSed  shirt  is  clean  and  white 

As  a  bowl  of  new-skimmed  milk. 

But  to  our  fate — ^the  morning  sun 
Shone  bright  upon  that  day. 

When  all  our  people  through  the  streets 
Most  gaily  took  their  way 

Down  to  the  docks,  where  on  the  stocks 
The  gallant  ship  was  seen. 

Decked  out  in  brilliant  colors 
Of  blue  and  red  and  green. 

A  monstrous  crowd  was  gathered  there. 

In  feverish  excitement. 
To  see  the  ship  glide  off  the  ways 

Into  the  watery  elem^t 


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Interesting  Memories  261 

The  British  consul  with  his  glass 

Stuck  in  his  nether  eye, 
Was  there  in  force,  for  could  the  ship 

Be  launched,  and  he  not  by? 

She  starts,  she's  off,  a  shout  went  up 

In  one  tumultuous  roar. 
That  rolled  o'er  Eagles'  Island  and 

Was  heard  on  Brunswick  shore. 

Full  royally  the  ship  slid  down 

Towards  the  foaming  tide, 
While  cheer  on  cheer  from  every  lip 

Went  up  on  every  side. 

She  passed  along  towards  the  stream. 

Majestically  grand — 
When  suddenly  she  stopped.    Alas! 

She  grounded  in  the  sand. 

And  there  she  would  have  always  stuck 

And  never  more  have  stirred, 
Had  not  the  scene  I  now  relate 

Most  happily  occurred. 

Just  at  that  moment  when  she  stopped. 

With  many  a  shake  and  shiver, 
The  pompous  British  consul  slipped 

And  tumbled  in  the  river. 

The  Cape  Fear  rose  three  feet  or  more 

As  Anthony  went  under. 
The  waves  they  beat  upon  the  shore 

In  peals  of  living  thunder. 

The  ship  was  lifted  from  the  sand. 

And  like  the  lightning's  gleam, 
She  glided  out  into  th6  deep. 

And  floated  in  the  stream. 

"All  honor  then  to  Anthony!" 

Was  heard  on  every  side. 
And  should  we  build  another  ship 

And  scant  should  be  the  tide, 

May  he  be  there,  and  gently  drop 

His  carcass  in  the  sea; 
That  ship  will  float,  it  matters  not 

How  low  the  tide  may  be. 


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262  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

JOSEPH  JEFFERSON. 

(From  the  Autobiography  of  Joseph  Jefferson.) 

After  mentioning  that  he  had  engaged  a  comedian,  Sir  Wil- 
liam Don,  an  English  nobleman  six  feet  six  inches  tall,  Jeffer- 
son wrote: 

"Sir  William  went  with  us  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina, 
where  we  opened  with  the  stock,  he  appearing  at  the  beginning 
of  the  second  week.  The  audience  here  did  not  like  his  acting; 
they  seemed  to  prefer  our  domestic  goods  to  the  imported  article. 
He  saw  this,  but  did  not  seem  to  mind  it,  and  so  bowed  to  the 
situation.  He  became  very  much  attached  to  the  company  and 
remained  with  us  some  time,  joining  in  our  fishing  and  boating 
parties.  His  animal  spirits  were  contagious ;  and  as  we  had  no 
rehearsals,  the  mornings  at  least  were  devoted  to  amusement. 
We  would  do  the  most  boyish  and  ridiculous  things.  Three  or 
four  of  us,  himself  the  central  figure,  would  go  through  extrava- 
gant imitations  of  the  circus  and  acrobatic  feats  that  were  then 
in  vogue.  The  Bounding  Brothers  of  the  Pyrenees  was  a  par^ 
ticular  favorite  with  him.  We  would  pretend  to  execute  the 
most  dangerous  feats  of  strength — ^lifting  imaginary  weights, 
climbing  on  one  another's  shoulders,  and  then  falling  down  in 
grotesque  and  awkward  attitudes,  and  suddenly  straightening 
up  and  bowing  with  mock  dignity  to  an  imaginary  audience. 
Once  he  did  an  act  called  The  Sprite  of  the  Silver  Shower,  pre- 
tending to  be  a  little  girl,  and  tripping  into  the  circus  ring  with 
a  mincing  step.  Then,  with  a  shy  look,  he  would  put  his  finger 
in  his  mouth,  and  mounting  a  table  would  go  through  a  dar- 
ing bareback  feat.  Nothing  that  I  ever  saw  was  more  extrav- 
agant.    *     *     * 

"The  next  fall,  1852,  we  resolved  to  make  another  trial  of 
our  fortimes  in  the  Southern  circuit.  Our  limited  means  com- 
pelled us  to  adopt  the  most  economical  mode  of  transportation 
for  the  company.  It  was  settled,  therefore,  that  we,  the  mana- 
gers, should  arrive  at  least  a  week  in  advance  of  the  opening 
season ;  our  passage  must  be  by  rail,  while  the  company  were  to 
proceed  by  sea.  There  was  in  those  days  a  line  of  schooners 
that  plied  between  Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  New  York.  The 
articles  of  transportation  from  the  South  consisted  mainly  of 
yellow  pine  tar  and  resin,  which  cargo  was  denominated  *naval 
stores.'    Feeling  confident  that  we  could  procure  passage  for  our 


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Interesting  Memories  263 

company  by  contracting  with  one  of  these  vessels  to  take  them 
to  Wihnington,  we  determined  to  conclude  a  bargain  with  the 
owners.  The  day  was  fixed  for  their  departure,  and  Mr.  Ellsler 
and  I  went  down  to  the  wharf  at  Peck  Slip  to  see  them  off.  It 
was  an  ill-shaped  hulk,  with  two  great,  badly  repaired  sails 
flapping  against  her  clumsy  and  foreboding  masts.  The  deck 
and  sides  were  besmeared  with  the  sticky  remnants  of  her  last 
importation,  so  that  when  our  leading  actor,  who  had  been  seated 
on  the  taffrail,  arose  to  greet  his  managers,  he  was  imavoidably 
detained.  There  was  handsome  John  Crocher,  our  juvenile 
actor,  leaning  with  folded  arms  and  a  rueful  face  against  an 
adhesive  mast ;  Mrs.  Ray,  the  first  old  woman,  with  an  imibrella 
in  one  hand  and  a  late  dramatic  paper  in  the  other,  sitting  on  a 
coil  of  rope,  and  imconsciously  ruining  her  best  black  dress, 
etc.,  etc.  It  was  a  doleful  picture.  Our  second  comedian,  who 
was  the  reverse  of  being  droll  on  the  stage,  but  who  now  and 
then  ventured  on  a  grim  joke  off  it  with  better  success,  told  me 
in  confidence  that  they  all  had  been  lamenting  their  ill-tarred 
fate.  As  we  watched  the  wretched  old  craft  being  towed  away 
to  sea,  we  concluded  that  we  should  never  forgive  ourselves  if 
our  comrades  were  never  heard  of  again.  On  our  arrival  in 
Wilmington  the  days  were  spent  in  preparing  the  dusty  old 
rat-trap  of  a  theatre  for  the  opening,  and  our  nights  in  wonder- 
ing if  our  party  were  safe.  The  uneasiness  was  not  lessened, 
eiliier,  by  the  news  that  there  had  been  bad  weather  off  Hatteras. 
Within  a  week,  however,  they  arrived,  looking  jaded  and  miser- 
able. Another  week  for  rest  and  rehearsal,  and  our  labors  began. 
"Comedy  and  tragedy  were  dished  up,  and  I  may  say,  hashed 
up,  alternately,  as,  for  instance,  Monday,  Colman's  comedy  of 
The  Poor  Oentleman,  fancy  dances  by  the  soubrette,  comic 
songs  by  the  second  comedian,  concluding  with  the  farce  of  The 
Spectre  Bridegroom,  The  next  evening  we  gave  Romeo  and 
Juliet  I  felt  that  the  balcony  scene  should  have  some  atten- 
tion, and  I  conceived  a  simple  and  economical  idea  that  would 
enable  me  to  produce  the  effect  in  a  manner  Tiitherto  unparal- 
leled in  the  annals  of  the  stage.'  Skirmishing  about  the  wharves 
and  the  ship-chandlers,  I  chanced  to  light  upon  a  job  lot  of 
empty  candle  boxes.  By  taking  a  quantity  the  cardboards  were 
thrown  in,  and  nothing  makes  a  finer  or  more  imposing  but  un- 
substantial balustrade  than  cardboard.  The  boxes,  placed  one 
by  one  on  top  of  each  other  and  painted  a  neat  stone  color,  form 
a  pleasing  architectural  pile.    The  scene  opened  with  a  backing 


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264  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

of  something  supposed  to  represent  the  distant  city  of  Verona, 
with  my  new  balcony  in  the  foreground.  "All  seemed  to  be  go- 
ing well  till  presently  there  came  the  sound  of  half-suppressed 
laughter  from  the  audience.  The  laughter  increased,  till  at  last 
the  whole  house  had  discovered  the  mishap.  Juliet  retreated 
in  amazement  and  Romeo  rushed  off  in  despair,  and  down  came 
the  curtain.  I  rushed  upon  the  stage  to  find  out  what  had  oc- 
curred, when  to  my  horror  I  discovered  that  one  of  the  boxes 
had  been  placed  with  the  unpainted  side  out,  on  which  was  em- 
blazoned a  semicircular  trade-mark,  setting  forth  that  the  very 
cornerstone  of  Juliet's  balcony  contained  twenty  pounds  of  the 
best  'short  sixes.' ". 

IMMORTALITY. 
Bt  Joseph  Jkffebson. 

(Written  by  Mr.  Jeffenon  for  hii  friend  Mr.  H.  M.  FUgler,  and  civen  by  Mr.  FUgler 
to  his  friend  Mr.  James  Sprunt.) 

Two  caterpiUars  crawling  on  a  leaf 

By  some  strange  accident  in  contact  came; 

Their  conyersatlon,  passing  all  belief. 

Was  the  same  argument,  the  very  same, 

That  has  been  "proed  and  conned"  from  man  to  man, 

Tea,  ever  since  this  wondrous  world  began. 

The  ugly  creatures 

Sluggish,  dull,  and  blind. 
Devoid  of  features 

That  adorn  mankind. 

Were  vain  enough,  in  dull  and  wordy  strife. 

To  speculate  upon  a  future  life. 

The  first  was  optimistic,  full  of  hope; 

The  second,  quite  dyspeptic,  seemed  to  mope. 

Said  number  one,  "Vm.  sure  of  our  salvation." 

Said  number  two,  "I'm  sure  of  our  damnation; 

Our  ugly  forms  alone  would  seal  our  fate 

And  bar  our  entrance  through  the  golden  gate. 

Suppose  that  death  should  take  us  unawares, 

How  could  we  climb  the  golden  stairs? 

If  maidens  shim  us  as  they  pass  us  by. 

Would  angels  bid  us  welcome  in  the  sky? 

I  wonder  what  great  crimes  we  have  committed 

That  leave  us  so  forlorn  and  so  unpitied; 

Perhaps  we've  been  ungrateful,  unforgiving: 

Tls  plain  to  me  that  life's  not  worth  the  living." 

"Come,  come,  cheer  up,"  the  jovial  worm  replied, 

"LiCt's  take  a  look  upon  the  other  side; 


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Interesting  Memories  265 


Suppose  we  can  not  fly  like  moths  or  millers, 

Are  we  to  blame  for  being  caterpillars? 

Will  that  same  Qod  that  doomed  us  crawl  the  earth, 

A  prey  to  every  bird  that's  given  birth, 

Forgive  our  captor  as  he  eats  and  sings, 

And  damn  poor  us  because  we  have  not  wings? 

If  we  can't  skim  the  air  like  owl  or  bat, 

A  worm  will  turn  *for  a*  that.* " 

They  argued  through  the  summer;  autumn  nigh, 

The  ugly  things  composed  themselves  to  die; 

And  so  to  make  their  funeral  quite  complete. 

Each  wrapped  him  in  his  little  winding-sheet. 

The  tangled  web  encompassed  them  full  soon; 

Each  for  his  coffin  made  him  a  cocoon. 

All  through  the  winter's  chilling  blast  they  lay, 

Dead  to  the  world,  aye,  dead  as  human  clay. 

Lo,  Spring  comes  forth  with  all  her  warmth  and  love; 

She  brings  sweet  justice  from  the  realms  above; 

She  breaks  the  chrysalis,  she  resurrects  the  dead; 

Two  butterflies  ascend,  encircling  her  head. 

And  so  this  emblem  shall  forever  be 

Unfailing  sign  of  immortality. 


THE  JENNY  LIND  INCIDENT. 
Bt  Walker  Meabes. 

In  1850,  when  the  great  showman,  P.  T.  Bamiun,  announced 
that  he  had  arranged  with  Jenny  Lind  for  an  American  tour, 
the  country  went  wild  with  excitement,  and  when  she  arrived 
in  New  York  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  in  September  of  that  year, 
the  metropolis  turned  out  en  masse  to  greet  her,  while  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  and  the  Swedish  ensign  floated  above  the  scene  in 
commingled  glory.  The  New  York  Herald  of  the  following  day 
devoted  six  columns  to  the  event — a  mere  prelude  to  the  volumes 
to  be  written  later,  as  the  triumphal  passage  of  the  great  singer 
swept  southward  to  Cuba.  Had  the  racy  Punch  not  said :  "To 
call  Jenny  Lind  the  Swedish  Nightingale  is  a  compliment  to  the 
bird,  which  will  put  an  additional  feather  in  his  cap — or  rather 
in  his  tail — ^for  the  remainder  of  his  existence"  ?  And  had  not 
the  whole  world  heard  of  the  sweetness  of  the  spirit  that  found 
expression  in  that  marvelous  voice  ?  Jenny  Lind's  coming  was 
more  than  a  visit — ^it  was  a  most  blessed  visitation. 

If  any  evidence  of  appreciation  was  lacking  the  box-office 
failed  to  record  it.  Not  only  in  numbers  but  in  prices  was  the 
highest  satisfaction  realized.    At  the  auction  of  seats  at  Castle 


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266  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Garden,  it  will  be  remembered,  the  hatter  Gtenin  made  himself 
famous,  and  later,  rich,  by  paying  $225  for  the  choice  of  seats, 
described  as  "a  very  handsome  spring  cushion,  crimson  velvet 
chair,  placed  right  against  the  front  of  the  centre  post,  and  just 
opposite  to  Jenny  Lind,"  in  order  that  he  might  ever  after  be 
thus  visualized  to  the  purchaser  of  hats.  And  the  singer  Ossian 
F.  Dodge  outdistanced  Genin  by  paying  $625  for  a  similar 
choice  in  Boston.  But  so  far  was  Jenny  Lind  from  mercenary 
intent,  that  during  the  first  eight  weeks  of  her  American  tour 
she  gave  more  than  $18,000  to  charities — a  magnificent  scale,  of 
benevolence  kept  up  during  her  two  years'  tour  in  this  coimtry. 
December  found  her  in  Richmond,  and  her  next  engagement 
was  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  for  the  26th  and  29th  of  that  month. 
Wilmington  was  in  feverish  excitement,  especially  as  the  diva 
must  pass  through  this  town.  Should  her  neighbors,  Richmond 
and  Charleston,  so  far  o'ertop  her  ?  Not  without  supreme  eflfort 
on  her  part.  Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  of  prominent  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  a  committee  was  appointed,  and  when  the  train  from 
Richmond  arrived  at  Wilmington  this  committee  appeared  at 
the  depot  with  smiling  countenances  and  a  cart-load  of  flowers. 
The  elegant  and  genial  spokesman,  Mr.  James  S.  Green,  pre- 
sented a  bouquet  in  a  gracious  speech  of  welcome,  and  the  charm- 
ing Jenny  smiled  her  appreciation.  The  journey  from  the  Vir- 
ginia city  to  Wilmington  is  described  as  the  most  uncomfortable 
she  had  made  thus  far  in  America,  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon 
Railroad  having  the  reputation  of  being  the  worst  in  the  United 
States.  A  traveling  companion  of  the  famous  singer,  however, 
described  it  as  being  newly  laid,  and,  save  for  a  short  distance 
over  which  the  old  timbers  of  the  road  were  plainly  felt,  remark- 
ably easy.  The  car  the  party  occupied  as  far  as  Weldon  he 
described  as  new,  approximating  somewhat  the  style  in  vogue 
on  other  roads,  but  from  Weldon  to  Wilmington  they  are  said 
to  have  been  stowed  away  in  a  sort  of  caravanserai,  described  at 
one  time  as  "a  huge  and  comfortless  box  with  shelves  for  bed- 
steads, something  like  the  cabin  of  a  Dutch  sloop,"  and  at  an- 
other as  "a  gigantic  clothes  press."  With  these  and  other  dis- 
comforts graphically  named  by  her  biographer  freshly  in  mind, 
it  is  likely  that  Jenny  Lind  valued  all  the  more  the  compensa- 
tion of  a  gracious  reception  at  the  end  of  her  journey  and  that 
she  listened  with  gratifying  interest  to  the  momentous  question 
of  the  committee.  Would  she  sing  for  Wilmington  ?  She  would 
gladly  if  Mr.  Bamum  could  arrange  it,  and  Mr.  Bamum  pleas- 


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Interesting  Memories  267 

ingly  acquiesced.  'TBut,  gentlemen/'  said  he,  "what  is  the  capac- 
ity of  your  opera  house  ?"  "About  one  hundred  and  fifty  seats, 
but  by  utilizing  the  aisles  two  hundred  can  be  provided,"  they 
told  him,  to  which  the  showman  laughingly  replied,  "Gen- 
tlemen, my  orchestra  would  fill  a  large  part  of  that  space!" 
They  withdrew  to  consider  possible  adjustments  and  shortly 
returned  with  complaisancy,  saying  it  was  all  arranged,  they 
would  erect  a  platform  in  the  centre  of  the  street  immediately 
in  front  of  the  theatre,  so  that  everybody  might  hear  I  The  idea 
was  diverting  and  the  fair  Swede  laughed  uncontrollably  at 
being  asked  to  sing  to  an  open-air  audience  in  the  public  streets, 
but  her  warm  heart  quickened  its  beats  at  the  thought  of  the 
simplicity  that  conceived  the  plan.  Her  contract  with  Mr. 
Bamum  stipulated  that  she  be  allowed  to  hold  concerts  for 
charity  when  she  saw  fit.  If  they  had  only  told  her  that  Wil- 
mington had  its  orphans,  its  poor,  and  its  sick,  no  doubt  the 
open-air  performance  would  have  received  serious  consideration. 
They  did  not  hear  her  sing,  but  they  heard  that  marvelous 
voice  in  speech  and  they  saw  her.  And  she — she  saw  them,  a 
people  whose  hospitality,  simplicity,  and  inherent  kindliness 
have  never  been  surpassed.  She  declined  an  invitation  by  Queen 
Victoria  to  sing  at  a  festival  at  court  to  come  to  America, 
largely,  as  she  said,  to  see  the  American  people,  and  we  fancy 
that  in  the  potpourri  of  precious  impressions  she  carried  away 
went  a  bit  of  fragrance  from  Wilmington.  Perhaps,  too,  she 
regretted  not  accepting  the  open-air  suggestion  and  waiting  over 
a  day,  for  on  the  night  she  sailed  south  on  the  steamer  Oladiator 
from  the  Cape  Fear  city,  there  occurred  one  of  the  worst  storms 
ever  known  along  these  shores.  Three  ships  were  lost  on  the 
Carolina  coast  about  that  time,  and  it  was  rumored  that  the 
Gladiator  had  grounded  on  Cape  Komain.  She  was  thirty-four 
hours  making  the  trip  to  Charleston,  which  then  took  but  seven- 
teen under  ordinary  weather  conditions.  She  was  reported  lost, 
and  the  news  was  telegraphed  to  New  York,  but  corrected  a 
dozen  hours  later;  for,  notwithstanding  wind  and  weather,  the 
exceptional  seamanship  of  Capt.  J.  B.  Smith  took  her  at  last 
into  port  at  Charleston.  Her  tiller  ropes  were  broken  and  she 
was  sweeping  in  on  shore.  Another  half  hour,  it  is  said,  would 
probably  have  effected  her  complete  destruction  with  all  on 
board,  but  Captain  Smith  steered  her  safely  in  and  deposited 
Jenny  Lind  and  two  hundred  other  passengers  on  shore,  where 
they  were  in  a  position  to  feel  that  seasickness  is,  after  all,  a 
little  better  than  drowning. 


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The  War  Between  the  States 

ON  THE  EVE  OF  SECESSION. 

In  a  memorial  of  Mr.  George  Davis,  the  beloved  leader  of  the 
Lower  Cape  Fear,  the  writer,  whose  affectionate  admiration  has 
continued  with  increasing  veneration,  said  for  his  committee, 
on  the  occasion  of  a  large  assembly  of  representative  citizens  to 
honor  Mr.  Davis'  memory  by  suitable  resolutions  of  respect: 

"In  1861  the  shadow  of  a  great  national  calamity  appeared — 
the  whole  country  was  convulsed  with  conflicting  emotions.  The 
political  leaders  of  North  Carolina  were  divided  upon  the  issue. 
Mr.  Davis  loved  the  Union,  and  steadfastly  counseled  modera- 
tion. His  appointment  by  the  Legislature  as  a  member  of  the 
Peace  Commission,  to  which  further  reference  is  made,  created 
a  feeling  of  absolute  confidence  in  the  minds  of  the  conservative 
citizens. 

"The  desire  of  the  people  of  North  Carolina  was  to  see  peace 
maintained,  whether  the  Union  was  preserved  or  not,  and  for 
this  purpose  the  L^slature  on  January  26,  1861,  appointed 
commissioners  to  conventions  to  be  held  at  Montgomery,  Ala- 
bama, and  Washington  City.  These  conmiissioners  were  Hon. 
Thomas  EuflSn,  Hon.  D.  M.  Barringer,  Hon.  David  S.  Reid, 
Hon.  John  M.  Morehead,  Hon.  D.  L.  Swain,  J.  R.  Bridgers, 
M.  W.  Ransom,  and  George  Davis.  Mr.  Davis  went  to  Washing- 
ton City  as  a  member  of  the  Peace  Congress,  which  assembled 
on  February  4,  1861.  The  moral  weight  of  the  position  and  the 
character  of  the  gentlemen  then  and  there  assembled  gave  to  the 
significance  of  the  occasion  portentous  aspects.  The  Congress 
sat  with  closed  doors ;  ex-President  Tyler  was  elected  president, 
and  on  taking  the  chair  made  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and 
patriotic  speeches  ever  heard.  This  conference  was  in  session 
until  February  27,  1861,  when  Mr.  Davis  telegraphed:  'The 
convention  has  just  adjourned  sine  die,  after  passing  seven 
articles  of  the  report  of  the  committee,  much  weakened.  The 
territorial  articles  passed  by  a  majority  of  one  vote.  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia  voted  against  every  article  but  one.' 

*T!t  is  difficult  for  those  of  us  who  remember  only  the  intense 
imanimity  of  the  Southern  people  after  the  war  was  fairly  in- 
augurated to  realize  how  in  those  previous  troublous  days  the 
[268] 


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The  War  Between  the  States  269 

minds  of  men  were  perplexed  by  doubts.  Up  to  this  time  the 
Union  sentiment  in  North  Carolina  had  been  in  the  ascendant. 
The  people  waited  upon  the  result  of  the  Peace  Congress,  and  in 
this  section  especially  was  the  decision  of  many  reserved  until 
Mr.  Davis  should  declare  his  final  convictions.  His  announce- 
ment of  them  marked  an  epoch  in  his  life,  and  in  the  lives  of 
countless  others,  for  weal  or  woe." 

Immediately  upon  his  return  home,  the  following  correspond- 
ence took  place : 

Wilmington,  2d  March,  1861. 
Deab  Sib: — ^Tour  friends  and  fellow-citizens  are  exceedingly  anxious 
to  hear  from  you  with  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Peace  Con- 
gress, and  to  have  your  opinion  as  to  their  probable  effect  in  settling 
the  distracting  questions  of  the  day. 

Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  them  a  public  address  at  such  time 
as  may  suit  your  convenience? 

Respectfully  yours, 

Jambs  H.  Dickson. 

Robert  H.  Cowan. 

D.  A.  Lamont. 

Thomas   Mhjjeb. 

Donald  MacRab. 

RoBEBT  G.  Rankin. 

Jambs  H.  Chadboubn. 

A.  H.  VanBokkelen. 
To  Geobge  Davis,  Esq.  O.  G.  Pabsley. 

Wilmington,  2d  March,  1861. 
Gentlbmbn: — Being  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  home  tomorrow,  I 
will  comply  with  the  request  of  my  fellow-citizens,  as  intimated  in 
your  note,  by  addressing  them  at  such  hour  and  place  this  evening  as 
you  may  appoint.  Respectfully  yours, 

Geo.  Davis. 
To  Db.  Jambs  H.  Dickson,  and  others. 

The  newspaper  reports  of  the  public  meeting  and  of  Mr. 
Davis'  powerful  speech  which  followed  do  not  convey  to  our 
minds  the  overwhelming  sensations  of  those  who  listened  to  this 
masterpiece  of  oratory.  Mr.  Davis  was  obliged  to  close  before 
he  had  finished  his  address.  The  people  were  profoundly  moved, 
and  the  hearts  of  all  were  deeply  stirred.  Many  left  the  hall 
while  he  was  speaking,  for  they  could  not  restrain  their  emotion. 

The  Daily  Journal  of  March  4,  1861,  said :  "In  accordance 
with  the  general  desire,  George  Davis,  Esq.,  addressed  his  fel- 
low-citizens on  last  Saturday,  March  2,  at  the  Thalian  Hall  in 
reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Peace  Congress,  of  which 


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270  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

he  was  a  member,  giving  his  opinion  as  to  the  probable  effect  of 
such  proceedings  in  settling  the  distracting  questions  of  the  day. 
Although  the  notice  tvas  very  brief,  having  only  appeared  at 
midday  in  the  town  papers,  the  hall  was  densely  crowded  by  an 
eager  and  attentive  audience,  among  whom  were  many  ladies/' 

The  report  of  the  speech  is  full,  and  deals  with  all  the  vital 
questions  which  were  discussed  at  the  Peace  Congress.  Mr. 
Davis  said  that  he  shrunk  from  no  criticism  upon  his  course, 
but,  indeed,  invited  and  sought  for  it  the  most  rigid  examina- 
tion. He  had  endeavored  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  trust 
imposed  in  him  faithfully,  manfully,  and  conscientiously,  and 
whatever  might  be  thought  of  his  policy,  he  felt  that  he  had  a 
right  to  demand  the  highest  respect  for  the  motives  which  actu- 
ated him  in  pursuing  that  policy. 

Referring  to  his  own  previous  position,  what  he  believed  to 
be  the  position  of  the  State,  the  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
appointing  conmiissioners,  and  the  objections  to  the  action  of 
the  Peace  Congress,  Mr.  Davis  said  he  had  gone  to  the  Peace 
Congress  to  exhaust  every  honorable  means  to  obtain  a  fair,  an 
honorable,  and  a  final  settlement  of  existing  difficulties.  He 
had  done  so  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and  had  been  unsuccessful, 
for  he  could  never  accept  the  plan  adopted  by  the  Peace  Con- 
gress as  consistent  with  the  rights,  the  interests,  or  the  dignity 
of  North  Carolina. 

Mr.  Davis  concluded  by  emphatically  declaring  that  the 
South  could  never — never  obtain  any  better  or  more  satisfactory 
terms  while  she  remained  in  the  Union,  and  for  his  part  he 
could  never  assent  to  the  terms  contained  in  this  report  of  the 
Peace  Congress  as  in  accordance  with  the  honor  or  the  interests 
of  the  South. 

When  Mr.  Davis  had  concluded  Hon.  S.  J.  Person  moved  that 
the  thanks  of  the  meeting  be  tendered  to  him  for  the  able, 
manly,  and  patriotic  manner  in  which  he  had  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  position  as  a  commissioner  from  North  Carolina. 
The  motion  was  enthusiastically  carried. 

On  Jime  18,  1861,  Mr.  Davis  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Avery  were 
elected  by  the  State  Convention  delegates  for  the  State  at  large 
to  the  Confederate  Congress,  and  they  took  their  seats  in  the 
Senate.  In  alluding  to  his  election  the  Journal,  the  organ  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  this  section,  said : 

"Mr.  Davis,  in  old  party  times,  was  an  ardent  and  consistent 
member  of  the  opposition,  and  was  opposed  to  a  severance  from 


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The  War  Between  the  States  271 

the  North  until  he  felt  satisfied  by  the  result  of  the  Peace  Con- 
ference that  all  peaceful  means  had  been  exhausted."  At  the 
following  session  of  the  Legislature  he  and  W.  T.  Dortch  were 
elected  Confederate  States  Senators,  and  later  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Cabinet. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Parsley,  whose  husband.  Col. 
William  M.  Parsley,  of  Wilmington,  gave  his  brilliant  young 
life  to  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  I  include  as  worthy  of  all 
honor  the  following  narrative,  to  which  her  well-known  devotion 
as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Ladies'  Memorial  Society  and  as 
president  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy  gives  added  au- 
thority and  interest : 

"In  1861,  when,  amid  great  popular  excitement  and  enthusi- 
asm, South  Carolina  seceded  from  the  Union  of  States,  the  peo- 
ple of  Wilmington  were  deeply  stirred  by  conflicting  emotions. 
Meetings  were  held  at  various  local  points,  and  speakers  for  and 
against  secession  swayed  the  multitudes  which  attended  them. 
At  a  town  meeting,  an  address  by  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  urging 
moderation  and  advising  against  hasty  action  as  to  secession, 
was  regarded  with  close  attention  and  respect,  for  Dr.  Dickson 
was  a  man  universally  trusted  and  beloved,  and  one  of  the  fore- 
most to  act  in  any  movement  for  the  welfare  of  Wilmington. 

"His  speech  was  followed  by  one  from  Mr.  O.  P.  Meares, 
afterwards  a  colonel  in  the  Confederate  Army,  and  later  a  judge. 
He  was  an  ardent  secessionist  and  a  fiery  speaker,  and  the 
younger  element  was  carried  away  by  his  eloquence,  but  the 
older  citizens,  devoted  to  the  Union,  were  loath  to  break  the 
bonds,  and  the  community  seemed  equally  divided  until  Mr. 
George  Davis  returned  from  the  Peace  Conference  in  Washing- 
ton City,  with  his  full  account  of  the  utter  failure  to  arrive  at 
an  agreement,  and  gave  as  his  judgment  that  the  Union  could 
only  be  preserved  with  dishonor  to  the  South.  The  immense 
crowd  gathered  in  the  opera  house  received  his  words  in  pro- 
found silence,  as  though  the  speaker's  judgment  settled  that  of 
each  one  who  heard  him. 

The  Response  to  Lincoln's  Call  fob  Troops. 

"Later,  when  Lincoln's  call  was  made  for  75,000  men  'to  put 
down  the  rebellion,'  the  whole  of  the  Cape  Fear  section  was 
fired,  and  with  scarcely  an  exception  looked  upon  secession  and 
war  as  the  inevitable  outcome. 


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272  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

'*The  young  men  wore  secession  rosettes  and  badges  made  of 
small  pine  burs.  The  military  companies  already  organized 
greatly  increased  their  ranks,  and  drilled  vigorously.  Other 
companies  were  organized  and  men  of  Northern  birth  who  did 
not  join  some  military  organization  were  regarded  with  sus- 
picion. Many  of  this  class  slipped  away  to  the  north  of  Mason 
and  Dixon's  line  during  the  next  few  months. 

"Men  too  old  for  service  in  the  field  formed  a  cavalry  com- 
pany under  Capt.  William  C.  Howard,  for  home  defense,  and 
one  company  of  quite  elderly  gentlemen  was  known  popularly  as 
the  'Horse-and-Buggy  Company,'  and  though  they  did  not  drill, 
they  held  themselves  in  readiness  to  do  what  they  could  when 
called  upon.  They  did  assist  in  the  equipment  of  companies  sent 
to  the  field,  and  many  of  them  aided  and  supported,  during  the 
whole  of  the  war,  families  of  men  in  the  service. 

"School  boys  drilled  constantly  in  the  streets  with  wooden 
guns  and  tin  swords,  and  those  owning  a  real  gun  or  a  good 
imitation  were  sure  of  being  officers,  no  matter  about  their  other 
qualifications,  though  to  do  them  justice  they  did  strive  like  men. 

'^When  a  rumor  came  that  the  Harriet  Lane,  a  small  Eevenue 
Cutter,  had  been  sent  to  reinforce  Fort  Caswell,  which  was 
under  command  of  Sergeant  Reilly,  the  excitement  was  over- 
whelming. The  Harriet  Lane  did  not  come,  but  when  Fort 
Simiter  was  bombarded  on  the  12th  and  13th  of  April,  several 
companies  of  volimteers  were  ordered  to  the  fort.  Sergeant 
Reilly,  the  lonely  custodian  of  the  fort,  calling  all  present  to 
witness  that  he  was  compelled  by  superior  force,  surrendered  it 
in  due  form  and  with  military  honors.  He  afterwards  served 
with  signal  courage  and  devotion  in  the  Confederate  service 
with  the  rank  of  major  of  artillery." 

Wilmington  Companies. 

As  soon  as  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Volunteers  was  organized, 
it  was  ordered  to  encamp  at  Confederate  Point,  near  New  Inlet, 
the  name  having  been  changed  from  Federal  Point.  A  few 
months  later  they  were  ordered  to  Coosawhatchie,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  moved  to  several  other  points  to  meet  expected  attacks, 
and  later  they  were  ordered  to  Virginia.  After  the  ten  r^- 
ments  of  State  Troops  were  organized,  the  Eighth  Regiment  of 
Volunteers  became  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  State  Troops. 

Company  6  of  this  regiment  was  organized  in  Wilmington  in 


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The  War  Between  the  States  273 

1863  as  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry.  They  went  into  the 
war  nearly  two  hundred  strong,  under  Capt.  William  L.  DeRos- 
set,  who  was  soon  promoted.  His  successor  was  Capt.  Henry 
Savage.  Their  records  show  that  fifty-seven  commissioned  offi- 
cers of  the  Confederate  States  were  former  members  of  this 
company.  The  regiment  reached  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia 
just  in  time  for  the  Battle  of  Mechanicsville,  late  in  June,  1862. 
From  first  to  last  there  were  sent  from  the  inmiediate  vicinity 
of  Wilmington  twenty  companies  of  infantry,  two  of  cavalry, 
and  six  battalions  of  artillery,  numbering  in  all  nearly  4,000 
men,  divided  as  follows : 

No,  of  men, 

Co.  C,    1st  Infantry,  Ci^tain  J.  S.  Hines 106 

Co.  E,    1st  Infantry,  Captain  James  A.  Wright 147 

Co.  D,    3d    Infantry,  Captain  Edward  Savage 164 

Co.  F,    3d    Infantry,  Captain  William  M.  Parsley 169 

Co.  K,    3d    Infantry,  Captain  David  Williams 174 

Co.  C,    7th  Infantry,  Captain  Robert  B.  McRae 169 

Co.  A,  18th  Infantry,  Captain  Christian  Comehlson 211 

Co.  E,  18th  Infantry,  Captain  John  R.  Hawes 169 

Co.  G,  18th  Infantry,  Captain  Henry  R.  Savage 194 

Co.  I,    18th  Infantry,  Captain  O.  P.  Meares 186 

Co.  D,  36th  Infantry,  Captain  Edward  B.  Dudley 131 

Co.  G,  61st  Infantry,  Captain  J.  F.  Moore 106 

Co.  A,  61st   Infantry,  Captain  John  L.  Cantwell 132 

Co.  C,  61st  Infantry,  Captain  James  Robinson 87 

Co.  E,  61st   Infantry,  Captain  Willis  H.  Pope 89 

Co.  G,  6l8t  Infantry,  Captain  James  W.  Lippitt 93 

Co.  H,  61st   Infantry,  Captain  S.  W.  Maultsby 76 

Co.  K,  66th  Infantry,  Captain  William  C.  Freeman 140 

Co.  A,  41st  Regt.  Cavahy,     Captain  A.  T.  Newkirk 94 

Co.  C,  69th  Regt.  Cavahy,    Captain  R.  M.  Mclntire 89 

Co.  A,     1st   Batt.  Artillery,    Captain  Robert  G.  Rankin 147 

Co.  B,     1st   Batt.  Artillery,    Captain  Charles  D.  Ellis 208 

Co.  C,     1st   Batt.  Artilleiy,    Captain  Alexander  MacRae 177 

Co.  D,    1st   Batt.  Artillery,    Captain  James  L.  McCormack . .  127 

Co.  C,    6th  Batt.  Artillery,    Captain  James  D.  Gumming 142 

Co.  D,    6th  Batt.  Artillery,    Captain  Z.  T.  Adams 206 

Co.  D,  72d    Junior  Reserves,  Captain  J.  D.  Kerr 91 

Co.  H,  73d    Junior  Reserves,  First  Lieutenant  D.  J.  Bjrrd 91 

Enlisted  for  the  Navy 260 

The  officers  and  many  of  the  men  of  the  Third  Regiment  of 
Infantry  were  from  New  Hanover  County,  and  that  regiment 
(like  the  18th)  has  always  seemed  to  belong  peculiarly  to  Wil- 
mington. Its  history,  compiled  by  two  of  its  surviving  officers, 
Captains  Metts  and  Cowan,  and  embodied  in  Clark's  Regimental 
18 


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274  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Histories,  shows  that  its  whole  career  was  "special  service,"  and 
the  instances  of  signal  bravery,  daring,  and  endurance  related 
were  so  constant  that  they  were  looked  upon  as  all  in  the  day's 
work,  and  no  special  notice  was  taken  of  theuL 

This  regiment,  which  went  to  Virginia  in  1861  with  1,600 
men,  took  part  in  every  battle,  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray,  from 
Mechanicsville  to  Appomattox.  Very  much  reduced  by  forced 
marches  and  hard  fighting,  with  no  chance  for  recruiting,  only 
300  men  went  into  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  when  the 
regiment  was  mustered  after  the  battle,  77  muskets  were  all 
that  responded  in  the  ranks  and  "they  lost  no  prisoners,  and 
had  no  stragglers." 

The  compilers  of  the  history  of  the  Third  Regiment  say  mod- 
estly that  they  "were  not  in  a  position,  nor  of  sufficiently  high 
grade,  to  write  anything  beyond  the  range  of  their  own  vision, 
but  that  the  history  of  one  regiment  of  North  Carolina  troops  is 
the  history  of  another,  save  in  the  details  which  marked  their 
achievements." 

An  incident  told  in  Captain  Denson's  Memorial  Address  on 
General  Whiting,  delivered  in  Kaleigh  on  Memorial  Day,  1895, 
is  interesting.  It  was  written  to  Captain  Denson  by  Sergeant 
Glennan : 

"During  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher,  there  was  at  head- 
quarters a  detail  of  couriers,  consisting  of  youths  fifteen  to 
eighteen  years  of  age — the  bravest  boys  I  have  ever  seen ;  their 
courage  was  magnificent.  They  were  on  the  go  all  the  time, 
carrying  orders  and  messages  to  every  part  of  the  fort.  Among 
them  was  a  boy  named  Murphy,  a  delicate  stripling.  He  was 
from  Duplin  County,  the  son  of  Mr.  Patrick  Murphy.  He  had 
been  called  upon  a  nimiber  of  times  to  carry  orders,  and  had 
just  returned  from  one  of  his  trips  to  Battery  Buchanan.  The 
bombardment  had  been  terrific,  and  he  seemed  exhausted  and 
agitated.  After  reporting,  he  said  to  me  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
^I  have  no  fear  physically,  but  my  morale  is  lacking.'  And 
then  he  was  called  to  carry  another  order.  He  slightly  wavered 
and  General  Whiting  saw  his  emotion.  'Come  on,  my  boy,'  he 
said,  'don't  fear,  I  will  go  with  you,'  and  he  went  off  wilJi  the 
courier  and  accompanied  him  to  and  from  the  point  where  he 
had  to  deliver  the  order.  It  was  to  one  of  the  most  dangerous 
positions  and  over  almost  unprotected  ground. 

"The  boy  and  the  general  returned  safely.  There  was  no 
agitation  after  that,  and  that  evening  he  shouldered  his  gun 


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The  War  Between  the  States  275 

when  every  man  was  ordered  on  duty  to  protect  the  fort  from  a 
charge  of  General  Terry's  men.  The  boy  met  death  soon  after 
and  rests  in  an  unmarked  grave,  but  his  memory  will  ever  be 
treasured." 


THE  MEMORIAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  band  of  faithful  women  who  had  worked  under  Mrs.  A.  J. 
DeRosset  as  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  organized  in  July,  1866, 
a  permanent  Memorial  Association,  with  the  purpose  of  rescuing 
from  oblivion  the  names  and  graves  of  the  gallant  Confederates 
who  lie  buried  near  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Oakley  was 
made  president.  The  first  memorial  observance  was  on  July  21, 
1866.  Many  citizens  and  a  nimiber  of  old  Confederate  soldiers 
were  present,  and  the  ladies  went  from  grave  to  grave  in  Oak- 
dale,  bringing  their  floral  tributes  to  the  dead.  A  beautiful  and 
touching  address  was  delivered  by  Maj.  Joseph  A.  Engelhard, 
and  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  George  Patterson,  who  had  been 
chaplain  of  the  Third  Regiment. 

The  Memorial  Association  afterwards  obtained  a  charter  from 
the  Legislature  through  Col.  William  L.  Saunders  in  order  that 
they  might  hold  the  deed  for  a  "Confederate  lot,"  which  was 
given  them  by  the  directors  of  the  Oakdale  Cemetery  Company. 

Five  himdred  and  fifty  bodies  of  Confederate  soldiers,  buried 
at  various  points  where  they  fell  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington, 
were  brought  and  reinterred  in  this  lot.  Only  a  few  of  the 
names  were  known. 

In  1870,  Memorial  Day  was  observed  for  the  first  time  on  the 
10th  of  May,  the  anniversary  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  death, 
which  was  afterwards  made  a  legal  holiday. 

In  1872,  the  beautiful  memorial  statue  to  the  Confederate 
heroes  was  unveiled.  Self-denial,  work,  prayers,  tears  and 
heart's  blood  went  into  the  building  of  that  monimient. 

In  1899,  a  neat  stone  was  placed,  marking  the  grave  of  Mrs. 
Greenhow,  who  lost  her  life  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate 
States.  This  same  year  mention  was  made  for  the  first  time  of 
the  fact  that  the  bronze  statue  of  a  soldier  on  the  monument  was 
cast  from  cannon  captured  during  the  war. 

In  1875,  the  Memorial  Association,  having  been  greatly  weak- 
ened by  death  and  the  age  of  its  members,  decided  to  merge 
into  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  an  organization  then 
newly  formed,  in  which  they  could  still  carry  on  their  sacred 


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276  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

work  '^buoyed  up  and  assisted  by  the  fresh  enthusiasm  of  the 
younger  association."  They  were  made  the  Memorial  Com- 
mittee of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  and  some  of  them 
still  assist  in  placing  the  fresh  laurel  wreaths  on  Memorial  Day. 
Besides  the  five  hundred  and  fifty  graves  in  the  Confederate 
lot,  there  are  scattered  about  Oakdale  three  hundred  and  eighty 
graves,  and  in  Bellevue,  the  Roman  Catholic  Cemetery,  and  pri- 
vate burial  grounds  about  one  hundred  more.  These  are  all 
marked  with  stone  markers  and,  as  far  as  possible,  are  adorned 
with  a  laurel  wreath  upon  each  recurring  10th  of  May. 


A  CAPTURE  BEFORE  THE  WAR.^ 
By  John  L.  Cantwell. 

The  fact  that  the  State  of  North  Carolina  was  slow  to  follow 
the  secession  movement  of  her  more  southern  sister  States  was 
the  cause  of  much  chafing  among  her  people  in  the  eastern  coun- 
ties, and  especially  along  the  seacoast,  where  it  was  urged  that 
the  Federal  Government  was  likely,  at  any  moment,  to  garrison 
the  forts  commanding  Cape  Fear  River  and  Beaufort  Harbor. 

The  people  of  Wilmington  were  particularly  exercised  over 
the  possibility  of  such  a  step  being  taken,  and  it  is  likely  that 
the  knowledge  of  this  strong  feeling,  and  the  impression  that  it 
would  be  regarded  as  an  act  of  coercion,  alone  deterred  the 
Washington  Government  from  sending  down  strong  garrisons 
and  ample  munitions  of  war. 

Fort  Caswell,  commanding  the  main  entrance  to  Cape  Fear 
River,  was  a  bastioned,  masonry  fort  of  great  strength  and  in 
thorough  order,  but  without  mounted  guns.  Once  occupied  and 
armed,  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  Confederates, 
without  command  of  the  sea,  to  have  retaken  it,  and  the  port 
which  afterwards  proved  of  such  inestimable  value  to  them 
would  have  been  effectually  sealed.  The  Federal  fleets  having 
free  entrance  there,  would  have  held  the  shores  on  either  side 
of  the  river  for  some  distance  up,  and  commanded,  from  a  safe 
interior  base,  the  entrance  through  New  Inlet,  for  the  defense 
of  which  Fort  Fisher  was  afterwards  built,  and  that  historic  and 
epoch-making  earthwork  would  probably  never  have  been  con- 
structed. 


iProm  Clark's  Regimental  Historiea. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  277 

In  the  State  at  large  the  Union  sentiment  was  at  this  time 
slightly  in  the  ascendant.  In  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  the  seces- 
sionists were  probably  in  the  majority.  These  regarded  delays 
as  dangerous,  and  anticipated  with  forebodings  the  occupation 
of  the  forts  by  the  Union  forces. 

Early  in  January,  1861,  alarmed  by  the  condition  of  affairs 
in  Charleston  Harbor,  they  determined  to  risk  no  longer  delays. 
A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  was  held  in  the  court- 
house, at  which  Robert  G.  Rankin,  Esq.,  who  afterwards  gave 
his  life  for  the  cause  on  the  battlefield  of  Bentonville,  presided. 
A  Committee  of  Safety  was  formed,  and  a  call  made  for  volim- 
teers  to  be  enrolled  for  instant  service  under  the  name  of  "Cape 
Fear  Minute  Men."  The  organization  was  speedily  effected, 
John  J.  Hedrick  being  chosen  commander. 

On  the  10th  of  January  Major  Hedrick  and  his  men  embarked 
on  a  small  schooner  with  provisions  for  one  week,  the  Committee 
of  Safety  guaranteeing  continued  support  and  supplies,  each 
man  carrying  such  private  weapons  as  he  possessed.  Arriving 
at  Smithville  at  3  p.  m.,  they  took  possession  of  the  United 
States  barracks  known  as  Fort  Johnston,  and  such  stores  as  were 
there  in  charge  of  United  States  Ord.  Sergt.  James  Reilly,  later 
captain  of  Reilly 's  battery.  The  same  afternoon  Major  Hed- 
rick took  twenty  men  of  his  command,  reinforced  by  Capt. 
S.  D.  Thurston,  commander  of  the  Smithville  Guards,  and 
a  number  of  his  men  and  citizens  of  Smithville,  but  all  acting 
as  individuals  only,  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Caswell,  three  miles 
across  the  bay,  where  they  demanded,  and  obtained,  surrender 
of  the  fort  from  the  United  States  sergeant  in  charge. 

Major  Hedrick  assumed  command  and  prepared  to  make  his 
position  as  secure  as  possible.  About  twenty-five  strong,  armed 
only  with  shotguns,  but  sure  of  ample  reinforcements  should 
occasion  arise,  these  brave  men  determined  to  hold  Fort  Caswell 
at  all  hazards.  In  bitter  cold  weather,  they  stood  guard  on  the 
ramparts  and  patrolled  the  beaches,  reckoning  not  that,  unsus- 
tained  even  by  State  authority,  their  action  was  treasonable 
rebellion,  jeopardizing  their  lives  and  property.  There  were 
only  two  24-pounder  guns  mounted,  one  on  the  sea  face  and  one 
on  the  inner  face,  both  carriages  being  too  decayed  to  withstand 
their  own  recoil ;  but,  such  as  they  were,  with  them  they  deter- 
mined to  defy  the  United  States  Army  and  Navy.  The  smoke 
of  an  approadiing  steamer  being  once  descried  below  the  horizon, 
the  alarm  was  signaled,  and,  believing  it  to  be  a  man-of-war,  the 


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278  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

brave  men  of  Smithville  flew  to  arms,  and  soon  the  bay  was  alive 
with  boats  hurrying  them  to  the  aid  of  their  comrades  within 
the  fort.  Women,  as  in  the  old  days,  armed  sons  and  fathers 
and  urged  them  to  the  front.  But  the  steamer  proved  to  be  a 
friendly  one. 

Upon  receipt  of  unofficial  information  of  this  movenaent,  Gov. 
John  W.  Ellis,  captain  general  and  commander-in-chief  of  the 
North  Carolina  Militia,  on  the  11th  of  January,  1861,  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  Col.  John  L.  Cantwell,  commanding  the  Thir- 
tieth Regiment  North  Carolina  Militia,  at  Wilmington,  in 
which,  after  stating  his  belief  that  the  men  were  "actuated  by 
patriotic  motives,"  he  continued : 

"Yet,  in  view  of  the  relations  existing  between  the  General 
Government  and  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  there  is  no  au- 
thority of  law,  under  existing  circumstances,  for  the  occupation 
of  the  United  States  forts  situated  in  this  State.  I  can  not, 
therefore,  sustain  the  action  of  Captain  Thurston,  however 
patriotic  his  motives  may  have  been,  and  am  compelled  by  an 
imperative  sense  of  duty  to  order  that  Fort  Caswell  be  restored 
to  the  possession  of  the  authorities  of  the  United  States. 

"You  will  proceed  to  Smithville  on  receipt  of  this  communi- 
cation and  communicate  orders  to  Captain  Thurston  to  with- 
draw his  troops  from  Fort  Caswell.  You  will  also  investigate 
and  report  the  facts  to  this  department." 

Upon  receipt  of  this  order  on  the  12th,  Col.  J.  L.  Cantwell 
notified  the  Governor  that  he  would  proceed  at  once  to  Fort 
Caswell,  accompanied  by  Robert  E.  Calder,  acting  adjutant, 
and  William  Calder,  acting  quartermaster,  two  staff  officers  tem- 
porarily appointed  for  that  duty.  Transportation  facilities 
between  Wilmington  and  Smithville  were  very  limited.  Colonel 
Cantwell  and  his  aides  embarked  on  a  slow-sailing  sloop  which 
became  becalmed  within  four  miles  of  Smithville.  They  were 
put  into  shallow  water,  out  of  which  they  waded  and  walked  to 
Smithville,  where  they  secured,  with  difficulty,  because  the  popu- 
lace was  almost  unanimously  opposed  to  their  supposed  mission, 
a  pilot  boat  in  which  they  sailed  to  Fort  Caswell,  arriving  there 
after  dark. 

After  some  parleying,  and  not  without  reluctance,  they  were 
admitted  and  conducted  to  Major  Hedrick,  to  whom  the  follow- 
ing order  was  delivered : 


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The  War  Between  the  States  279 

To  Majob  John  J.  Hedbick,  Commanding  Fort  Caswell: 

Sib: — In  obedience  to  the  order  of  His  Excellency,  John  W.  Ellis, 
governor,  etc.,  a  copy  of  which  I  herewith  transmit,  it  becomes  my 
duty  to  direct  that  you  withdraw  the  troops  under  your  command  from 
Fort  Caswell  and  restore  the  same  to  the  custody  of  the  officer  of  the 
United  States  whom  you  found  in  charge. 

Respectfully,  John  L.  Cantwkll^ 

Colonel  Thirtieth  North  Carolina  MUitia, 
RoBEBT  E.  Caldeb,  Acting  Adjutant, 

The  garrison  asked  until  the  next  morning  to  consider  what 
reply  should  be  made,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  this  was 
returned : 

Colonel  John  Ia  Cantwell: 

Sib: — Tour  communication,  with  the  copy  of  the  order  of  Qovemor 
mils  demanding  the  surrender  of  this  post,  has  been  received.  In 
reply,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  we,  as  North  Carolinians,  will  obey  his 
command.    This  post  will  be  evacuated  tomorrow  at  9  o'clock  a.  m. 

John  J.  Hsdbigk, 

Major  Commanding. 
Gboboe  Wobtham,  Acting  Adjutant. 

The  fort  was  evacuated  on  the  next  day.  Colonel  Cantwell 
and  his  aides  returned  to  Wilmington  and  reported  the  facts  to 
Governor  Ellis.  The  United  States  sergeant  again  assumed 
control  of  the  government  property. 

Thus  matters  remained  in  this  section  until  April  of  the  same 
year,  the  State  in  the  meantime  drifting  steadily  towards  seces- 
sion and  war,  and  the  people  sternly  arming  and  preparing.  The 
local  military  companies  in  Wilmington  were  fully  recruited, 
and  the  former  minute  men  permanently  organized  as  the  Cape 
Fear  Light  Artillery,  under  which  name  they  served  throughout 
the  war. 

On  the  12th  of  April  came  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  fol- 
lowed on  the  15th  by  a  call  from  the  Secretary  of  War  upon  the 
Governor  of  North  Carolina  for  "two  regiments  of  military  for 
immediate  service."  Immediately  the  Governor  telegraphed 
orders  to  Col.  J.  L.  Cantwell,  at  Wilmington,  "to  take  Forts 
Caswell  and  Johnston  without  delay,  and  hold  them  until  fur- 
ther orders  against  all  comers."  Colonel  Cantwell,  as  com- 
mander of  the  Thirtieth  Kegiment  North  Carolina  Militia, 
promptly  issued  orders  to  "the  officers  in  command  of  the  Wil- 
mington Light  Infantry,  the  German  Volunteers,  and  the  Wil- 


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280  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

mington  Rifle  Guards,  to  assemble  fully  armed  and  equipped 
this  afternoon"  [15th],  which  orders  were  promptly  obeyed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  the  Governor  telegraphed  Colonel 
Cantwell  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  forts,  "and  take  possession 
of  the  same  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  This 
measure  being  one  of  precaution  merely,  you  will  observe  strictly 
a  peaceful  policy,  and  act  only  on  the  defensive."  The  force 
under  Colonel  CantwelFs  orders  moved  promptly.  It  consisted 
of  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  Capt.  W.  L.  DeRosset ;  the 
German  Volunteers,  Capt.  C.  CornehLson ;  the  Wilmington  Rifle 
Guards,  Capt.  O.  P.  Meares ;  and  the  Cape  Fear  Light  Artillery, 
Lieut.  James  M.  Stevenson,  commanding.  At  4  p.  m,.  United 
States  Ord.  Sergt  James  Reilly  surrendered  the  post  at  Fort 
Johnston,  where  Lieutenant  Stevenson,  with  his  company,  was 
left  in  conmiand.  The  remainder  of  the  battalion,  under  Col. 
J.  L.  Cantwell,  proceeded  to  Fort  Caswell  and  took  possession 
at  6.20  p.  m..  Sergeant  Walker,  of  the  United  States  Army, 
being  placed  in  close  confinement  in  his  quarters  "in  conse- 
quence of  the  discovery  of  repeated  attempts  to  communicate 
with  his  government." 

Officers  and  men  worked  with  vigor  to  mount  guns  and  pre- 
pare for  defense,  and  the  work  never  ceased  until  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  in  1865,  and  the  necessary  abandonment  of  the  defense 
of  the  lower  harbor.  The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry  were  soon 
after  sent  to  Federal  Point,  where,  in  Battery  Bolles,  they  began 
the  first  defensive  works,  which  afterwards  grew  into  Fort 
Fisher  and  its  outlying  batteries. 

Thus  was  war  inaugurated  in  North  Carolina  more  than  a 
month  prior  to  the  act  of  secession ;  and  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact 
that  the  news  of  the  act  dissolving  connection  with  the  Union, 
and  the  call  upon  her  sons  to  arm  themselves  was  first  made 
known  to  the  pioneer  troops  of  the  Cape  Fear  on  the  parade 
ground  at  Fort  Caswell. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  281 


EAKLY  WAK  TIMES. 

The  day  following  the  fall  of  Sumter,  Maj.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting 
hastened  to  Wilmington  and  by  courtesy  took  command  of  the 
defenses  of  the  Cape  Fear.  He  at  once  formed  a  staff,  organized 
the  Quartermaster  and  Commissary  Departments,  and  assigned 
Capt.  F.  L.  Childs,  of  the  old  army,. to  duty  as  chief  of  Artil- 
lery and  Ordnance,  and  he  appointed  S.  A.  Ashe  a  lieutenant, 
and  assigned  him  to  duty  with  Captain  Childs.  Capt.  John  C. 
Winder,  who  bore  a  commission  from  Gtovemor  Ellis  as  chief 
engineer,  reported  to  Major  Whiting.  So  all  of  the  departments 
were  speedily  organized,  and  the  work  of  preparing  for  defense 
was  begun.    It  was  a  time  of  unremitting  work. 

To  command  New  Inlet,  Capt.  C.  P.  Bolles  threw  up  the  first 
battery  on  Confederate  Point.  It  was  called  Battery  Bolles. 
The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  Capt  W.  L.  DeRosset,  which 
had  been  drilled  at  the  cannon  at  Caswell,  was  its  first  garrison. 
The  most  interesting  of  these  early  batteries  was  a  casemate 
battery  constructed  by  Captain  Winder  out  of  railroad  iron  and 
palmetto  logs  cut  on  Smith's  Island.  It  was  located  near  the 
river  bank  and  a  short  distance  higher  up  than  Battery  Bolles. 
Captain  Winder's  plan  of  defense  for  Confederate  Point  em- 
braced a  strong  fortification  to  command  the  inlet ;  and  in  order 
to  guard  against  a  land  attack  there  was  a  redoubt  at  the  head 
of  the  sound,  another  halfway  to  the  point,  and  a  covered  way 
was  planned  from  the  sound  to  the  point,  affording  protection 
from  the  guns  of  the  fleet  to  the  riflemen  while  they  should  be 
engaged  with  any  force  that  might  attempt  to  land. 

Major  Whiting  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  general  and 
ordered  to  Virginia,  and  Col.  S.  L.  Fremont  had  general  charge 
of  the  Cape  Fear.  After  some  months.  Colonel  Brown  of  the 
Regular  Army  succeeded  Colonel  Cantwell.  Captain  DeRosset 
was  promoted  and  ordered  to  Virginia,  and  Maj.  J.  J.  Hedrick 
had  command  at  Confederate  Point.  This  officer  early  became 
distinguished  for  energy  and  efficiency,  and  was  especially  re- 
markable for  his  skill  in  erecting  batteries.  His  work  at  Con- 
federate Point  and  also  at  Fort  Johnston  excited  admiration. 
In  October,  1861,  when  an  attack  was  expected.  Gen.  Joseph  R. 
Anderson,  of  Richmond,  an  old  West  Pointer,  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  district,  and  brought  with  him  a  full  staff 
of  Virginians.    Major  Lamb,  of  Norfolk,  was  assigned  to  the 


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282  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

command  of  Confederate  Point  and  fortunately  proved  himself 
to  be  a  most  capable,  efficient,  and  acceptable  officer. 

Later  in  the  war  the  importance  of  Wilmington  to  the  Con- 
federacy became  manifest,  and  General  Whiting,  doubtless  the 
best  engineer  officer  in  the  army,  and  a  gentleman  of  most  re- 
markable intellect  and  attainments,  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  district.  General  Hebert  had  conm[iand  of  the 
lower  defenses.  His  headquarters  were  at  Fort  Johnston.  It 
was  here  that  he  narrowly  escaped  being  captured.  One  dark 
night  young  Lieutenant  Cushing,  of  the  Federal  Navy,  who 
achieved  great  fame  by  blowing  up  the  ram  Albemarle,  made 
a  raid  on  Hebert's  private  quarters,  and  came  near  carrying  oflF 
the  general  to  the  blockading  squadron.  On  another  occasion, 
Cushing  passed  up  the  river  to  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington  and 
spent  a  day  within  sight  of  the  town,  without,  however,  gaining 
any  information. 

In  1863,  Col.  Thomas  M.  Jones,  a  brother  of  Capt.  Pembroke 
Jones  of  the  navy  and  associated  with  the  Cape  Fear  by  his 
marriage  with  Miss  London,  was  given  command  of  Fort  Cas- 
well, but,  his  health  failing,  in  1864  he  was  succeeded  by  Col. 
C.  H.  Simonton. 

One  of  the  amusing  incidents  connected  with  the  early  days 
of  the  war  is  recorded  by  Dr.  W.  G.  Curtis  in  his  Reminiscences 
of  Smithville-Southport : 

"Much  confusion  prevailed  at  first,  and  the  old  citizens  of 
the  town  proposed  the  establishment  of  a  Tiome  guard'  for  the 
protection  of  their  home  interests.  Consequently,  a  public  meet- 
ing was  called  at  the  courthouse,  and  after  much  discussion 
an  organization  was  formed.  Mr.  John  Bell  was  elected  cap- 
tain, his  chief  qualification  being  that  he  was  good-natured 
and  not  likely  to  enforce  any  military  discipline  whatever. . 
Much  wisdom  was  apparent  in  the  conversation  of  these  ancient 
gentlemen,  who  proposed  a  great  nimiber  of  things  hitherto  un- 
heard of  in  any  military  organization,  the  principal  one  being 
that  they  were  liable  to  become  fatigued  by  the  exertion  of 
marching.  Inquiring  of  the  citizens  if  they  were  well  and  lis- 
tening to  their  replies  that  'they  were  not  to  say  well,  that  they 
had  a  mighty  hurting  in  their  heads  and  a  misery  in  their 
backs,'  which  being  duly  reported  to  Captain  Bell,  he  would 
reply  by  saying  that  he  was  'sorry  for  their  infirmities  but  that 
mustang  liniment  was  a  good  thing,  and  that  a  small  quantity  of 
plantation  bitters  taken  internally  would  finish  the  cure.'    Upon 


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The  War  Between  the  States  283 

the  occasion  of  the  first  meeting  Captain  Bell  issued  orders 
that  they  should  all  come  together  for  drill  the  next  morning, 
and  one  member  of  the  force  proposed  to  the  captain  that  the 
soldiers  of  the  Tiome  guard'  should  be  required  to  bring  camp 
stools  with  them,  so  that  when  they  were  tired  they  could  sit 
down  and  rest.  Captain  Bell  put  them  through  the  various 
drills  marching  around  the  town,  and  it  was  observed  that  when 
one  of  the  company  got  opposite  to  his  own  home  he  left  the 
ranks  and  was  no  more  seen.  The  Tiome  guard'  being  thus 
weakened  so  that  they  could  not  face  any  kind  of  an  enemy, 
it  was  moved  and  seconded  by  one  of  the  members  that  the  or- 
ganization be  now  discontinued,  to  which  motion  Captain  Bell 
remarked  that  he  thought  so,  too,  and  the  motion  being  unani- 
mously carried,  thus  ended  the  famous  Tiome  guard.' " 


CHANGES  DUKING  THE  WAR 

Wilmington,  the  principal  seaport  of  North  Carolina,  also 
became  the  most  important  in  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Prior 
to  the  b^inning  of  hostilities  it  had  sustained  a  large  traffic  in 
naval  stores  and  lumber,  and  now  it  was  to  be  for  a  time  the 
chief  cotton  port  of  America.  A  startling  change  in  the  aspect 
of  the  port  soon  became  apparent.  The  sailing  vessels,  even 
to  the  tiny  corn-crackers  from  Hyde  County,  had  vanished; 
likewise  the  two  New  York  steamers.  The  long  line  of  wharves 
was  occupied  by  a  fleet  of  nondescript  craft  the  like  of  which 
had  never  been  seen  in  North  Carolina  waters.  A  cotton  com- 
press on  the  western  side  of  the  river,  near  Market  Street  ferry, 
was  running  night  and  day  to  supply  these  steamers  with  car- 
goes for  Nassau  and  Bermuda,  while  other  newcomers  were 
busily  discharging  their  anomalous  cargoes  of  life-preserving 
and  death-dealing  supplies  for  the  new  Confederacy. 

The  good  old  town  was  sadly  marred  by  the  plagues  of  war 
and  pestilence  and  famine.  Four  hundred  and  forty-six  of  the 
population,  reduced  by  flight  to  about  three  thousand,  had  been 
carried  off  by  the  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  brought  from  Nas- 
sau by  the  steamer  Kate;  and  hundreds  more  of  the  younger 
generation,  who  gave  up  their  lives  in  the  Confederate  cause, 
had  been  brought  to  their  flnal  resting  place  in  Oakdale  Ceme- 
tery. Suspension  of  the  civil  law,  neglect  of  sanitary  precau- 
tions, the  removal  of  nearly  all  the  famine  stricken  women  and 


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284  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

children  to  safer  places  in  the  interior,  and  the  coming  of 
speculators  and  adventurers  to  the  auction  sales  of  the  blockade- 
runners'  merchandise^  as  well  as  the  advent  of  lawless  and  de- 
praved characters  attracted  by  the  camps  and  shipping,  had 
quite  changed  the  aspect  of  the  whole  commimity.  The  military 
post,  including  all  the  river  and  harbor  defenses,  was  under 
the  command  of  Maj.  Gen,  W.  H.  C.  Whiting. 

The  Yellow  Fevee. 

The  distress  of  Wilmington  during  the  yellow  fever  epidemic 
was  described  as  follows  by  the  late  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Wood  in 
his  biographical  sketch  of  one  of  the  heroes  of  that  fearful 
scourge,  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  who  died  at  his  post  of  duty : 

"The  month  of  September,  1862,  was  one  of  great  calamity 
to  Wilmington.  The  alarming  forebodings  of  the  visitation  of 
yellow  fever  in  a  pestilential  form  had  ripened  into  a  certainty. 
Depleted  of  her  young  and  active  men,  there  was  only  a  military 
garrison  in  occupation,  and  when  the  presence  of  fever  was 
announced  the  soldiers  were  removed  to  a  safer  locality.  The 
country  people,  taking  panic  at  the  news  of  the  presence  of  the 
fever,  no  longer  sent  in  their  supplies.  The  town  was  deserted, 
its  silence  broken  only  by  the  occasional  pedestrian  bound  on 
errands  of  mercy  to  the  sick,  or  the  rumbling  of  the  rude  funeral 
cart.  The  blockade  was  being  maintained  with  increased  vigor. 
The  only  newspaper  then  published  was  the  Wilmington  Jour- 
nal, a  daily  under  the  editorship  of  James  Fulton,  and  its  issues 
were  maintained  under  the  greatest  difficulties,  owing  to  the 
scarcity  of  paper  and  to  sickness  among  the  printers.  All  eyes 
were  turned  anxiously  toward  the  physicians  and  those  in  au- 
thority for  help.  To  all  the  resident  physicians  the  disease  was 
a  new  one ;  not  one  in  the  number  had  ever  seen  a  case  of  yellow 
fever,  and  among  them  were  men  of  large  experience.  The 
municipal  authorities  recognized  their  helplessness;  the  town 
was  neglected,  for  it  had  been  overcrowded  with  soldiers  and 
visitors  since  the  early  days  of  the  spring  of  1861.  The  black 
pall  of  smoke  from  the  burning  tar  barrels  added  solemnity  to 
the  deadly  silence  of  the  streets ;  designed  to  purify  the  air  and 
mitigate  the  pestilence,  it  seemed  more  like  fuliginous  clouds  of 
ominous  portent,  a  somber  emblem  of  mourning.  Panic,  dis- 
tress, mute  despair,  want,  had  fallen  upon  a  population  then 
strained  to  its  utmost,  with  the  bleeding  columns  of  its  regi- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  285 

ments  dyeing  the  hills  of  Maryland  with  their  blood,  until  the 
whole  air  was  fiDed  with  the  wail  of  the  widow  and  the  orphan, 
and  the  dead  could  no  longer  be  honored  with  the  last  tribute  of 
respect. 

"The  Wilmington  Journal  of  September  29,  1862,  gave  all 
its  available  editorial  space  to  chronicle,  for  the  first  time,  the 
character  of  the  epidemic,  and  in  a  few  brief  words  to  notice 
the  death  of  some  of  the  more  prominent  citizens.  One  para- 
graph in  the  simple  editorial  notice  ran  as  follows :  'Dr.  James 
H.  Dickson,  a  physician  of  the  highest  character  and  standing, 
died  here  on  Sunday  morning  of  yellow  fever.  Dr.  Dickson's 
death  is  a  great  loss  to  the  profession  and  to  the  community.' 
Close  by,  in  another  column,  from  the  pen  of  the  acting  adju- 
tant, Lieutenant  VanBokkelen,  of  the  Third  N.  C.  Infantry, 
numbering  so  many  gallant  soids  of  the  young  men  of  Wilming- 
ton, was  the  list  of  the  killed  and  woimded  on  the  bloody  field 
of  Sharpsburg. 

"Distressed  and  bereaved  by  this  new  weight  of  sorrow,  Wil- 
mington sat  in  the  mournful  habiliments  of  widowhood,  striv- 
ing, amidst  the  immensity  of  the  struggle,  to  make  her  coura- 
geous voice  heard  above  all  the  din  of  war  to  nerve  the  brave 
hearts  who  stood  as  a  girdle  of  steel  about  beleaguered  Richmond. 

"James  Fulton,  the  well-known  proprietor  of  the  Journal, 
the  wary  politician  and  cautious  editor,  striving  to  keep  the 
worst  from  the  world,  lest  the  enemy  might  use  it  to  our  dis- 
advantage, often  ruthlessly  suppressed  from  his  limited  space 
such  matters  as  in  these  days  of  historical  research  might  be  of 
the  greatest  service.  There  were  two  predominant  topics  which 
eclipsed  all  the  impending  sorrow  and  distress:  first,  foreign 
intervention,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  about  an  honorable 
peace;  second,  warnings  to  the  State  government  of  the  inade- 
quacy of  the  defense  of  Wilmington  Harbor  against  the  enemy. 
The  former  topic  was  discussed  with  unvarying  pleasure.  The 
horizon  of  the  future  was  aglow  with  the  rosy  dreams  of  man- 
dates from  the  British  and  French  Governments  which  would 
bring  independence  to  the  Confederacy  and  peace  and  quietness 
to  the  numerous  homes,  from  the  sea  to  the  mountains,  where 
sorrow  and  death  had  hung  like  a  pall.  It  is  not  strange,  there- 
fore, that  the  few  publications  that  had  survived  the  scarcity 
of  printing  material  should  have  contained  so  little  biographical 
matter.  Comrades  dropped  on  the  right  and  on  the  left,  but 
the  ranks  were  closed  up,  the  hurried  tear  wiped  away,  and  the 


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286  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

line  pushed  steadily  forward.  The  distinguished  physician,  or 
general,  or  jurist,  as  well  as  the  humble  private,  got  his  passing 
notice  in  the  meagre  letters  which  a  chance  correspondent  sent 
to  one  of  the  few  newspapers,  and  in  a  short  time  he  was  for- 
gotten in  the  fresh  calamity  of  the  day." 

The  following  may  be  added  to  Dr.  Wood's  interesting  ac- 
count : 

In  August,  1862,  the  military  occupation,  the  laxity  of  mu- 
nicipal control,  the  constant  movement  of  troops,  the  utter  neg- 
lect of  sanitary  precautions,  the  non-enforcement  of  quarantine 
regulations,  practically  invited  the  introduction  of  yellow  fever 
from  Nassau  by  the  daily  arrival  of  blockade  runners  with 
frequent  cases  of  infection. 

The  first  victim  was  a  German  wood-and-coal  dealer  named 
Swartzman,  whose  place  of  business  was  on  the  wharf  quite 
near  the  landing  place  of  the  blockade  runner  Kate,  which 
brought  the  infection.  My  father  was  informed  promptly  of 
this  by  our  physician.  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  who  advised  him 
to  remove  his  family  at  once  to  the  country.  As  my  father  had 
seen  much  of  this  terrible  scourge  in  the  West  Indies  and  in 
South  America,  he  recognized  the  gravity  of  the  situation,  and 
sent  us  all  to  Duplin  County,  where  he  had  A'elatives.  Before 
we  left,  a  ludicrous  incident  occurred  which  has  stuck  in  my 
memory.  One  of  my  brothers  having  kept  to  his  room  from 
indisposition,  was  at  once  the  object  of  much  solicitude.  My 
father,  being  a  bit  of  a  medico,  directed  the  boy  to  put  out  his 
tongue,  which  he  did  with  evident  reluctance,  to  the  horror  of 
my  father,  who  declared  he  had  symptoms  of  yellow  fever.  A 
shame-faced  confession  that  the  patient  had  been  secretly  chew- 
ing tobacco,  which  had  caused  his  sickness,  relieved  the  situation 
and  calmed  our  fears.  The  year  1862  is  still  remembered  by 
our  older  people  as  a  period  of  terror  and  dismay.  The  date 
of  frost  was  delayed  nearly  a  whole  month  that  fall  and  nothing 
but  frost  would  stay  the  fearful  pestilence. 

Among  the  devoted  band  of  Christians  who  remained  at  their 
post  of  duty  and  yielded  up  their  lives  while  rendering  succor 
to  those  who  could  not  leave,  were  Eev.  R.  B.  Drane,  rector  of 
St.  James's  parish,  aged  62  years ;  James  S.  Green,  treasurer  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad,  aged  63  years ;  Dr.  James 
H.  Dickson,  an  accomplished  physician  and  man  of  letters,  aged 
59  years;  John  W.  K.  Dix,  a  prominent  merchant,  aged  30 
years;  Isaac  Northrop,  a  large  mill  owner,  aged   67  years; 


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The  War  Between  the  States  287 

James  T.  Miller,  a  prominent  citizen  and  the  collector  of  the 
port,  aged  47  years ;  Rev.  John  L.  Pritchard,  a  Baptist  minister, 
who  fell  at  his  post,  never  faltering,  aged  51  years.  Thomas 
Clarkson  Worth,  an  eminent  merchant,  after  laboring  among 
the  sick  and  destitute,  yielded  his  life  to  the  plague  November 
1,  1862 ;  Cyrus  Stowe  Van  Amringe,  one  of  nature's  noblemen, 
who  refused  to  leave  and  remained  to  help  the  sick,  died  at  his 
post,  aged  26  years.  Rev.  Father  Murphy,  a  Roman  Catholic 
priest,  a  hero  among  heroes,  worked  night  and  day  until  nearly 
the  last  victim  had  died,  and  then  fell  on  sleep.  Rev.  A.  Paul 
Repiton  was  the  only  minister  remaining  in  the  city  who  sur- 
vived. He  worked  imceasingly  for  the  sick  and  buried  the 
dead.  His  name  is  blessed  in  the  annals  of  Wilmington.  Hun- 
dreds of  others  bravely  met  the  issue  and  remained  to  nurse  the 
sick  during  the  horror,  and  few  survived.  Of  about  3,000  in- 
habitants who  remained  in  the  city,  about  446  died  within  three 
months. 

In  a  sketch  of  Wilmington  in  1867,  the  late  Joshua  T.  James 
wrote  of  the  epidemic  as  follows : 

"In  August,  1821,  the  yellow  fever  appeared  here,  introduced 
by  means  of  the  brig  John  London  from  Havana.  It  raged 
with  great  violence  for  about  six  weeks  and  a  large  proportion 
of  the  citizens  of  the  little  town,  then  numbering  only  about 
2,500  inhabitants,  was  swept  away  by  it.  In  the  autumn  of 
1862  its  ravages  were  terrible.  It  began  August  6  and  ended 
November  17,  446  persons  having  died  of  the  plague  within 
that  time.  In  this  instance,  as  in  the  former,  it  was  imported 
from  the  Indies,  and  on  this  occasion  by  the  steamship  Kate,  a 
blockade  runner,  trading  between  this  port  and  Nassau.  For 
over  ten  weeks  it  raged  with  terrible  violence,  and  at  a  period, 
too,  when  it  was  most  difficult  to  combat  its  effects.  Medicines 
and  provisions  were  both  scarce  and  high  in  price,  and  the  little 
luxuries  needed  for  the  convalescent  were  most  difficult  to  obtain. 
Those  of  the  frightened  inhabitants  that  were  able  to  do  so  fled 
the  town ;  all  business  was  abandoned,  and  the  closed  stores  and 
silent  streets  gave  the  place  the  appearance  of  a  deserted  city. 
It  was  then,  in  that  time  of  distress  and  suffering,  that  a  few 
of  the  noble  spirits  of  Wilmington  arose  equal  to  the  emergency. 
Regardless  of  self,  many  of  our  oldest  and  most  valued  citizens 
remained  behind  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  those  who  were 
unable  to  leave.  Distributing  food  to  the  poor,  medicine  and 
attendance  to  the  sick,  consolation  to  the  dying,  and  holy  burial 


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288  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

to  the  dead,  they  remained  behind  when  many  others  had  fled, 
and  nobly  fulfilled  the  trust  they  had  assigned  themselves. 
Many  of  them  escaped,  but  some  fell,  and  those  from  the  ranks 
of  the  most  honored  and  esteemed  citizens  of  the  town.  Rest 
they  well,  and  rest  they  calmly.  They  need  no  monument  above 
their  tombs ;  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew 
them." 

Wab  Prices  in  Wilmington. 

As  the  war  progressed  the  prices  of  food  and  clothing  ad- 
vanced in  proportion  to  the  depreciation  of  Confederate  money; 
the  plainest  necessities  were  almost  unobtainable — $50  for  a 
ham,  $500  for  a  barrel  of  flour,  $500  for  a  pair  of  boots,  $600 
for  a  suit  of  clothes,  $1,500  for  an  overcoat,  and  $100  a  pound 
for  coffee  or  tea,  were  readily  paid  as  the  fortunes  of  the  Con- 
federacy waned.  Coffee  was  perhaps  the  greatest  luxury  and 
was  seldom  used;  substitutes  of  beans,  potatoes,  and  rye  with 
'long  sweetening'' — sorghum — ^having  been  generally  adopted. 
Within  a  mile  or  two  of  our  temporary  home  in  the  country  there 
lived  two  unattractive  spinsters  of  mature  age,  one  of  whom,  in 
the  other's  absence,  was  asked  by  an  old  reprobate  of  some  means 
in  the  neighborhood  to  marry  him,  a  preposterous  proposal, 
which  she  indignantly  rejected.  Upon  the  return  of  the  absent 
sister,  however,  she  was  made  to  feel  that  she  had  thrown  away 
the  golden  opportunity  of  a  lifetime ;  for,  said  the  sister,  "Didn't 
you  know  he  has  a  bag  of  coffee  in  his  house  ?" 

Another  true  incident  will  also  serve  to  illustrate  the  comic 
side  of  the  great  crisis.  Our  evening  meal  consisted  of  milk, 
rye  coffee,  yopon  tea,  honey,  and  one  wheaten  biscuit  each,  with 
well-prepared  com  muffins  and  hominy  ad  libitum.  The  bis- 
cuit, however,  were  valued  beyond  price,  and  the  right  of  each 
individual  to  them  was  closely  guarded  by  the  younger  members 
of  the  family.  One  evening  there  appeared  just  before  supper 
an  itinerant  preacher,  who  was  made  welcome  to  the  best  we 
had.  Addressing  himself  with  vigor  to  the  tempting  plate  of 
biscuit,  and  ignoring  the  despised  muffins,  which  were  politely 
pressed  upon  him  by  the  dismayed  youngsters  at  his  side,  he 
actually  devoured  the  entire  dozen  with  apparent  ease  and  great 
relish.  Upon  being  informed  at  the  hour  of  retiring  that  it 
would  be  inconvenient  to  serve  his  breakfast  at  daylight,  when 
he  desired  to  depart,  he  said,  to  our  amazement,  that,  rather 


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The  War  Between  the  States  289 

than  disturb  us  in  the  early  morning,  he  would  take  his  break- 
fast then  and  there  before  going  to  bed.  But  there  were  no 
more  biscuit  to  serve. 

SOUTHEBN    RaILBOADS    IN    WaB    TiMES. 

The  following  incidents  illustrating  the  physical  condition  of 
the  railroads  in  the  South  resulting  from  the  incessant  war 
strain,  which  could  not  be  remedied  nor  repaired  because  of  in- 
adequate facilities  and  lack  of  material,  may  be  worth  recording. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  termination  of  the  four  years'  war,  I 
was  returning  to  our  temporary  home  in  Bobeson  County  by 
way  of  the  Wilmington,  Charlotte,  and  Rutherford  Railroad, 
now  a  part  of  the  Carolina  Central  and  Seaboard  Air  Line. 
The  track  had  been  partly  destroyed  and  the  roadbed  and  roll- 
ing stock  were  in  a  dangerous  state  of  disruption  and  decay. 
Our  speed  at  five  miles  an  hour  was  really  perilous ;  during  the 
frequent  stops,  we  were  repeatedly  passed  by  an  old  darkey 
laden  with  farming  implements,  who  preferred  the  footpath  to 
the  rickety  railroad  train.  To  each  and  every  invitation  from 
the  passengers  to  get  on  the  train  as  we  overtook  him,  he  politely 
responded,  "Much  obleeged.  Boss,  but  I  hain't  got  time." 

Captain  Hobart,  of  the  British  Navy,  who  subsequently  be- 
came admiral-in-chief  of  the  Turkish  Navy,  commanded  the 
blockade  runner  Don,  and  made  eight  or  ten  successful  runs  to 
Wilmington.  He  describes  in  the  following  incident  a  railroad 
trip  to  Charleston  during  the  war. 

"I  determined  this  time  to  have  a  look  at  Charleston,  which 
was  then  undergoing  a  lengthened  and  destructive  siege.  So, 
after  giving  over  my  craft  into  the  hands  of  the  owners'  repre- 
sentatives in  Wilmington,  who  would  unload  and  put  her  cargo 
of  cotton  on  board,  I  took  my  place  in  the  train,  and  after  pass- 
ing thirty-six  of  the  most  miserable  hours  in  my  life  traveling 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  I  arrived  at 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  or  rather  near  to  that  city,  for  the 
train,  disgusted  I  suppose  with  itself,  ran  quietly  off  the  line 
into  a  meadow  about  two  miles  from  the  station.  The  passen- 
gers seemed  perfectly  contented,  and  shouldering  their  baggage 
walked  off  into  the  town.  I  mechanically  followed  with  my 
portmanteau,  and  in  due  course  arrived  at  the  only  hotel,  where 
I  was  informed  I  might  have  half  a  room. 

"Acting  on  a  hint  I  received  from  a  waiter  that  food  was 

19 


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290  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

being  devoured  in  the  dining-room,  and  that  if  I  did  not  look 
out  for  myself  I  should  have  to  do  without  that  essential  article 
for  the  rest  of  the  day,  I  hurried  into  the  salle-a-manger,  where 
two  long  tables  were  furnished  with  all  the  luxuries  then  to  be 
obtained  in  Charleston,  which  luxuries  consisted  of  lumps  of 
meat  supposed  to  be  beef,  boiled  Indian  com,  and  I  think  there 
were  the  remains  of  a  feathered  biped  or  two,  to  partake  of 
which  I  was  evidently  too  late.  All  these  washed  down  with 
water,  or  coffee  without  sugar,  were  not  very  tempting;  but 
human  nature  must  be  supported,  so  at  it  I  set,  and  having 
swallowed  a  sufficient  quantity  of  animal  food,  I  went  off  to  my 
room  to  take  a  pull  at  a  bottle  of  brandy  which  I  had  sagaciously 
stored  in  my  carpet-bag.  But  alas,  for  the  morals  of  the  be- 
leaguered city.  I  found,  on  arriving  there,  a  darkey  extended 
at  full  length  in  happy  oblivion  on  the  floor,  with  the  few  clothes 
I  had  with  me  forming  his  pillow,  and  the  brandy  bottle  rolling 
about  alongside  of  him,  empty. 

"I  first  of  all  hammered  his  head  against  the  floor,  but  the 
floor  had  the  worst  of  it ;  then  I  kicked  his  shins  (the  only  vul- 
nerable part),  but  it  was  of  no  use;  so,  pouring  the  contents  of 
a  water  pitcher  over  him,  in  the  hope  that  I  might  thus  cause 
awful  dreams  to  disturb  his  slumbers,  I  left  him,  voting  myself 
a  fool  for  leaving  the  key  in  my  trrmk. 

"Having  letters  of  introduction  to  some  of  General  Beaure- 
gard's staff,  I  made  my  way  to  headquarters,  where  I  met  with 
the  greatest  courtesy  and  kindness.'^ 

Col.  Alfred  Moore  Waddell  wrote  in  his  very  interesting 
reminiscences  of  a  railroad  tragedy  during  the  war  on  what  is 
now  a  part  of  the  great  Atlantic  Coast  Line  system,  in  which  he 
narrowly  escaped  death,  but  which  involved  a  ludicrous  scene, 
as  follows : 

"The  yellow  fever  was  brought  to  Wilmington  by  a  blockade 
runner  in  August,  1862,  and  raged  with  terrible  effect  for  two 
or  three  months.  Happening  to  be  going  from  Richmond,  Va., 
to  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  stopping  for  a  day  or  two  in  Wilmington, 
just  before  the  fever  broke  out,  and  hearing  that  a  poor  fellow 
named  Swartzman,  a  young  German,  was  sick  and  alone,  I 
called  at  his  room  and  sat  by  his  bedside  and  tried  to  cheer  him, 
holding  his  hand  in  the  meantime.  I  observed  that  he  had 
a  very  yellow  appearance  and  supposed  he  had  jaundice.  After 
sitting  some  time,  I  bade  him  good-bye,  and  a  few  hours  later 
left  the  city  for  Augusta.     He  died  with  black  vomit  within 


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The  War  Between  the  States  291 

forty-eight  hours,  and  his  was  the  first  case  of  the  dreadful 
scourge,  or  at  least  it  was  the  first  recognized  case.  My  escape 
was  a  signal  mercy;  and  there  was  cause  for  additional  grati- 
tude when,  on  my  return  home,  which  was  delayed  imtil  the 
fever  had  disappeared,  a  dreadful  railroad  accident  occurred 
in  which  two  young  ladies  sitting  immediately  behind  me  were 
killed  and  every  person  in  the  car  except  one  was  hurt,  while  I 
crawled  out  with  slight  injury.  The  railroad  was  in  a  very 
dilapidated  condition,  as  the  war  was  going  on  and  no  means 
of  repairing  it  was  available,  and  the  engine  'jumped  the  track' 
twice  after  the  accident,  the  last  time  being  about  ten  miles 
from  Wilmington,  whereupon,  with  several  oUiers,  I  left  it  and 
walked  to  town.  I  have  frequently  related  the  circumstances 
attending  this  fatal  accident  for  the  purpose  of  proving  that, 
according  to  my  experience,  there  seldom  occurs  a  tragedy  with- 
out some  comic  incident.  In  this  case  the  comic  incident  was 
as  follows :  Provisions  of  all  kinds  were  hard  to  get,  and  seeing 
an  old  'aunty'  at  one  of  the  stations  with  a  box  of  ten  dozen  eggs, 
I  bought  them,  paying  her  five  (Confederate)  dollars  per  dozen 
for  them,  and  placed  them  imder  the  seat  in  front  of  me,  on 
which  Mr.  James  Dawson,  of  Wilmington,  and  another  gentle- 
man were  sitting.  When  the  accident  occurred  all  the  lights 
in  the  car  were  extinguished,  and,  the  night  being  very  dark, 
it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  persons.  Just  after  I  crawled 
out  of  the  wreck,  and  while  the  cries  and  groans  of  the  victims 
were  still  going  on,  a  feeble  voice  cried,  'Gentlemen,  I  am  bleed- 
ing to  death.'  At  once  recognizing  the  voice  as  that  of  Dawson 
and  expressing  the  hope  that  he  was  mistaken,  he  replied,  'No, 
just  feel  my  head  and  my  clothes.'  I  did  so,  and  the  wet,  slimy 
clothes  certainly  seemed  to  verify  his  assertion.  About  that 
time  a  lantern  was  brought  by  the  conductor  (Harry  Brock) 
and  the  revelation  it  made,  in  spite  of  the  solenmity  of  the  sur- 
roundings, was  ludicrous  in  the  extreme.  My  box  of  eggs,  when 
the  car  turned  over,  had  fallen  on  Dawson's  head  and  shoulders, 
and  the  contents  were  streaming  from  his  battered  hat — an  old 
'stove-pipe' — and  from  his  hair  and  face  and  arms  in  a  yellow 
cascade.  His  change  of  expression  upon  the  discovery  was  even 
more  ridiculous  than  the  plight  he  was  in." 


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292  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

MRS.  ARMAND  J.  DkROSSET. 

(From  the  Confederate  Veteran.) 

This  noble  character  deserves  prominent  record  for  her  serv- 
ices to  the  South.  She  was  president  of  the  Soldiers'  Aid 
Society,  of  Wilmington,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the 

Endowed  with  administrative  ability,  which  called  forth  the 
remark,  "She  ought  to  have  been  a  general,"  gifted  with  unusual 
largeness  of  heart  and  breadth  of  sympathy,  she  was  a  leader  of 
society,  yet  ever  alive  to  the  wants  and  the  sufferings  of  the  poor 
and  needy.  Under  her  direction  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  was 
early  organized,  and  for  four  years  did  its  work  of  beneficence 
with  unabated  energy. 

The  North  Carolina  coast  was  especially  inviting  to  the 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  and  Mrs.  DeRosset's  household  was  re- 
moved to  the  interior  of  the  State.  Her  beautiful  home  in 
Wilmington  was  despoiled  largely  of  its  belongings;  servants 
and  children  were  taken  away,  but  she  soon  returned  to  Wil- 
mington, where  her  devoted  husband  was  detained  by  the  re- 
quirements of  business,  and  here  devoted  herself  to  the  work 
of  helping  and  comforting  the  soldiers. 

Six  of  her  own  sons  and  three  sons-in-law  wore  the  gray. 
The  first  work  was  to  make  clothing  for  the  men.  Many  a  poor 
fellow  was  soon  without  a  change  of  clothing.  Large  supplies 
were  made  and  kept  on  hand.  Haversacks  were  home-made. 
Canteens  were  covered.  Cartridges  for  rifles,  and  powder-bags 
for  the  great  columbiads  were  made  by  hundreds.  Canvas  bags 
to  be  filled  with  sand  and  used  on  the  fortifications  were  re- 
quired for  Fort  Fisher — and  much  more  was  in  requisition. 
The  ladies  would  daily  gather  at  the  City  Hall  and  ply  their 
busy  needles  or  machines,  with  never  a  sigh  of  weariness. 

When  the  troops  were  being  massed  in  Virginia,  Wilmington, 
being  the  principal  port  of  entry  for  the  Confederacy,  was 
naturally  an  advantageous  point  for  obtaining  supplies  through 
the  blockade,  and  Mrs.  DeRosset,  ever  watching  the  opportunity 
to  secure  them,  had  a  large  room  in  her  dwelling  fitted  up  as  a 
store-room.  Many  a  veteran  in  these  intervening  years  has 
blessed  the  memory  of  Mrs.  DeRosset  and  her  faithful  aids  for 
the  comfort  and  refreshment  so  lavishly  bestowed  upon  him. 
Feasts  without  price  were  constantly  spread  at  the  depot.  Nor 
were  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  soldiers  neglected.     Bibles, 


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The  War  Between  the  States  293 

prayer-books,  and  hymn  books  were  distributed.  Men  still  live 
who  treasure  their  war  Bibles  among  their  most  valuable  posses- 
sions. 

Mrs.  DeRosset's  ability  to  overcome  difficulties  in  getting  all 
she  needed  for  the  men  was  the  constant  wonder  of  those  who 
daily  assisted  her  in  her  labors.  An  incident  of  her  surpassing 
executive  power  is  worthy  of  record.  After  the  first  attack  on 
Fort  Fisher,  the  garrison,  under  the  command  of  the  gallant 
officers  Whiting  and  Lamb,  was  in  great  peril  and  in  need  of 
reinforcements,  which  came  in  Hoke's  division  of  several  thou- 
sand men — Clingman's,  Kirkland's,  Colquitt's,  and  Hagood's 
brigades — ^with  some  of  the  North  Carolina  Junior  Reserves. 
The  wires  brought  the  news  that  in  a  few  hours  they  would 
arrive,  hungry  and  footsore.  Mrs.  DeRosset  was  asked  if  the 
ladies  could  feed  them.  The  ready  reply  was  flashed  back :  "Of 
course  we  can" ;  and  she  proved  equal  to  the  task.  Through  her 
energies  and  resources,  and  those  of  her  able  corps  of  assistants, 
she  redeemed  her  pledge. 

The  harrowing  scenes  of  hospital  life  followed,  and  here,  as 
elsewhere,  Mrs,  DeRosset's  labors  were  abundant.  The  sick 
were  ministered  to  by  tender  hands,  the  wounded  carefully 
nursed,  and  the  dead  decently  buried.  The  moving  spirit  in 
all  these  works  of  beneficence  was  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society, 
directed  by  Mrs.  DeRosset. 

When  all  was  over,  Mrs.  DeRosset  was  the  first  to  urge  the 
organization  of  the  Ladies'  Memorial  Association  for  perpetu- 
ating the  memory  of  the  brave  soldiers  who  died  for  our  cause. 
Though  persistently  refusing  to  accept  office,  she  remained  a 
faithful  member  of  the  association  as  long  as  she  lived. 

A  sketch  of  Mrs.  DeRosset's  work  during  the  Confederacy 
would  not  be  complete  without  some  recognition  of  the  valuable 
assistance  given  her  by  all  her  colleagues,  and  especially  by 
Mrs.  Alfred  Martin,  the  vice  president.  That  she  was  looked 
up  to  as  their  leader  does  not  in  the  least  degree  detract  from 
the  value  of  their  services,  for  without  strong  hands  and  willing 
hearts  the  head  would  be  of  little  avail,  and  she  never  failed  to 
give  due  meed  of  appreciation  to  all  who  helped  her  in  her  work. 
From  her  own  countrywomen  such  devotion  was  to  be  expected, 
but  the  German  women  of  the  city  entered  into  the  work,  zeal- 
ously giving  their  means  as  well  as  their  time  to  the  call  of  their 
president.  Were  it  not  open  to  a  charge  of  invidiousness,  a  few 
names  might  be  singled  out  as  especially  helpful  and  interested 


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294  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

in  serving  the  country  of  their  adoption,  with  the  unwearied 
fidelity  of  true-hearted  women  of  every  land. 

Her  labors  ended,  Mrs.  DeKosset  has  for  years  rested  peace- 
fully under  the  shade  of  the  Oakdale  trees,  waiting  her  joyful 
resurrection.  The  daughters  of  the  South  could  have  no  better, 
purer  model,  should  their  beloved  country  ever  call  on  them, 
as  it  did  on  her,  in  time  of  need. 

Of  her  own  sons,  one  noble  boy  of  seventeen  sleeps  in  Oakdale 
Cemetery,  with  "Only  a  Private"  inscribed  on  a  stone  marking 
his  resting  place. 

Her  oldest  son.  Col.  William  L.  DeRosset,  of  the  gallant 
Third  North  Carolina  Infantry,  was  wounded  nigh  unto  death 
at  Sharpsburg. 

Her  second  son,  Dr.  M.  John  DeEosset,  assistant  surgeon  at 
Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York,  with  most  flattering  offers  of 
promotion  in  a  New  York  regiment,  resigned  his  commission, 
came  South,  and  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon,  with 
orders  to  report  to  Jackson,  in  whose  command  he  shared  the 
perils  of  the  famous  Valley  campaign  of  1862.  Later,  he  was 
one  of  the  surgeons  in  charge  of  the  hospital  in  the  Baptist 
College,  Richmond. 

Another  son,  Capt.  A.  L.  DeEosset,  of  the  Third  North  Caro- 
lina Infantry,  was  several  times  disabled  by  slight  wounds,  and 
at  Averasboro  was  left  for  dead  on  the  field.  He  owes  his  recov- 
ery to  the  skill  and  care  of  a  Federal  surgeon,  into  whose  hands 
he  f  eU. 

Louis  H.  DeRosset,  being  physically  incapacitated  for  active 
duty,  was  detailed  in  the  Ordnance  and  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ments, and  was  sent  to  Nassau  on  business  connected  with  the 
latter. 

Thomas  C.  DeRosset,  the  youngest  of  the  six,  a  boy  at  school, 
enlisted  before  the  call  for  the  Junior  Reserves,  and  was  detailed 
for  duty  under  Maj.  M.  P.  Taylor,  at  the  Fayetteville  arsenal. 
He  died  in  1878  from  sunstroke  when  in  command  of  the  Whit- 
ing Rifles,  attending  the  memorial  services  at  Oakdale  Cemetery. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  295 


CONFEDERATE  HEROES. 

From  personal  knowledge  and  from  available  records  I  have 
added  to  this  narrative  the  following  names  of  the  living  and 
the  dead  identified  with  Wilmington,  which  are  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  by  those  who  recall  their  devotion  to  the  Lost 
Cause.  Hundreds  of  others,  equally  meritorious,  are  upon  the 
roll  of  honor,  but  because  of  limited  space  I  can  include  only  the 
names  of  company  and  regimental  leaders  of  the  Lower  Cape 
Fear,  and  some  others  whose  record  is  known  to  me. 

As  has  been  said  elsewhere,  prior  to  the  formal  secession  of 
the  State  of  North  Carolina  from  the  Union,  affairs  in  Charles- 
ton had  taken  such  a  turn  that  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  antici- 
pated the  occupation  and  strengthening  of  Forts  Caswell  and 
Johnston  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. To  prevent  that,  a  Committee  of  Safety  was  organized 
in  Wilmington,  and  a  call  made  for  volunteers  to  enlist  for 
immediate  service.  This  call  was  promptly  answered,  and  John 
J.  Hedrick  was  chosen  commander.  These  minute  men  em- 
barked on  January  10,  1861,  for  the  mouth  of  the  river  and, 
being  joined  by  a  Smithville  detachment,  speedily  took  posses- 
sion of  the  two  forts. 

The  Cape  Fear  Light  Artillery  was  recruited  from  the  local 
military  companies,  and  especially  from  the  body  of  minute 
men  that  took  possession  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Johnston  prior 
to  the  formal  secession  of  the  State.  Under  this  name  the  com- 
pany served  throughout  the  war. 

Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting  was  a  distinguished  West  Point  engi- 
neer, a  man  of  great  ability.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Walker,  of 
Wilmington,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  was  a  Wilming- 
tonian  by  adoption,  well-known  and  highly  esteemed.  The  day 
after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  he  came  to  Wilmington  and  by 
courtesy  assumed  command,  and  for  some  weeks  directed  the 
preparations  for  defense.  He  was,  however,  needed  at  the  front 
and  was  chief  engineer  with  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  at  Har- 
per^s  Ferry  and  at  Manassas.  After  brilliant  service  in  Vir- 
ginia, on  November  17, 1862,  he  again  assumed  command  of  the 
defenses  of  the  Cape  Fear. 

Wilmington  was  the  most  important  port  of  the  Confederacy 
for  the  receipt  of  supplies  and  munitions  of  war,  and  an  officer 


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296  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

recognized  in  both  armies  as  without  a  superior  as  an  engineer 
was  entrusted  with  its  defense.  General  Whiting  entered  the 
army  with  the  highest  record  ever  made  by  any  graduate  at 
West  Point.  Having  been  before  the  war  in  charge  of  the 
improvements  of  the  harbor  and  the  lower  part  of  the  river,  he 
was  entirely  familiar  with  the  topography  of  the  country,  and 
he  exerted  every  energy  for  a  successful  defense.  Later,  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  a  division  in  Virginia,  but  in  the 
simmier  of  1864  he  returned  to  the  Cape  Fear. 

General  Whiting  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  second  attack 
on  Fort  Fisher,  when  he  exposed  himself  with  unsurpassed 
heroism.  He  died  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Colimibus,  New  York 
Harbor,  March  10,  1865.  His  remains  were  brought  home, 
and  now  rest  in  Oakdale  Cemetery  beside  those  of  his  most 
estimable  wife,  who  after  some  years  followed  him. 

Col.  Gaston  Meares  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Third  Regi- 
ment on  its  first  organization,  with  Robert  H.  Cowan,  lieutenant 
colonel,  and  William  L.  DeRosset,  major. 

Mr.  Meares,  when  quite  a  yoimg  man,  moved  to  the  West 
from  Wilmington,  and  engaged  in  the  Mexican  War,  attaining 
the  rank  of  colonel.  On  the  secession  of  North  Carolina,  he 
reported  to  the  Governor  for  duty,  and  was  at  once  commis- 
sioned as  colonel  and  given  command  of  the  Third  Regiment, 
then  just  organized.  Colonel  Meares  was  a  man  of  marked  in- 
dividuality, respected  by  his  superior  officers,  beloved  by  his 
subordinates,  and  commanded  the  admiration  and  confidence 
of  the  men  of  his  regiment,  for  he  was  always  intrepid,  and  in 
him  they  recognized  a  leader  who  would  lead. 

At  Malvern  Hill,  July  1,  1862,  while  on  foot  in  front  of  the 
line  and  from  a  slight  elevation  surveying  the  enemy  through 
his  field  glasses,  he  was  instantly  killed  by  a  slug  from  a  shrap- 
nel fired  from  a  battery  directly  in  front  and  not  over  seventy- 
five  yards  distant. 

Major  DeRosset  succeeded  his  brother-in-law.  Colonel  Meares, 
in  command  of  the  regiment ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cowan  having 
been  promoted  before  that  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  Eighteenth 
Regiment. 

William  Lord  DeRosset  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  prominent  families  of  Wilmington,  being  the  eldest 
of  six  sons  of  Dr.  Armand  J.  DeRosset,  all  of  whom  served  in 
the  Confederate  Army  except  one,  who,  being  physically  in- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  297 

capacitated  for  active  duty,  was  detailed  to  the  Ordnance  and 
Qnartermaster'fl  Departments.  In  1861  William  L.  DeKosset 
was  captain  of  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry.  When  Fort 
Sumter  was  bombarded,  several  volunteer  companies  were  or- 
dered to  occupy  Fort  Caswell,  the  Light  Infantry  being  among 
them.  Later,  when  the  Constitutional  Convention  authorized 
the  organization  of  ten  regiments,  enlisted  for  the  war  and 
known  as  State  Troops,  he  was  commissioned  major  of  the 
Third  Regiment.  Succeeding  Colonel  Meares  in  command 
when  the  latter  fell  at  Malvern  Hill,  he  led  the  regiment  into 
the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg  in  September,  1862.  He  was  seri- 
ously wounded ;  and,  finding  himself  permanently  disabled,  he 
resigned,  and  was  enrolled  in  another  branch  of  the  service. 

When  Fort  Caswell  was  first  occupied,  January  10,  1861, 
the  Smithville  Guards,  a  volimteer  company,  of  which  Stephen 
D.  Thurston  was  captain,  joined  the  men  enrolled  in  Wilming- 
ton, and  took  part  in  occupying  Forts  Johnston  and  CaswelL 
Captain  Thurston  was  a  few  months  later  appointed  captain  of 
Company  B.  of  the  Third  Regiment,  and  before  Sharpsburg 
he  had  risen  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel.  At  Sharpsburg 
when  Colonel  DeRosset  fell  woimded,  Lieut.  Col.  Stephen  D. 
Thurston  took  immediate  command  of  the  regiment,  and  proved 
a  brave  and  valiant  soldier,  leading  the  Third  in  gallant  style 
during  the  rest  of  the  battle,  where  they  "were  in  the  vortex  of 
the  fire,  and  proved  their  endurance,  tenacity,  and  valor."  Of 
the  twenty-seven  officers  who  went  into  action  on  that  memor- 
able morning  all  save  three  were  disabled,  seven  being  killed. 
Colonel  Thurston  was  disabled  for  several  months,  but  returned 
to  his  command  in  September,  1864.  He  was  again  seriously 
wounded  on  the  19th  of  September,  at  Second  Winchester. 
Meanwhile,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsley  was  in  command  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Colonel  Thurston. 

William  Murdock  Parsley,  in  April,  1861,  was  commissioned 
captain  of  a  company  he  organized  and  which  was  composed 
chiefly  of  the  young  men  of  Wilmington.  They  had  formed  a 
company  in  the  fall  of  1860,  imder  the  name  of  "Cape  Fear 
Riflemen,"  and  were  among  those  who  occupied  Fort  Caswell. 
After  North  Carolina  seceded,  the  Cape  Fear  Riflemen  returned 
to  Wilmington  and  disbanded.  They  were  almost  immediately 
reorganized  under  Captain  Parsley  and  completely  uniformed 
by  his  father,  Mr.  O.  G.  Parsley,  sr.     The  captain  was  just 


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298  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

twenty  years  old,  and  many  of  his  men  were  not  much  older. 
The  company  was  attached  to  the  Third  Regiment,  one  of  the 
ten  organized  as  State  Troops  and  enlisted  for  the  war.  They 
were  ordered  to  Richmond  in  Jmie,  and,  arriving  just  after  the 
Battle  of  Seven  Pines,  Mechanicsville  was  their  first  engage- 
ment. They  took  part  in  the  Seven  Days'  Battle,  and  on  July  1, 
at  Malvern  Hill,  Captain  Parsley  was  severely  wounded  through 
the  neck  by  a  minie  ball ;  but,  after  a  three-months^  furlough, 
he  returned  to  his  command  and  was  in  every  battle  up  to 
Sharpsburg,  September  17,  1862. 

Before  that  time  he  had  by  regular  gradation  reached  the 
rank  of  major,  and,  subsequently,  on  the  resignation  of  Colonel 
DeRosset  and  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Thurston, 
he  became  lieutenant  colonel.  In  the  campaign  of  1863,  known 
as  the  Pennsylvania  Campaign,  Colonel  Parsley  had  conmiand 
of  the  regiment.  He  led  it  in  the  charge  at  Culp's  Hill  on  the 
3d  of  July,  when,  with  the  Maryland  Battalion,  they  took  pos- 
session of  the  enemy's  works.  The  Third  was  greatly  reduced 
by  severe  fighting  at  Chancellorsville  and  had  had  no  chance  to 
recruit  its  ranks  since.  This  proud  regiment  that  went  into  the 
field  over  a  thousand  strong  in  the  Seven  Days'  Battle  was,  after 
Gettysburg,  so  much  reduced  that  the  major  at  the  head  of  the 
column  and  the  assistant  surgeon,  at  the  foot,  could  carry  on  a 
conversation  without  effort.  Every  officer  of  Major  Parsley's 
old  company,  the  Cape  Fear  Riflemen,  was  killed. 

One  of  the  original  members  of  this  old  company,  writing  in 
1898  of  Colonel  Parsley,  says,  "As  brave  as  the  bravest,  kind 
and  considerate  towards  inferiors  in  rank,  he  was  at  all  times 
thoughtful  and  careful  of  his  men  in  every  way.  I  believe  all 
loved  him.  I  know  I  loved  him,  for  he  was  my  good  friend." 
Another  comrade  says :  "The  major  himself,  only  twenty-two  or 
twenty-three  years  old,  had  been  in  every  engagement  from  the 
Seven  Days'  Battle  to  Gettysburg.  His  training  had  been 
under  the  eye  of  Col.  Gaston  Meares,  and,  as  promotion  fol- 
lowed promotion.  Colonel  Parsley  was  always  a  disciplinarian 
of  the  progressive  type.  On  occasion  he  could  be  a  boy  and 
enter  a  wrestling  match  in  camp  with  all  the  zest  of  a  schoolboy, 
but  woe  to  the  officer  who  presumed  upon  this  to  take  official 
liberties." 

Between  Gettysburg  and  Chancellorsville  he  received  two 
slight  wounds,  one  being  a  narrow  escape  from  death  by  the 
glancing  of  a  ball  on  the  button  of  his  coat.    At  Spottsylvania, 


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The  War  Between  the  States  299 

May  12,  1864,  Colonel  Thurston  being  absent,  wounded.  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Parsley  led  the  regiment,  and  with  the  greater 
part  of  it,  after  a  desperate  hand  to  hand  fight  at  the  "Horse- 
shoe," or  'bloody  Angle,"  he  was  captured  and  confined  at  Fort 
Delaware.  From  there,  with  fifty  other  officers,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Charleston  Harbor  on  the  prison  ship  Dragon  and 
anchored  in  the  line  of  fire  from  Charleston,  "in  retaliation"  for 
the  quartering  of  some  Federal  officers,  prisoners,  in  the  city  of 
Charleston  as  a  protection  to  the  city,  full  of  non-combatants, 
against  the  Federal  firing  from  the  "Swamp  Angel  Battery." 

The  prisoners  on  the  Dragon  were  kept  between  decks,  over- 
crowded, near  a  stove  where  all  the  cooking  for  the  whole  ship 
was  done.  Ventilation  was  bad,  and  the  suffering  from  the  heat 
almost  unbearable.  They  were  supplied  scantily  with  the  coars- 
est of  food  and  subjected  to  all  kinds  of  indignities.  From  here 
they  were  exchanged  on  the  3d  of  August.  Colonel  Parsley 
returned  to  the  army  not  long  afterwards,  taking  with  him  a 
number  of  recruits  for  his  regiment.  He  shared  the  fortimes  of 
the  Third  till  April,  1865.  Just  three  days  before  Lee's  sur- 
render, in  the  engagement  at  Sailor^s  Creek  during  the  retreat 
to  Appomattox,  when  only  twenty-four  years  old,  he  met  his 
death  by  a  minie  ball  fired  by  a  sharpshooter,  falling  with  his 
face  to  the  foe. 

Capt.  W.  T.  Ennet,  originally  of  Onslow  County,  was  pro- 
moted to  be  major  after  the  resignation  of  Colonel  DeRosset, 
and  always  after  that  commanded  the  regiment  in  the  absence  of 
Colonel  Parsley.  He  was  unfortunately  captured  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  and  sent  to  Fort  Delaware,  and  was  among  those  taken  to 
Charleston  Harbor  on  the  prison  ship  Dragon,  suffering  the 
hardships  of  imprisonment  with  the  rest.  Major  Ennet  was  by 
profession  a  physician  and  highly  accomplished.  He  was  also 
a  brave  soldier  and  a  warm  friend. 

Col.  Robert  H.  Cowan  was  first  chosen  lieutenant  colonel  of 
the  Third  Regiment,  but  in  the  spring  of  1862  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  eighteenth.  The  Third  Regiment  parted  with 
sincere  regret  from  Colonel  Cowan.  The  whole  command,  both 
rank  and  file^  loved  him  and  recognized  him  as  one  of  those  by 
whom  the  regiment  had  been  brought  to  its  fine  efficiency.  The 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  was  manifested  on  his  departure 
by  the  presentation  to  him  by  the  regiment  of  a  very  fine  horse. 


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300  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Colonel  Cowan  was  a  native  of  Wilmington  and  was  prominent 
in  the  politics  of  the  State.  No  man  was  more  loved  and 
admired  than  he.  His  gallantry  was  unequaled,  while  his 
charming  personality  and  graceful  manners  are  well  remem- 
bered by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  woimded  severely  at  the 
last  of  the  Seven  Days  Battles  around  Richmond,  and  being  dis- 
abled from  service,  resigned  in  November,  1862. 

Col.  John  L.  Cantwell  saw  active  service  in  the  Mexican 
War,  in  the  War  between  the  States,  and  subsequently  in  the 
Spanish- American  War.  The  records  say  "that  seldom  has  the 
flag  of  a  country  waved  over  a  braver  soldier."  His  service 
as  colonel  of  the  Thirtieth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Militia, 
in  taking  possession  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Johnston  on  April  16, 
1861,  is  told  elsewhere.  On  its  organization,  April  13,  1862, 
Colonel  Cantwell  was  elected  colonel  of  the  Fifty-first  Regi- 
ment, but  resigned  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  F, 
Third  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Infantry,  Capt.  William  M. 
Parsley,  on  whose  promotion  after  the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg,  he 
became  captain  of  the  company,  and  was  a  most  efficient  and 
gallant  officer  in  that  famous  regiment.  Unfortunately,  he  was 
captured  in  the  "Bloody  Angle"  at  Spottsylvania  Courthouse  on 
May  12,  1864,  along  with  nearly  the  entire  regiment,  during  the 
course  of  the  most  terrible  engagement  of  the  war.  His  military 
training  was  manifest  throughout  his  civil  life,  in  which,  as 
agent  of  the  Adams  Express  Company,  as  a  produce  broker,  as 
secretary  of  the  Wilmington  Produce  Exchange,  and  for  many 
years  secretary  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  he  maintained  a 
careful  and  sometimes  exaggerated  regard  for  official  detaiL 

During  the  War  between  the  States  he  kept  a  diary  of  im- 
portant events  in  which  he,  with  other  Wilmingtonians,  was 
engaged,  and  this  precious  little  book,  which  he  carefully 
guarded  for  nearly  fifty  years  and  always  carried  in  his  pocket, 
was  a  veritable  vade  mecum,  or  last  resort,  on  any  disputed 
point  of  military  history.  It  contained  particularly  a  careful 
record  of  the  names  and  incidents  connected  with  the  Federal 
retaliation  upon  six  hundred  Confederate  officers,  including 
Colonel  Cantwell  and  Capt.  John  Cowan,  of  the  Third  Infan- 
try, Capt.  Walter  G.  MacRae,  of  the  Seventh  Infantry,  Capt. 
T.  C.  Lewis,  of  the  Eighteenth  Infantry,  Capt.  J.  D.  McMillan, 
of  the  First  Infantry,  Capt.  F.  F.  Floyd,  of  the  Fifty-first  In- 
fantry, Capt.  J.  W.  Moon,  of  the  Third  Cavalry,  and  Capt.  J. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  301 

H.  Bloodworth,  of  the  Fourth  Cavalry,  from  Wilmington,  as 
well  as  Capt.  G.  M.  Crapon,  of  the  Third  Infantry,  and  Capt. 
H.  Earp,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Infantry,  from  Southport,  who, 
by  Secretary  Stanton's  order,  were  removed  from  their  quarters 
in  the  Nordi  as  prisoners  of  war  and  placed  under  double  cross 
fire  on  Morris  Island,  exposed  to  almost  certain  death. 

When  Chief  Justice  Clark  was  completing  the  fifth  volume 
of  his  most  valuable  Regimental  Histories^  he  requested  me  to 
persuade  Capt.  Walter  G.  MacRae,  then  mayor  of  Wilmington, 
to  write  an  account  of  that  expedition  for  his  history.  This 
Captain  MacRae  consented  to  do,  and  when  the  narrative  was 
completed,  he  wisely  asked  Colonel  Cantwell  to  listen  to  its 
recital  in  order  that  its  accuracy  might  be  clearly  established. 
The  colonel,  who  was  afflicted  witii  deafness,  nodded  his  approval 
until,  in  describing  the  incident  of  the  separation  of  the  trans- 
port from  its  armed  convoy  while  off  Wrightsville  Beach,  and 
a  hurried  discussion  by  the  prisoners  of  a  proposed  attempt  to 
escape  through  the  surf  and  its  final  rejection  because  of  the 
great  risk  of  life  involved.  Captain  MacKae  fell  into  a  habit 
he  has  of  quoting  obscure  Bible  characters  and  said  that  the 
counsel  of  Ahithophel  prevailed.  Instantly  the  colonel  held  up 
a  restraining  hand,  and,  with  the  other  cupped  to  his  ear,  de- 
manded to  know  the  name  of  that  man.  "Ahithophel"  repeated 
Captain  MacRae.  "No,  no,"  said  the  colonel,  "there  was  no 
such  person  abroad."  ^^ut  let  me  explain,"  said  MacRae. 
"No  explanation  can  falsify  this  book,"  said  the  colonel,  as  he 
ran  his  fingers  down  the  list  of  the  six  hundred.  "Ahithophel, 
Ahithophel!  No  such  person  aboard,  sir,  he  was  doubtless  a 
rank  impostor" ;  and  failing  to  make  his  meaning  clear,  Captain 
MacRae  was  obliged  to  delete  his  quotation  from  the  sacred  book 
of  Samuel. 

Colonel  Cantwell's  old-time  affability  and  gentle  courtesy 
won  him  many  friends,  but  while  he  was  patient  and  responsive 
to  polite  advances,  he  was  quick  to  resent  a  fancied  or  real 
affront.  A  few  years  before  his  death  he  attended  with  his 
accustomed  regularity  a  prominent  church  service  in  a  neigh- 
boring city.  As  no  usher  approached  him,  he  quietly  walked 
up  the  centre  aisle,  looking  smilingly  from  right  to  left,  expect- 
ing an  invitation  to  be  seated,  but,  no  man  regarding  him,  he 
turned  back  at  the  chancel  rail  and  walked  quietly  out.  Pres- 
ently he  reappeared  in  the  vestibtde  with  a  short  piece  of  scant- 
ling, which  he  had  found  near  by^  and  with  this  improvised  seat 


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302  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

under  his  arm,  marched  solemnly  up  to  the  chancel  rail  and 
deliberately  sat  in  the  aisle  on  the  wooden  block  throughout  the 
sermon.  Then,  as  he  entertained  a  strong  objection  to  the  offer- 
tory formality  in  the  service  as  an  idolatrous  innovation,  he 
walked  quietly  out  again,  to  the  evident  relief  of  the  congr^a- 
tion,  who  feared  he  might  brain  the  parson  with  the  piece  of 
timber.  He  bore  himself  bravely  throughout  his  long  and  hon- 
ored life  and  met  the  infirmities  of  old  age  with  a  smiling  coun- 
tenance. 

Besides  these,  a  host  of  others  whose  services  should  not  be 
forgotten  crowd  the  memory.  Brave  Maj.  Alexander  MacEae, 
of  age  far  too  advanced  for  service  in  the  field  in  Virginia, 
accepted  command  of  the  First  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery  in 
General  Hebert's  brigade,  and  did  duty  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Cape  Fear  until  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher.  The  gallant  old  father 
was  worthily  followed  by  his  brave  sons,  whose  record  appears 
elsewhere. 

John  J.  Hedrick  was  major  of  engineers.  He  was  a  brave 
and  skillful  artillery  commander,  and  had  been  in  active  ser- 
vice since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  In  the  early  days  of  the 
conflict  he  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  batteries  at  Confederate 
Point  and  in  the  vicinity,  one  small  fort  on  Bald  Head  being 
named  Fort  Hedrick  in  his  honor.  When  the  Fortieth  Regi- 
ment (Third  Artillery)  was  organized  in  December,  1863, 
Major  Hedrick  was  appointed  its  colonel.  This  regiment  took 
part  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Fisher,  December  24  and  25,  1864, 
and  January  13,  1865,  and  on  January  17  it  was  ordered  to 
Fort  Anderson,  about  ten  miles  up  the  river,  where  the  garrison 
of  about  900  men  was  under  the  immediate  command  of  Colonel 
Hedrick.  On  February  17,  the  enemy  attacked  the  fort  in  the 
rear  with  about  10,000  infantry,  while  Porter,  with  a  fleet  of 
sixteen  gunboats  and  ironclads,  lying  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  fort,  quickly  demolished  the  guns.  In  this  fight, 
under  Colonel  Hedrick's  leadership,  great  bravery  and  heroism 
were  shown;  but,  finding  the  command  in  danger  of  being  cut 
off  by  a  heavy  column  of  infantry  in  the  rear.  Colonel  Hedrick 
determined  to  evacuate  the  fort.  Carrying  all  the  light  guns, 
including  the  Whitworth  cannon,  they  fell  back  towards  Wil- 
mington. Later,  while  on  the  way  to  meet  the  enemy  advancing 
from  New  Bern,  there  was  a  battle  at  Jackson's  Mills,  in  which 


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2'he  War  Between  the  States  303 

about  2,000  Federal  prisoners  were  captured;  but  the  Confed- 
erate loss  was  heavy.  Here,  while  gallantly  leading  his  regi- 
ment in  a  charge  upon  the  enemy,  Colonel  Hedrick  was  seri- 
ously wounded. 

John  D.  Barry  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  Eighth 
Eegiment,  and  on  the  reorganization  was  elected  captain  of  the 
company.  On  the  fall  of  the  gallant  Colonel  Purdie,  of  Bladen 
County,  in  June,  1863,  he  became  colonel  of  the  r^ment.  He 
was  a  valiant  and  dashing  officer,  and  nobly  upheld  the  tradi- 
tions of  his  family,  one  of  the  best  of  the  Cape  Fear  section,  his 
grandfather  being  Gen.  Thomas  Owen  and  his  great  uncle. 
Gov.  James  Owen.  The  companies  composing  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment of  Volunteers  (afterwards  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina 
State  Troops)  were: 

The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  Capt.  Henry  Savage;  the 
Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,  Capt.  Robert  Williams;  the  Scotch 
Boys,  Capt.  Charles  Malloy;  the  German  Volunteers,  Capt.  C. 
Comehlson ;  and  the  companies  of  Capt.  George  Tait,  of  Bladen 
County;  Capt.  Robert  Tait,  of  Bladen  County;  Captain  Nor- 
ment,  of  Robeson  County ;  Captain  Gore,  of  Whiteville,  Colum- 
bus County;  Capt.  J.  R.  Hawes,  of  Long  Creek,  New  Hanover 
County. 

About  the  first  of  August,  1864,  General  Lane  being  wounded. 
Colonel  Barry  was  appointed  temporary  brigadier  general  and 
commanded  tie  brigade,  skirmishing  almost  daily  till  the  28th. 
Subsequently,  while  on  a  reconnoitering  tour,  Colonel  Barry 
was  wounded  by  a  sharpshooter.  Some  time  in  the  latter  part 
of  1864,  when  General  Lane  returned  to  the  brigade.  Colonel 
Barry,  on  account  of  his  wounds  and  impaired  health,  was  as- 
signed to  departmental  duty  with  his  regular  grade  of  colonel. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and,  in 
partnership  with  William  H.  Bernard,  began  the  publication  of 
the  Dispatch,  Only  a  few  years  of  broken  health  remained  to 
him,  and  nearly  fifty  years  ago  he  died  in  the  old  house  he  had 
left  in  vigorous  youth  and  with  high  hopes  in  1861. 

A  few  years  ago.  Col.  John  D.  Taylor  passed  from  our  midst, 
leaving  a  great  name  as  a  soldier  and  a  Christian  gentleman, 
with  an  affectionate  memory  of  his  manly  figure,  his  gentle, 
sympathetic  smile,  and  the  empty  sleeve  he  wore.  He  was  cap- 
tain in  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment   (Second  Artillery),   was 


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304  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel,  and  served  at  different  points 
in  defense  of  the  Cape  Fear.  After  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  Col- 
onel Taylor  fought  at  Fort  Anderson  and  Town  Creek,  on  the 
retreat  to  Wilmington,  and  at  Kinston ;  and  he  and  a  part  of  his 
regiment  made  their  way  to  the  field  of  Bentonville  and  took 
part  in  that  battle,  covering  themselves  with  glory  as  part  of  the 
"Red  Infantry,"  Colonel  Taylor  there  losing  his  left  arm. 

Upon  the  death  of  Colonel  Taylor,  the  following  tribute  of  a 
devoted  friend  was  published  in  the  Star,  May  22,  1912: 

"A  fellow-townsman  recently  said  to  the  writer:  TE  never 
passed  Colonel  Taylor  upon  the  street  without  exercising  the 
privilege  of  shaking  his  hand,  because  I  believed  that  he  exem- 
plified in  his  daily  life,  to  a  remarkable  degree,  those  virtues 
which  adorn  the  character  of  the  Southern  Christian  gentleman.' 

"His  old-time  urbanity,  his  winsome  smile,  his  almost  wom- 
anly tenderness,  his  gentle  patience,  his  childlike  faith,  drew 
him  to  our  hearts  and  we  loved  him.  Probably  no  citizen  of 
our  community  was  more  generally  respected.  There  waia  a 
quiet  dignity  in  this  serene,  devout  Christian,  which  told  of  con- 
flicts won  while  learning  to  endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier, 
and  of  a  peace  which  passes  the  understanding  of  this  world, 
which  enabled  him  to  look  o'er  heights  of  toil  and  sacrifice  and 
find  his  chief  meed  in  thoughts  of  duty  done. 

"During  his  long  and  honored  life  he  inspired  the  hearts  and 
guided  the  steps  of  worthy  sons  and  daughters  in  the  way  of  life, 
to  the  end  that  they  might  ^glorify  God  and  enjoy  Him  forever.' 
His  children  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed. 

"In  public  life  he  discharged  his  official  duties  with  diligence, 
ability,  impartiality,  and  uprightness.  Party  lines  vanished  in 
the  pure  light  of  his  moral  excellence,  and  his  return  to  office 
at  the  expiration  of  each  term,  without  a  dissenting  vote,  attest 
the  abiding  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

"Eminent  among  the  local  leaders  of  the  Lost  Cause,  he  be- 
lieved, with  his  great  chieftain,  that  Duty  is  the  sublimest  word 
in  our  language,  *and  by  it  as  a  pilot  star,  he  ever  steered  his 
steadfast  course.'  He  went  into  his  last  battle  at  Bentonville 
with  Company  A,  Captain  Rankin,  Company  B,  Captain  Tay- 
lor, Company  C,  Captain  Brown,  and  Captain  McDougal's  com- 
pany, and  a  renmant  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment,  in  all  350 
men ;  and  he  emerged  with  nineteen  other  survivors,  an  honor- 
able record,  and  an  empty  sleeve.  Rankin,  Taylor,  McDougal 
and  Brown  were  desperately  woimded,  and  Colonel  Taylor  was 


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The  War  Between  the  States  305 

the  only  officer  who  survived  the  desperate  and  bloody  charge  of 
the  Tied  Infantry/ 

"He  sheathed  his  sword  when  the  cause  for  which  he  fought 
was  lost,  but  he  put  on  the  invisible  armor  of  the  soldier  of  the 
Cross,  and  has  fought  a  good  fight  and  laid  hold  on  eternal 
life.  The  greater  number  of  his  devoted  comrades  have  crossed 
over  the  river  and  rest  with  their  conmiander  imder  the  shade 
of  the  trees. 

**We  read  that  at  the  roll  call  of  the  flower  of  Napoleon's 
army,  the  Imperial  Guard,  as  silence  fell  upon  the  utterance  of 
a  name  which  death  had  claimed  from  the  arms  of  victory,  a 
comrade  would  step  forward  from  the  ranks,  and,  raising  his 
hand  in  grave  salute,  would  answer,  'Died  on  the  field  of  honor !' 
The  thin  gray  line  of  Appomattox,  diminishing  day  by  day  as  it 
yields  to  the  call  of  the  great  Conqueror,  still  closes  up  its  broken 
ranks  of  hoary  heads  and  feeble  knees.  Soon  it  will  vanish 
away  and  there  will  be  no  reverent  comrade's  voice  to  answer 
the  roll  call  of  the  dead.  But  'Death's  truer  name  is  Onward. 
No  discordance  in  the  roll  of  that  eternal  harmony  whereto  the 
worlds  beat  time !' 

'The  glory  bom  of  goodness  never  dies, 
Its  flag  is  not  half-masted  in  the  skies!' 

"In  the  sessions  of  his  beloved  church,  our  friend  will  be 
greatly  missed — in  no  circle  beyond  his  beautiful  home  life  was 
he  more  welcome  than  in  that  of  the  church  of  his  fathers. 

"David  Worth,  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  Kenneth  Murchison,  Wil- 
liam DeKosset,  Alfred  Waddell,  John  D.  Taylor,  classmates  all 
at  Chapel  Hill,  were  of  the  flower  of  Wilmington,  and  they  are 
gone;  but  to  live  in  the  hearts  of  those  we  love  is  not  to  die. 
^By  the  light  of  their  lofty  deeds  and  kindly  virtues,  memory 
gazes  back  into  the  past  and  is  content ;  by  the  light  of  Revela- 
tion, hope  looks  beyond  the  grave  into  Ae  bri^t  day  of  immor- 
tality and  is  happy.' " 

Edward  D.  Hall  organized  at  Wilmington,  in  the  spring  of 
1861,  a  company  composed  principally  of  Irishmen;  and  no 
better  or  more  loyal  men  or  braver  soldiers  could  be  found. 
When  work  or  fighting  was  to  be  done  they  were  always  ready. 
This  company  was  first  stationed  at  Fort  Caswell;  was  later 
sent  to  Weldon  and  attached  to  the  Second  Regiment,  North 
Carolina  Infantry,  and  ordered  to  Richmond,  and  from  there 
to  various  points  in  Virginia  until  the  spring  of  1862,  when  it 

20 


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306  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

was  returned  to  North  Carolina  with  (General  Holmes's  division, 
and  was  afterwards  detached  and  sent  to  the  Cape  Fear  and 
stationed  at  fortifications  on  the  river. 

In  March,  1862,  Captain  Hall  was  made  colonel  of  the  Forty- 
sixth  Regiment,  organized  at  Camp  Mangum  near  Raleigh. 
Ordered  to  Virginia,  this  regiment  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in 
the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg,  calling  forth  from  the  division  com- 
mander especial  mention  of  its  gallant  colonel  and  staff  for 
distinguished  bravery  and  coolness  imder  fire.  During  that  day 
the  regiment  occupied  several  positions  of  importance  and  great 
danger,  and  on  every  occasion  it  exhibited  that  steadiness  and 
coolness  which  characterized  its  record.  In  October,  at  Bristow 
Station,  General  Cooke  fell,  and  the  command  of  the  brigade 
devolved  on  Colonel  Hall.  An  imequal  struggle  was  waged, 
and  disaster  was  averted  only  by  Colonel  Hall's  skiUf  ul  manage- 
ment of  his  command.  Late  in  1863,  Colonel  Hall  resigned  to 
accept  a  civil  office  in  North  Carolina,  and  the  regiment  lost  its 
brilliant  commander,  a  brave  man,  a  good  disciplinarian,  a  most 
valuable  and  efficient  officer.  It  was  with  much  regret  that  his 
regiment  bade  him  farewell. 

Alexander  Duncan  Moore,  who  at  first  commanded  a  battery 
of  light  artillery  from  Wilmington,  was  made  colonel  of  the 
Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  organized  in  August,  1863.  Colonel 
Moore  had  been  at  West  Point  and  was  a  brilliant  young  officer 
of  remarkable  appearance  and  soldierly  bearing.  The  Sixty- 
sixth  was  ordered  to  Virginia  in  May,  1864,  where,  in  "its  first 
baptism  of  fire  on  the  15th  of  May,  its  gallantry  was  conspicu- 
ous and  favorably  commented  upon  by  commanding  officers."  A 
series  of  battles  followed,  and  on  the  3d  of  June,  1864,  Colonel 
Moore  was  mortally  wounded,  a  ball  striking  him  in  the  necL 
The  memory  of  his  heroic  courage  was  ever  after  present  with 
the  officers  and  men  of  his  command,  and  comments  were  made 
upon  his  gallantry  and  the  soldierly  qualities  he  always  ex- 
hibited. 

In  the  attack  on  Petersburg  Colonel  Moore  was  told  that  his 
regiment  was  advancing  too  rapidly  ahead  of  the  right  and  left, 
and  he  was  directed  to  preserve  the  alignment.  On  receiving 
this  order.  Colonel  Moore  seized  his  colors,  planted  the  staff 
upon  the  ground,  and  lifted  his  sword  in  the  air  above  his  head, 
the  well  known  signal ;  his  oonmiand  halted  and  dressed  on  the 
colors,  until  the  regiments  on  the  right  and  left  came  upon  the 


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The  War  Between  the  States  307 

same  line — ^then,  with  a  yell,  all  three  sprang  forward  and 
rushed  upon  the  enemy.  The  movement  was  successful  and  the 
foe  retreated. 

George  Tait,  of  Bladen  County,  who  was  elected  major  of 
the  Eighth  Eegiment  in  July,  1861,  resigned  his  commission, 
and  was,  with  Company  K,  of  the  Fortieth  Eegiment,  stationed 
at  a  battery  near  Federal  Point  Lighthouse.  On  the  1st  of 
December,  1863,  when  the  Fortieth  Regiment  was  organized  as 
Third  Artillery,  Captain  Tait  was  appointed  lieutenant  coloneL 
In  January,  1865,  he  resigned  this  commission  to  take  one  as 
colonel  of  the  Sixty-ninth  North  Carolina  Regiment.  Colonel 
Tait  was  a  fine  disciplinarian.  He  remained  detached  from  the 
Fortieth  Regiment  after  it  had  been  formed  in  order  to  train, 
drill,  and  discipline  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Thirty-sixth; 
and  then  he  drilled  and  disciplined  the  Fortieth,  which  was 
afterwards  pronounced  by  the  inspector  general.  Colonel  Tan- 
sill,  "the  best  drilled  regiment  of  Confederate  soldiers"  that  he 
had  ever  seen. 

Colonel  Tait  was  a  good  and  brave  officer  and  in  his  rank  had 
no  superior. 

Maj.  James  Dillard  Radcliffe,  then  connected  with  the  Engi- 
neer Department  of  the  Cape  Fear  defenses,  was  elected  colonel 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  on  its  first  oi^anization 
in  1861.  Colonel  Radcliffe,  who  had  been  principal  of  a  mili- 
tary school  in  Wilmington  for  several  years  previous  to  the  war, 
was  an  excellent  drillmaster  and  disciplinarian,  and  soon  had 
the  regiment  well  drilled.  On  the  reorganization  in  1862,  the 
regiment  then  being  the  Eighteenth  State  Troops,  he  was  not  re- 
elected ;  but  he  became  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first  Regiment  when 
it  was  organized,  in  August,  1862. 

Alfred  M.  Waddell,  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Forty-first  Regi- 
ment (Third  Cavalry)  was  a  scion  of  one  of  the  old  and  vener- 
ated families  of  the  Cape  Fear.  He  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant colonel  in  August,  1863,  having  previously  served  as 
adjutant.  His  regiment  was  scattered  over  an  extended  field  of 
operations,  and  operated  as  detached  cavalry,  or  partisan  ran- 
gers. In  August,  1864,  Colonel  Waddell  resigned.  After  the 
war,  as  long  as  he  lived,  he  always  used  his  brilliant  talent  and 
eloquence  in  behalf  of  his  comrades  and  his  fellow-citizens  of 
the  Cape  Fear. 


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308  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Pear  River 

In  August,  1863,  Roger  Moore,  a  descendant  of  "King" 
Roger  Moore,  was  appointed  major  of  the  Third  Cavalry.  He 
was  a  brave  soldier,  maintaining  the  honor  of  his  ancestors  upon 
the  field.  In  August,  1864,  when  Colonel  Waddell  resigned, 
Major  Moore  became  commanding  officer  of  the  r^ment,  which 
was  looked  upon  as  a  bulwark  of  protection  for  the  railroad 
from  Weldon  to  Wilmington  and  of  all  that  portion  of  thirty 
counties  east  of  it  which  was  not  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Protecting  the  villages  and  settlements  from  forays,  guarding  the 
cross-roads  and  bridges,  and  checking  the  approach  of  the  enemy 
whenever  he  advanced  beyond  his  gunboats,  this  regiment  daily 
and  hourly  did  service  of  vital  importance.  In  1864  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Virginia  and  took  part  in  the  brilliant 
attack  on  Reams  Station,  August  25,  1864,  following  which 
General  Lee  wrote  to  Governor  Vance:  "If  those  men  who 
remain  in  North  Carolina  have  the  spirit  of  those  sent  to  the 
field,  as  I  doubt  not  they  have,  her  defense  may  be  securely 
entrusted  to  their  hands.'' 

John  Grange  Ashe  entered  the  Confederate  service  in  April, 
1861,  as  lieutenant  under  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg,  at  Pensacola. 
He  was  appointed  acting  adjutant  general  to  Gen.  Robert  Ran- 
som in  June,  1862,  and  later  in  the  same  year  was  made  major 
of  sharpshooters.  He  also  participated  in  the  Red  River  cam- 
paign with  Gen.  Dick  Taylor,  in  1864.  He  died  in  Texas  in 
1867. 

William  S.  Ashe  was  appointed  major  quartermaster  July  17, 
1861,  and  colonel  quartermaster,  September  25,  1861.  He  had 
in  charge  all  Confederate  transportation  east  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  Desiring  more  active  service,  in  the  summer  of  1862 
he  was  authorized  by  President  Davis  to  raise  a  legion  of  artil- 
lery, cavalry,  and  infantry,  but  before  he  had  been  able  to  do  so, 
he  was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident  in  September,  1862. 

Dr.  Alexander  Ashe  served  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Con- 
federate Navy.    He  died  in  Texas,  1866. 

Samuel  A.  Ashe  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  artillery  on 
April  17,  1861,  by  Major  Wbiting,  who  had  assumed  command 
of  the  Cape  Fear  defenses,  and  in  May  was  commissioned  by  the 
State.  Although  all  North  Carolina  staff  appointments  ceased 
on  the  transfer  of  our  troops  to  the  Confederacy  on  August  20, 
1861,  he  and  Capt.  John  C.  Winder  continued  at  their  work 
until  November,  when  he  was  relieved.  Captain  Ashe  then 
joined,  as  a  volunteer.  Company  I,  Eighth  Regiment,  at  the 


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The  War  Between  the  States  309 

front  at  Coosawhatchie,  S.  C. ;  and  later  enlisted  regularly  as  a 
private  in  that  company.  But  in  December,  the  President  ap- 
pointed him  in  the  K^gular  Army,  and  in  March,  1862,  the 
commission  came  to  him  through  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  then  command- 
ing at  the  South.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Charleston 
arsenal,  where  he  remained  until  the  middle  of  July,  when  he 
was  appointed  acting  adjutant  general  to  General  Pender,  and 
joined  Pender's  brigade  in  Virginia.  The  night  following  the 
Battle  of  Second  Manassas,  he  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  and 
was  confined  in  the  Old  Capitol  Prison  until  October,  when  he 
was  exchanged.  In  November  he  was  assigned  to  duty  with 
General  Clingman's  brigade,  and  in  July,  1863,  became  ord- 
nance ofiicer  of  Battery  Wagner,  and  continued  so  imtil  the  fall 
of  that  fort  in  September,  when  he  was  ordered  to  the  arsenal  at 
Fayetteville,  where  he  served  as  assistant  to  the  conmianding 
officer  until  the  end  of  the  war.  On  the  day  General  Johnston 
surrendered.  Captain  Ashe's  chief.  General  Gorgas,  at  Char- 
lotte, in  the  most  appreciative  terms  gave  him  orders  to  join  him 
across  the  Mississippi,  but  later  told  him  he  could  go  home  and 
govern  himself  according  to  circumstances. 

At  the  election  in  1870,  he  was  elected  a  representative  from 
New  Hanover  and  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  and  leading  member 
of  the  Judiciary  and  other  committees.  In  1874  he  edited  at 
Raleigh  a  daily  paper,  the  Evening  Crescent,  which  probably 
did  more  than  any  other  one  instrumentality  in  bringing  about 
the  redemption  of  the  State,  the  Democratic  majority  that  year 
being  12,000.  In  1879  he  purchased  the  Observer,  and  in  1881 
he  consolidated  the  News  with  it,  founding  the  News  and  Ob- 
server, of  which  he  was  editor  until  1894.  In  1903  he  became 
editor  of  a  Biographical  History  of  North  Carolina,  of  which 
seven  volumes  have  been  printed,  and  in  1908,  his  History  of 
North  Carolina  (1584-1783)  was  published. 

Col.  John  Wilder  Atkinson  entered  the  service  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  in  1861  as  captain  of  a  volunteer  company,  which 
was  assigned  as  Company  A  to  the  Fifteenth  Virginia  Infantry. 
With  this  r^ment  he  took  part  in  the  action  at  Big  Bethel  in 
1861,  and  at  the  Battle  of  Seven  Pines  served  on  the  staff  of 
General  McLaws,  who  took  occasion  to  mention  his  services  in 
his  official  report.  He  was  then  promoted  to  be  major  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  Nineteenth  Virginia  Regiment  of  Artillery.  To 
this  the  Tenth  Virginia  was  added  in  1863,  and  he  was  pro- 


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310  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

moted  to  colonel  of  the  consolidated  command.  He  took  part  in 
the  Seven  Days'  Battle  before  Richmond,  and  subsequently 
remained  on  duty  in  the  Richmond  defenses,  where  he  was, 
toward  the  last,  in  frequent  and  arduous  service  combating  the 
Federal  raids  and  defending  the  city  against  regular  siege.  He 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  defeat  of  the  raider  Dahlgren,  and 
buried  the  body  of  that  evil-minded  man.  For  some  time  he  was 
in  conmiand  of  a  part  of  the  defenses  about  the  Confederate 
Capital.  His  last  battle  was  at  Sailor's  Creek,  where  he  was 
captured.  Thence  he  was  taken  to  Johnson's  Island,  but  through 
the  influence  of  his  kinsman.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  was  soon 
released  without  taking  the  oath.  In  1866,  Colonel  Atkinson 
made  his  home  in  Wilmington,  where  he  recently  died,  leaving 
the  heritage  of  an  honored  name. 

Capt.  Edward  H.  Armstrong,  of  New  Hanover:  In  1862  this 
brilliant  student  of  the  University  at  Chapel  Hill  was  orderly 
sergeant  of  Company  G,  Third  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
Troops.  Very  soon  afterwards  he  was  promoted  to  be  second 
lieutenant  of  that  company,  and  went  through  the  Seven  Days' 
Battle  at  Richmond,  and  with  his  regiment  he  participated  in 
the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg  with  great  credit  and  was  made  cap- 
tain of  the  company,  the  captain,  E.  H.  Rhodes,  and  Lieut 
W.  H.  Quince,  having  been  killed  in  that  engagement.  His 
subsequent  career  was  conspicuous  at  Fredericksburg,  Chan- 
cellorsville,  Gettysburg,  and  Mine  Run,  and  he  met  a  soldier's 
death  at  the  Horseshoe,  Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  lamented  by 
his  comrades  for  his  modest,  beautiful  character  and  for  his 
soldierly  qualities.  It  was  said  of  him  that  he  was  fitted  to  com- 
mand a  division.  During  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  his  shoes 
having  worn  out,  he  marched  barefoot. 

Louis  S.  Belden  ran  away  as  a  youth  and  enlisted  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  in  Moore's  Battery,  Light  Artillery,  Tenth 
Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  which  was,  after  Moore's 
promotion  to  be  colonel  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  conunanded 
by  Capt.  John  Miller.  Sergeant  Belden  remained  with  the 
battery  until  the  end  of  the  war,  rendering  at  all  times  excellent 
service.  On  his  return  home,  destitute  but  determined  to  make 
his  way,  he  appeared  in  a  suit  of  clothes  which  his  sister  had 
made  of  bedticking,  the  only  available  material,  and  he  was  not 
long  in  obtaining  honorable  employment  which  led  to  compara- 
tive independence.  He  still  retains,  in  his  advanced  years  and 
impaired  health,  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  oommimity^ 


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The  War  Between  the  States  311 

Charles  P.  Bolles  had  been  employed  on  the  Coast  Survey  by 
the  United  States  Government  for  many  years  previous  to  the 
war,  and  was  a  man  of  marked  ability.  In  April,  1861,  he  was 
assigned  to  duty  as  an  engineer,  and  constructed  the  first  battery 
at  Confederate  Point,  called  in  compliment  to  him,  "Battery 
Bolles."  For  a  year  or  more  he  was  employed  with  the  engi- 
neers, and  then  transferred  to  the  Fayetteville  Arsenal.  His 
professional  skill  was  exemplified  in  the  preparation  of  bolts  for 
Whitworth  guns.  An  English  firm  presented  a  battery  of  Whit- 
worth  guns  to  the  Confederate  Government  through  Colonel 
Lamb  at  Fort  Fisher,  by  whom  they  were  effectively  used  at 
long  range  against  the  blockaders  and  for  the  protection  of  the 
blockade  runners.  The  guns  were  unfortunately  received  with- 
out ammunition  or  projectiles,  and  were  worthless  until  Captain 
Bolles  devised  at  the  Fayetteville  armory  the  peculiar  bolts 
which  were  used  as  projectiles  and  for  which  he  had  no  pattern. 
At  the  arsenal,  he  was  captain  of  Company  A,  Sixth  Battalion, 
Armory  Guards. 

J.  H.  Boatwright  was  one  of  the  "Seed  Com"  cadets,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  when  the  order  was  issued  by  the  hard-pressed 
Confederacy  that  boys  under  the  military  age  would  be  per- 
mitted to  go  to  the  front  and  do  a  man's  work.  He  was  offered 
a  lieutenancy  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  but  his  father  declared 
that  he  was  too  young  to  command,  and  so  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  B,  Citadel  Guards.  He  saw  service  at  Coosa- 
whatchie,  and  at  "Tulafinny,"  and  in  one  of  the  engagements 
he  was  struck  by  a  musket  ball.  His  lieutenant,  Mr.  Coffin, 
hearing  the  bullet  strike  him,  assisted  in  examining  the  wound, 
which  was  found  to  be  the  mutilation  of  a  small  Testament  in 
young  Boatwright's  breast-pocket.  The  interesting  bullet  is 
still  preserved  by  his  family. 

A  year  or  so  afterwards  he  was  sent  home  on  sick  leave,  and 
he  found  Columbia  sacked  and  burned,  but  his  mother  and  sister 
safe.  Governor  McGraw  sent  for  him  and,  informing  him  that 
his  secretary  had  taken  fright  and  departed,  offered  him  the 
position,  which  he  promptly  accepted.  Later,  when  the  Gov- 
ernor was  arrested  by  the  Federals,  his  secretary  was  not  re- 
garded as  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  placed  under  guard. 
This  resulted  in  his  taking  charge  of  all  the  State  archives, 
which  he  placed  in  an  old  vault,  and  he  kept  them  in  careful 
custody  until  after  the  war,  when  he  delivered  them  to  the  first 
legislature. 


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312  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Gabriel  J.  Boney,  of  Wilmington,  enlisted  in  Company  H  of 
the  Fortieth  Eegiment  in  March,  1864,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  was  on  duty  until  the  war  was  practically  ended,  com- 
pleting his  service  in  a  Northern  prison.  He  was  in  the  fight 
with  the  Federal  gunboats  at  Fort  Anderson,  and  at  Town 
Creek,  having  been  promoted  to  be  corporal,  was  in  command  of 
twenty  men  on  the  line.  He  was  also  at  Bentonville,  where  the 
North  Carolina  soldiers  made  their  last  demonstration  of  heroic 
valor.  Being  captured  by  the  enemy,  he  was  transported  to 
Point  Lookout,  Md.,  and  confined  until  June  4,  1865. 

Lieut.  Alexander  Davidson  Brown,  a  native  of  Scotland, 
earnestly  supported  the  cause  of  the  State  during  the  great  war, 
and  for  four  years  wore  the  Confederate  gray.  Although  he 
came  to  Wilmington  as  late  as  1860,  in  April,  1861,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  the  artillery  company  of  Capt.  James  D.  Cum- 
ming,  known  as  Battery  C,  of  the  Thirteenth  Battalion.  In  this 
gallant  command  he  was  successively  promoted  to  corporal  and 
lieutenant.  During  his  military  career  he  participated  in  the 
fighting  at  New  Bern  and  on  the  Petersburg  lines  in  numerous 
engagements,  and  took  part  in  the  desperate  encounters  on  the 
retreat  from  Petersburg,  and  at  Appomattox  Courthouse  pre- 
vious to  the  surrender. 

Thomas  O.  Bunting  enlisted  in  the  Twentieth  North  Caro- 
lina Infantry  in  May,  1861,  though  only  about  sixteen  years  of 
age,  but  in  July  following  withdrew  and  entered  the  University 
of  North  Carolina,  where  he  studied  one  year.  Returning  to 
the  Confederate  service,  he  became  a  private  in  Company  C,  of 
the  Sixty-third  Regiment,  or  Fifth  Cavalry,  and  shared  the  sub- 
sequent gallant  career  of  this  command,  taking  part  in  the  en- 
gagements at  White  Hall  and  Goldsboro,  in  1862,  and  then,  in 
Virginia,  under  the  leadership  of  Baker,  Gordon,  Barringer, 
Hampton,  and  Stuart,  meeting  the  enemy  on  many  a  field.  On 
April  3,  1865,  at  Namozine  Church,  he  was  captured  by  the 
Federals,  and  was  confined  at  Point  Lookout  until  June  28. 
Throughout  his  gallant  career  he  was  once  seriously  wounded, 
receiving  a  shot  through  the  ankle  on  the  Ground  Squirrel  Road 
near  Petersburg,  which  disabled  him  for  three  months. 

Samuel  R.  Bunting  was  captain  of  Company  I,  Tenth  Regi- 
ment of  State  Troops,  Light  Artillery,  which  was  organized  at 
Wilmington  in  May,  1861.  This  company  served  at  first  as 
coast  guard  at  Wrightsville  and  Masonboro  Sounds  and  in 
March,  1862,  moved  to  Kinston  and  saw  active  service  in  that 


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The  War  Between  the  States  313 

vicinity;  then  returned  to  Fort  Fisher.  After  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  and  the  evacuation  of  Wilmington,  the  regiment  joined 
GJen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  and  fought  and  surrendered  with  him. 

Bunting's  Battery  was  engaged  for  three  days  at  Spring 
Bank,  and  lost  nineteen  men  killed  and  wounded. 

James  G.  Burr  was  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  Home 
Guards,  but  did  not  see  actual  service  in  the  field. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Capps  was  a  private  in  Company  E,  Third 
North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  field  ambu- 
lances at  the  Battle  of  Chancellorsville  when  a  captain  ordered 
him  to  go  to  the  front,  which  he  refused  to  do  because  he  was 
under  Dr.  McRee's  orders  and  could  not  leave  his  post.  Finally, 
the  oflScer  reluctantly  told  him  that  Stonewall  Jackson  was 
wounded  and  required  immediate  attention,  but  he  must  act 
with  great  secrecy.  Mr.  Capps  then  drove  down  the  road  under 
heavy  fire,  lifted  the  general  into  his  ambulance,  and  brought 
him  from  the  field.  He  was  kept  under  guard  all  night  in  order 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  conveying  the  distressing  news  and 
thereby  demoralizing  the  troops. 

Kobert  E.  Calder  was  elected  lieutenant  of  Company  B  (of 
Wilson  County),  which  was  part  of  the  Second  Regiment,  and 
served  with  distinction  in  this  command  throughout  the  war. 
He  was  severely  wounded,  losing  the  sight  of  an  eye.  Further 
mention  of  Lieutenant  Calder  is  made  in  Colonel  Cantwell's 
narrative  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Caswell. 

Lieut.  William  Calder  was  bom  in  Wilmington,  May  5,  1844. 
In  1859  he  entered  the  military  academy  at  Hillsboro,  and  left 
there  in  May,  1861,  having  been  appointed  drillmaster  by  Gov- 
ernor Ellis,  and  assigned  to  the  camp  of  instruction  at  Raleigh. 
Upon  the  organization  of  the  first  ten  regiments  of  State  Troops, 
he  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  of  the  Third  Regiment. 
He  served  as  drillmaster  at  Garysburg  about  four  months,  and 
was  then  transferred  to  the  Second  Infantry  as  second  lieutenant 
of  Company  K.  With  this  command  he  participated  in  the 
Seven  Days'  Battle  about  Richmond;  and  at  Malvern  HiU 
he  was  wounded  in  the  left  thigh,  causing  a  disability  that  con- 
tinued until  after  the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg.  He  was  in  battle 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  and  in  most  of  the 
engagements  of  Jackson's  and  EweU's  corps;  and  during  the 
three  days'  fighting  at  Gettysburg  he  was  in  command  of  the 
sharpshooters  of  Ramseur's  brigade.  On  the  return  to  Orange 
Courthouse  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  First  North  Caro- 


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314  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Una  Battalion,  Heavy  Artillery,  and  subsequently  was  on  duty 
with  his  command  at  Fort  Caswell,  until  tiiat  post  was  evacu- 
ated. He  was  in  the  Battles  of  Fort  Anderson,  Town  Creek, 
and  Kinston,  and  at  the  Battle  of  Bentonville  he  served  as  act- 
ing assistant  adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Nethercutt, 
conmianding  the  brigade  of  Junior  Reserves.  From  that  time 
until  the  end  of  hostilities  he  was  with  his  artillery  battalion  in 
oiltpost  duty  on  the  upper  Cape  Fear  River. 

James  Carmichael,  rector  of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church, 
Wilmington,  was  devoted  to  the  Confederate  cause  during  the 
great  struggle.  He  was  compelled  to  retire  from  his  studies  at 
the  Alexandria  Theological  Seminary  by  the  advance  of  the 
invading  armies  in  1861.  In  May  of  that  year  he  was  com- 
missioned chaplain  of  the  Thirtieth  Virginia  Infantry,  and 
was  with  this  conmiand  on  the  field  of  duty  until  the  spring  of 
1862,  when  he  was  disabled  by  lung  trouble  and  was  sent  on 
furlough  to  Greensboro.  There  he  remained,  unfit  for  duty, 
until  November  following,  when,  at  the  request  of  Dr.  James  L. 
Cabell,  post  surgeon  at  Danville,  he  was  assigned  as  post  chap- 
lain at  the  latter  place.  In  this  capacity  he  served  until  July  3, 
1865. 

Anthony  D.  Cazaux,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Wilmington,  was 
appointed  captain  and  assistant  quartermaster  of  the  Eighteenth 
Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops.  The  Eighteenth  Regiment 
was  of  the  Branch-Lane  brigade,  and  Captain  Cazaux  acted 
as  one  of  its  quartermasters.  For  many  years  after  the  war 
Captain  Cazaux  was  actively  and  prominently  engaged  in  the 
business  affairs  of  Wilmington  and  contributed  largely  to  the 
development  of  its  commerce.  His  genial,  kindly  nature  won 
for  him  many  devoted  friends. 

Columbus  L.  Chestnutt  was  appointed  assistant  quarter- 
master of  the  Thirteenth  Battalion,  which  was  organized  De- 
cember 1,  1863. 

John  Cowan  joined  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards  (afterwards 
Company  I,  Eighteenth  Regiment),  and  took  part  in  the  cap- 
ture, April  16,  1861,  of  Fort  Caswell  by  order  of  Grovemor 
Ellis.  After  a  few  months  he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant  of 
Company  D,  Third  North  Carolina  Regiment  of  Infantry. 

He  was  present  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and  vari- 
ous other  battles,  and  served  through  the  (Gettysburg  campaign. 
Once,  in  the  absence  of  Captain  VanBokkelen,  he  was  left  with 
his  company  to  hold  a  line  which  had  been  captured  the  evening 


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The  War  Between  the  States  315 

before,  and  he  defended  his  position  with  great  tenacity  and  held 
it  until  he  was  ordered  out.  At  Spottsylvania  he  was  captured, 
along  with  the  entire  brigade,  and  sent  to  Fort  Delaware.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  placed  under  fire  at  Morris  Island,  after  which 
he  was  returned  to  Fort  Delaware,  where  he  remained  until  the 
end  of  the  war.  During  all  his  life  Captain  Cowan  was  exceed- 
ingly kind  to  the  sailors  of  this  port.  He  became  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Seamen's  Friend  Society,  and  never  failed  to  be 
present  at  the  Bethel  meeting  on  Sunday  afternoons. 

The  following  tribute  by  a  fellow-citizen,  on  the  occasion  of  a 
memorial  meeting  after  his  death,  illustrates  the  character  of 
this  highly  esteemed  Cape  Fear  gentleman : 

^  We  are  called  today  to  add  the  honored  name  of  John  Cowan 
to  the  long  roll  of  the  majority,  and  to  pay  our  tribute  of  respect 
to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  few  members  of  our  society  who  was 
faithful  unto  death. 

"For  years  he  has  sat  with  us  during  our  Sabbath  service, 
inspiring  us  by  his  devout  attention  and  unswerving  loyalty 
with  more  zeal  in  our  sacred  cause,  and  uniting  our  handful  of 
supporters  in  a  closer  bond  of  union  and  sympathy  with  the 
thousands  of  seafaring  men,  who,  like  ships  that  pass  in  the 
night  and  speak  each  other  in  passing,'  have  heard  the  friendly 
warning  voice  of  our  preacher  and  vanished  from  our  sight.  His 
beaming  face,  full  of  sympathetic  courtesy,  will  be  sadly  missed 
in  our  assemblies. 

"Like  the  great  leader  in  the  wilderness,  whose  presence  re- 
flected the  glory  of  his  God,  he  wist  not  that  his  face  so  shone. 
That  face,  so  deeply  lined  of  late  by  weariness  and  pain,  is,  I 
believe,  radiant  now  in  the  presence  of  Him  with  whom  there  is 
fullness  of  joy.  Buffeted  by  the  storms  of  life  and  disabled  by 
disease  and  suffering,  this  sailor's  friend  has  met  his  great  Pilot 
and  cast  his  anchor  within  the  haven  of  eternal  rest 

^^His  eminent  public  service  as  a  soldier  of  the  Confederacy 
is  a  part  of  its  history.  His  native  modesty  forbade  the  mention 
by  him  of  his  heroic  deeds,  but  who  of  you  will  forget  the  valor 
of  that  thin  line  of  twenty-five  muskets,  the  remnant  of  his 
shattered  but  intrepid  command,  which  held  an  overwhelming 
force  in  check  at  Gettysburg  ?  When  he  surrendered  his  sword 
at  the  'Bloody  Angle,'  he  retained  that  invisible  armor  for  the 
good  fight  of  faith  from  which  he  has  come  off  more  than  con- 
queror through  Him  that  loved  him  and  gave  Himself  for  him. 

*1  am  requested  by  our  recent  chaplain,  the  Kev.  Dr.  James 


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316  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Carmichael,  who  could  not  be  present  with  us  today,  to  add  his 
loving  testimony  to  the  work  and  faith  of  our  dead  comrade, 
who  for  many  years  encouraged  and  sustained  him  as  a  colaborer 
at  the  Bethel  service.  He  mourns  with  us  the  loss  of  one  of  the 
truest  friends  and  supporters  whom  this  society  has  ever  known." 

William  A.  Gumming  joined  the  famous  Third  Eegiment,  the 
record  of  which  has  been  given  in  several  sketches,  and,  about 
a  year  later,  after  a  fatiguing  day^s  march,  he  was  exposed  all 
night  to  a  soaking  rain,  which  brought  on  an  attack  of  rheuma- 
tism. He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  and,  deriving  no  benefit,  was 
later  sent  home  so  emaciated  that  his  father  did  not  at  first 
recognize  him.  Later,  he  returned  to  the  army,  but  he  never 
fully  recovered  his  health,  and  he  was  given  a  commission  in 
the  Commissary  Department,  in  which  he  remained  during  the 
war.  He  never  recovered  from  the  first  exposure  in  the  field 
and  died  after  the  war  from  rheumatism,  which  attacked  his 
heart.  He  had  many  warm  friends  in  the  Third  North  Caro- 
lina Infantry  and  in  civil  life,  for  he  was  a  kindly,  unselfish. 
Christian  gentleman,  of  fine  presence  and  old-time  urbanity. 

Preston  Cumming,  a  survivor  of  the  Cape  Fear  Artillery, 
enlisted  in  October,  1861,  as  a  private  in  the  artillery  company 
commanded  by  his  brother,  James  D.  Cumming,  and  known  as 
Cumming's  battery.  During  his  service  he  was  promoted  to 
sergeant,  participated  in  the  fighting  on  the  Petersburg  lines 
several  months,  and  was  in  the  Battles  of  Washington,  Kinston, 
and  Bentonville,  and  finally  surrendered  with  Johnston  at 
Greensboro. 

James  D.  Cumming  was  second  lieutenant  of  one  of  the  com- 
panies that  "took  possession  of  Fort  Johnston  and  Fort  Caswell 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  This  company  was  assigned  soon 
after  to  the  defense  of  Confederate  Point,  and  in  April,  1862, 
was  reorganized,  with  Lieutenant  Cumming  as  captain.  A  bat- 
tery of  field  artillery  was  provided  for  it,  and  it  bore  the  name 
of  Cumming's  battery.  It  became  part  of  the  Thirteenth  Bat- 
talion in  December,  1863.  In  May,  1864,  a  section  of  it  was 
ordered  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  assigned  to  Moseley's  battalion 
of  artillery.  The  battery,  therefore,  gave  active  service  to  the 
Confederacy  both  in  Virginia  and  in  eastern  North  Carolina. 

Roger  Cutlar,  a  brother  of  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  served  through- 
out the  war  in  Moore's  battery.  After  the  war  he  removed  to 
California.    He  was  a  courageous  and  gallant  soldier. 

Champ  T.  N.  Davis :  Among  the  officers  of  Company  G,  Six- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  317 

teenth  Raiment,  on  its  organization  June  17,  1861,  appears  the 
name  of  Capt.  C.  T.  N.  Davis,  of  Rutherford  County.  The 
Sixteenth  was  ordered  to  Virginia  soon  after  its  mobilization, 
proceeded  to  Valley  Mountain,  and  assisted  in  holding  the  gap 
against  the  Federals  under  General  Eosecrans.  Afterwards,  it 
was  attached  to  Hampton's  legion  around  Fredericksburg  and 
Yorktown,  where  it  was  reorganized,  and  Captain  Davis  elected 
its  colonel.  At  the  Battle  of  Seven  Pines  the  regiment  was 
exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  several  Federal  batteries  and  lost 
some  of  its  bravest  and  best  officers  and  men,  among  whom  was 
the  gallant  Colonel  Davis. 

Graham  Daves  was  appointed  private  secretary  to  Gtovemor 
Ellis  on  January  1,  1859,  and  held  that  position  imtil  the  out- 
break of  the  War  between  the  States.  He  then  joined  the  army 
as  first  lieutenant  of  the  Twelfth  Volunteers,  Col.  J.  Johnston 
Pettigrew,  afterwards  known  as  the  Twenty-second  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Troops,  of  which  he  was  appomted  adjutant, 
July  24, 1861.  With  this  regiment  he  served  imtil  April,  1862, 
being  on  duty  at  different  times  at  Raleigh,  Richmond,  and 
Brooke  Station,  Va.,  but  most  of  the  time  at  Evansport,  now 
called  Quantico,  where  the  regiment  was  employed  in  erecting 
batteries,  which  some  of  the  companies  occupied  and  served. 
These  were  the  batteries  that  so  long  blockaded  the  Potomac 
River  at  that  point.  Lieutenant  Daves  having  resigned  his 
commission  on  November  16,  1863,  was  enrolled  as  a  private 
and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  conscript  office,  Raleigh,  where  he 
remained  until  July,  1864.  He  served  in  various  other  posi- 
tions imtil  the  surrender  of  General  Johnston's  army  to  Gleneral 
Sherman  near  Greensboro. 

Jimius  Davis,  bom  Jime  17, 1845,  was  a  son  of  George  Davis 
and  his  first  wife,  Mary  Polk.  He  was  in  school  at  Bingham's 
Institute,  in  Alamance  County,  when  North  Carolina  decided  to 
cast  her  lot  with  the  Confederate  States,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1863,  being  nearly  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  left  his  books  to 
enter  the  military  service.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Battery 
C,  Third  Battalion,  North  Carolina  Artillery,  Capt.  J.  G. 
Moore,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  For  nearly  a  year 
he  was  about  Petersburg,  and  was  in  the  Battles  of  Drewry's 
Bluff  and  Bermuda  Hundred,  and  of  Fort  Harrison  lines.  In 
the  last  day's  fight  at  Petersburg  he  was  slightly  wounded,  but 
continued  on  duty  during  the  retreat  The  battery  being  at 
first  a  part  of  the  rear  guard  was  almost  constantly  engaged  and 


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318  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

was  roughly  handled ;  but  later  it  became  a  part  of  the  van,  and 
at  the  end,  Corporal  Davis  and  a  small  squad  escaped  without 
surrendering.  In  civil  life,  Mr.  Davis  wore  well  the  mantle 
of  his  distinguished  father. 

After  the  war  he  came  to  the  bar  and  was  associated  with  his 
father,  and,  like  him,  became  recognized  as  eminent  in  his  pro- 
fession and  particularly  distinguished  for  his  learning  in  corpo- 
ration law  and  for  his  admirable  management  of  the  affairs  of 
the  corporations  entrusted  to  his  care. 

In  1853,  Mr.  George  Davis  became  counsel  for  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Manchester  Railroad  and  continued  as  such  after  that 
property  was  acquired  by  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad. 
Later,  he  was  general  counsel  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  his 
son,  Junius  Davis,  being  associated  with  him,  and  when  he  died 
the  latter's  professional  connection  with  the  company  continued. 
In  time  Jimius  Davis  retired  from  active  practice  and  his  son, 
Thomas  W.  Davis,  a  lawyer  of  recognized  ability,  who  had  been 
associated  with  him,  assumed  the  connection  with  the  company 
from  which  his  father  resigned.  Thus,  for  more  than  sixty 
years,  have  Mr.  George  Davis,  his  son,  and  his  grandson  retained 
the  position  aa  counsel  for  this  property,  a  record,  as  far  as 
known,  without  a  parallel  in  the  United  States. 

Besides  his  admirable  work  as  a  lawyer,  following  further  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  illustrious  father,  Jimius  Davis  made  con- 
tributions to  historical  literature  and  won  a  high  reputation  for 
research  into  local  history  and  as  an  entertaining  and  versatile 
writer.  In  particular  must  be  mentioned  his  masterful  address 
on  Locke's  Fundamental  Constitutions  and  his  exhaustive  and 
conclusive  article  on  John  Paul  Jones,  which  has  been  accepted 
as  explaining  John  Paul's  reason  for  assuming  the  name  of 
Jones.  On  its  publication  in  the  South  Atlantic  Quarterly,  Col. 
A.  M.  Waddell,  Bishop  Robert  Strange,  Prof.  J.  G.  deRoulhac 
Hamilton,  Mr.  James  Spnmt,  and  others  united  in  the  follow- 
ing request : 

'*The  imdersigned,  your  fellow-citizens,  having  read  with 
great  interest  and  satisfaction  your  admirable  contribution  to 
North  Carolina  history,  published  in  the  South  Atlantic  Quar- 
terly, and  desiring  that  this  unique  elucidation  of  the  mystery 
of  Chevalier  Jones's  adopted  name  be  published  in  pamphlet 
form,  in  order  that  it  may  be  placed  in  public  libraries  and  in 
private  collections  for  future  guidance,  most  cordially  felicitate 
you  upon  its  production  and  request  your  permission  for  its 
more  extended  circulation." 


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The  War  Between  the  States  319 

In  this  article  Mr.  Davis  shows  that  John  Paul,  when  in  need 
of  friends,  found  them  in  Allen  and  Willie  Jones,  and  that  he 
assumed  the  name  of  Jones  because  of  his  association  with  them. 
The  Navy  Department,  in  giving  chronological  data  of  the  life 
of  John  Paul  Jones,  refers  to  this  fact  and  to  Mr.  Davis'  article, 
and  it  may  be  considered  that  Mr.  Davis  has  set  at  rest  all 
doubts  on  the  subject.^  He  was  a  lovable  man.  There  was  a 
dignity  and  charm  about  Junius  Davis  by  which  he  came  natur- 
ally, and  he  had  an  old-fashioned  felicity  of  expression  that  de- 
lighted his  friends.  He  loved  their  companionship  and  that  of 
his  books,  of  which  he  possessed  a  wonderful  store,  for  his  was 
indeed  a  rich  and  well-stored  mind,  described  by  his  illustrious 
father,  and  in  the  recent  years  of  his  retirement  from  the 
greater  activities  of  life,  it  created  its  own  beauty,  wealth, 
power,  and  happiness.  He  had  wisdom  and  insight,  and  what- 
ever subject  he  touched  he  illumined.  He  thought  deeply  upon 
matters  pertaining  to  his  legal  profession,  upon  literature  and 
politics,  and  upon  the  current  affairs  of  life,  and  when  he  spoke 
we  felt  that  he  had  received  a  vision  of  the  truth,  for  truth  was 
ever  his  guiding  star. 

Another  old-time  Cape  Fear  gentleman  and  soldier  of  the 
South  has  crossed  over  the  river  and  rests  imder  the  shade  of 
the  trees. 

"The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust" 

Horatio  Davis,  a  half-brother  of  Mr.  G^eorge  Davis,  served  in 
the  Confederate  Army  and  later  became  a  judge  in  Virginia, 
and  finally  moved  to  Florida.  He  was  a  brave  and  fearless 
soldier. 

Armand  L.  DeRosset  was  elected  captain  of  Company  B  at 
the  formation  of  the  Sixth  Battalion,  called  the  Armory  Guards, 
which  was  stationed  at  the  Fayetteville  Arsenal  and  Armory 
during  the  War  between  the  States. 

Moses  John  DeRosset  was  on  duty  as  surgeon  in  the  hospitals 
at  Richmond  in  1861,  and  became  surgeon  of  the  Fifty-sixth 
Regiment  on  its  organization  in  the  summer  of  1862.  Dr. 
DeRosset  stood  high  in  his  profession,  having  taken  a  course  in 
Europe  and  being  besides  an  accomplished  French  and  Gterman 
scholar. 


iNew  evidence,  more  recently  discovered,  however,  again  unsettles 
the  question. 


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320  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Edward  B.  Dudley  was  captain  of  Company  D,  Anderson 
Artillery,  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Eegiment.  This  regiment  was 
stationed  at  various  points  of  defense  along  the  Cape  Fear.  On 
November  22,  1864,  Captain  Dudley  was  sent  with  his  company 
and  others  under  Maj.  James  M.  Stevenson  to  Georgia  to  join 
the  Confederate  forces  opposing  Sherman's  advance  to  Savan- 
nah. Later  he  returned  to  Fort  Fisher  and  performed  his  part 
in  the  epic  defense. 

Guilford  L.  Dudley :  The  First  Regiment  was  organized  near 
Warrenton  in  the  spring  of  1861.  G.  L.  Dudley  was  appointed 
one  of  the  two  quartermasters,  and  was  second  lieutenant  of 
Company  E,  First  Eegiment.  He  served  vdth  distinction 
throughout  the  Seven  Days'  Battle,  the  South  Moimtain  cam- 
paign, and  at  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg,  and  in  other  battles.  The  last  volley  fired  by  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  fired  by  North  Carolina  troops, 
and  the  First  Regiment  was  among  the  number. 

Charles  D.  Ellis :  Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war  the 
Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  cooperating  with  the  Confed- 
erate Government  in  defending  the  entrance  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River  and  Wilmington,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  formation 
of  a  battalion  of  heavy  artillery  (Ninth  Battalion,  Heavy  Artil- 
lery), to  be  composed  of  three  companies,  to  man  the  defenses 
constructed  for  the  protection  of  the  harbor  and  the  shores  close 
to  the  Cape  Fear  Bar. 

The  second  company  (Company  B)  was  organized  by  Capt 
Charles  D.  Ellis,  and  its  members  were  mostly  from  Brunswick, 
Duplin,  and  other  coimties  near  New  Hanover.  Capt.  Ellis, 
however,  resigned  October,  1862,  and  was  succeeded  by  Capt. 
Jacob  W.  Taylor.  In  1863,  the  three  companies  were  organized 
into  what  was  known  thereafter  as  the  First  Battalion  of  Heavy 
Artillery. 

Z.  Ellis  was  one  of  the  three  lieutenants  in  Company  B, 
raised  by  C.  D.  Ellis,  and  he  served  with  this  company  through- 
out the  war. 

Henry  G.  Flanner  was  originally  second  lieutenant  in  Com- 
pany F,  Thirteenth  Battalion.  A  section  of  this  company  served 
in  liie  winter  of  1863-64  and  in  the  spring  of  1864  attached  to 
MacRae's  (Tenth)  battalion  in  western  North  Carolina.  This 
battery,  under  Capt.  H.  G.  Flanner,  was  ordered  to  Virginia  in 
1862,  and  served  continuously,  with  the  above  exception,  in 
General  Lee's  army.    It  served  on  the  lines  around  Petersburg 


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The  War  Between  the  States  321 

with  great  credit.  It  surrendered  at  Appomattox.  Flanner's 
battery  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  preventing  the  Federal  Army 
from  entering  Petersburg  on  the  morning  of  the  springing  of  the 
mine  (Tuly  29). 

Capt.  Owen  Fennell  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  Company  C,  First  Regiment,  under  Col.  M.  S. 
Stokes,  in  June,  1861.  The  regiment  did  good  service  during 
the  Seven  Days'  Battles  aroimd  Richmond  and  in  the  Mary- 
land campaign,  and  Lieutenant  Fennell  shared  its  marching  and 
fighting  until  just  after  the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg,  when  he  was 
made  acting  assistant  commissary  of  subsistence,  with  the  rank 
of  captain.  He  continued  in  this  service  until  the  office  was 
abolished  after  the  Gettysburg  campaign. 

Clayton  Giles  joined  Company  I,  Sixty-third  Georgia  Volun- 
teers, in  1863,  and  served  in  that  command  throughout  the  war, 
surrendering  at  Greensboro  under  Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston. 

Norwood  Giles  enlisted  as  a  youth  in  Moore's  battery.  Light 
Artillery,  Company  E,  Tenth  Regiment  North  Carolina  Troops, 
afterwards  (on  Moore's  promotion  to  colonel)  commanded  by 
Capt.  John  Miller.  Endowed  by  nature  witJi  a  most  genial, 
pleasing  personality,  he  endeared  himself  throughout  the  war 
and  for  years  afterwards  to  a  wide  circle  of  devoted  friends. 
His  untimely  death,  December  11,  1899,  was  greatly  mourned 
in  our  community,  and  the  following  lines  of  appreciation  were 
written  by  one  who  esteemed  him  very  highly : 

^^We  mourn  the  death  of  one  in  the  flower  of  his  manhood 
who  served  so  well  the  purpose  of  his  Creator,  and  who  filled  so 
completely  the  hearts  of  his  friends  with  loving  trust  and  ad- 
miration, that  the  name  of  Norwood  Giles  should  be  inscribed 
upon  the  record  of  our  noblest  and  best.  Who  can  measure  in 
this  world  the  quiet  influence  of  a  Christian  man  ?  He  was  the 
truth  of  Gkni  impersonated,  living  and  moving  among  men  in 
daily  deeds  of  goodness,  shining  in  the  image  of  his  Maker,  and 
quietly  fulfilling  a  great  and  noble  purpose. 

"Such  was  his  character.  A  thousand  sympathetic  hearts  will 
pay  the  tribute  of  a  sigh  that  he  is  gone,  and  many  lives  will  be 
the  better  for  his  unsullied  life,  which  combined  the  freedom 
and  joyousness  of  a  child  with  the  chivalry  and  strength  and 
self-control  of  a  Christian  gentleman.  Endowed  with  superior 
intellectual  gifts,  his  scope  of  knowledge  was  varied  and  exten- 
sive. Exact  and  methodical  in  all  the  details  of  his  business, 
which  he  conducted  with  marked  ability  and  skill,  he  was  also  a 


21 


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322  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

close  observer  of  men  and  affairs  and  well  informed  upon  the 
important  questions  of  the  day. 

"He  ever  foimd  solace  and  joy  in  the  freedom  of  country 
life.  He  loved  to  breathe  the  clear  air  of  heaven ;  the  ocean  and 
its  wonders  and  the  marvelous  flora  of  our  region  were  sources 
of  delight  to  him,  for  he  found  more  pleasure  in  the  lilies  of  the 
field  and  in  the  shells  of  the  sea  than  in  all  the  arts  of  man's 
device.  The  joyous  notes  of  the  mocking-bird,  the  sighing  of 
the  pines,  and  the  voices  of  the  deep  were  music  to  his  ear,  and 
the  modest  Drosera  and  Dionwa  were  to  his  admiring  eyes 
among  the  masterpieces  of  creation. 

"In  all  the  manly  sports  and  healthful  pleasures  of  the  sound 
he  was  an  ardent  and  successful  leader.  His  sprightly,  generous 
nature,  his  exquisite  wit  and  humor,  made  him  ever  welcoxne  in 
social  life,  and  his  charming  pen  sketches  of  the  annual  regatta, 
which  were  as  fresh  and  breezy  as  the  salt  sea  air,  were  always 
read  with  feelings  of  pleasure  and  delight. 

"The  kindly,  beaming  smile  is  gone,  the  joyous  laugh  is 
hushed,  and  the  captain  of  the  winning  boat  has  met  his  Pilot 
on  the  boundless  tide.  Sincerity  and  simplicity  went  hand  in 
hand  with  him,  who  was  to  rich  and  poor,  to  lowly  and  exalted, 
the  same  in  high-bred  courtesy  and  never-failing  kindliness." 

William  Henry  Green  entered  the  service  as  a  private  in  the 
Branch  Artillery,  Capt.  A.  C.  Latham,  in  July,  1862.  In  the 
following  year  he  was  detailed  as  sergeant  major  of  the  battalion 
of  Maj.  J.  C.  Haskell,  to  which  Latham's  battery  was  attached, 
and  he  served  in  this  capacity  during  the  remainder  of  the  war. 
He  had  an  active  career  as  artilleryman,  participating  in  the 
famous  Battles  of  Cedar  Run,  Second  Manassas,  Chantilly, 
Warrenton  Springs,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Spottsylvania, 
and  Second  Cold  Harbor,  and  throughout  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg and  the  retreat  to  Appomattox,  where  he  was  paroled. 

Maj.  Edward  Joseph  Hale  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the 
Bethel  Regiment,  of  which  D.  H.  Hill  was  colonel,  the  day  after 
Lincoln's  proclamation  calling  for  troops.  He  was  in  the  first 
pitched  battle  at  Big  Bethel,  June  10,  1861.  When  that  regi- 
ment was  disbanded.  Governor  Clark  appointed  him  a  second 
lieutenant  of  North  Carolina  Troops.  In  1862  he  was  ap- 
pointed first  lieutenant  and  adjutant  and  assigned  to  duty  with 
the  Fifty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  Ransom's  brigade. 
He  participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  that  command  in 
Virginia  and  eastern  North  Carolina,  and  distinguished  himself 


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The  War  Between  the  States  323 

for  his  coolness  and  bravery.  Though  little  over  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  General  Longstreet  recognized  his  ability  and  ap- 
pointed him  judge  advocate  of  the  Department  of  Court-martial. 
His  ability,  fighting  record,  and  general  qualifications  were 
known  to  Brigadier  General  Lane,  and  that  officer,  after  the 
death  of  Capt.  George  B.  Johnston,  tendered  him  the  position  of 
adjutant  general  of  his  brigade  of  veterans  in  the  fall  of  1863. 
Captain  Hale  displayed  such  strong  character  in  the  conduct  of 
his  duties  that  before  the  close  of  the  terrific  campaign  of  1864 
he  was  the  idol  of  the  troops.  His  behavior  on  the  battlefield 
was  extraordinarily  cool  and  courageous.  In  the  Wilderness,  at 
Spottsylvania,  and  Turkey  Kidge ;  in  many  battles  before  Peters- 
burg, after  Grant  had  crossed  to  the  south  side  of  the  James ;  at 
Deep  Bottom,  Gravelly  Hill,  Riddle's  Shop,  and  Fussell's  Mill ; 
at  Eeams  Station ;  in  the  battles  of  the  2d  of  April,  1865,  in  the 
morning,  and  later  at  Battery  Gregg  and  Battery  45 ;  at  Amelia 
Courthouse,  Farmville,  and  other  engagements  on  the  retreat  to 
Appomattox,  he  distinguished  himself,  fighting  with  conspicu- 
ous gallantry.  Not  long  before  the  close  of  the  war  a  remark- 
able tribute  was  paid  to  Captain  Hale's  bravery  and  skill.  Upon 
the  petition  of  the  major  commanding  the  Twenty-eighth  North 
Carolina  Eegiment  and  all  of  its  officers  present,  he  was  recom- 
mended by  his  brigade,  division,  and  corps  commanders  for  the 
colonelcy  of  that  regiment  because  of  conspicuous  gallantry  and 
merit.    Later,  he  was  appointed  major  on  the  staff. 

B.  Frank  Hall  served  throughout  the  war  as  a  member  of  the 
Duplin  Rifles,  or  Company  A  of  the  Forty-third  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Infantry.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private, 
but  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  first  sergeant.  Sergeant  Hall  was 
on  duty  with  his  regiment  in  Daniel's  brigade  during  the  Seven 
Days'  Battle  before  Richmond,  was  under  fire  at  Malvern  Hill, 
and  afterwards  at  Drewry's  Bluff  and  Suffolk,  and  from  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  to  Jime,  1863,  he  was  on  duty  in  North  Carolina, 
participating  in  the  affair  at  Deep  Gulley.  He  took  part  in  the 
terrific  fight  of  July  1  at  Seminary  Ridge  and  the  next  two  days 
of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  in  the  affair  at  Hagerstown, 
on  the  retreat  from  Pennsylvania.  Subsequently  being  attached 
to  Hoke's  brigade,  he  served  in  North  Carolina  at  the  Battle  of 
Bachelor's  Creek,  the  siege  and  capture  of  Plymouth,  and  the 
skirmishes  before  New  Bern.  Returning  thence  to  Virginia,  he 
participated  in  the  battles  at  Hanover  Junction  and  Bethesda 
Church;  and  on  March  25,  1865,  he  took  part  in  the  assault 


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324  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

upon  the  Federal  works  at  Hare's  Hill.  On  the  morning  of 
April  2,  prior  to  the  evacuation  of  Petersburg,  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  a  squad  of  twelve  men,  which,  with  a  similar  squad 
from  the  Forty-fifth,  entered  Fort  Mahone,  then  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  capturing  100  prisoners,  and  he  aided  effectively 
in  the  gallant  fighting  which  forced  the  Federals  from  the  lines. 
During  the  retreat,  Sergeant  Hall  was  in  the  battle  at  Sailor's 
Creek;  and  at  Appomattox,  Simday  morning,  he  joined  in  the 
last  assault  upon  the  enemy. 

Dr.  William  White  Harriss  was  bom  in  1824,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1842.  He 
entered  the  Confederate  service  as  surgeon  of  the  Sixty-first 
Regiment,  North  Carolina  Volimteers,  and  was  on  duty  chiefly 
around  Charleston  until  1863,  when  General  Whiting  appointed 
him  surgeon  of  the  City  Garrison  at  Wilmington,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  surrender.  When  Wilmington  was  evacuated 
he  was  appointed  by  General  Bragg  to  remain  there  as  surgeon 
to  take  care  of  the  sick  and  woimded  Confederate  soldiers. 

Maj.  Gabriel  H.  Hill,  son  of  Dr.  John  Hill,  of  Kendal,  ap- 
pointed a  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Army  in  1855,  came 
home  and  served  with  high  distinction  at  the  Battle  of  Roanoke 
Island,  and  afterwards  across  the  Mississippi.  He  was  a  very 
fine  officer.    After  the  war  he  lived  in  Virginia. 

Lieut.  John  Hampden  Hill  enlisted  early  in  the  winter  of 
1863,  at  Smithville,  in  Company  H,  Fortieth  Regiment,  and 
was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  by  Gk)vemor  Vance.  He 
was  with  his  command  at  Fort  Anderson  during  the  bombard- 
ment, and  in  the  Battles  of  Town  Creek,  Wilmington,  North- 
east River,  Wise's  Fork,  Kinston,  and  Bentonville,  receiving  a 
wound  in  the  left  leg  in  the  last  battle. 

Thomas  Hill,  M.D.,  entered  the  Confederate  service  in  April, 

1861.  He  was  conmiissioned  assistant  surgeon.  Confederate 
States  Army,  in  July,  1861,  and  from  that  date  until  March, 

1862,  was  in  charge  of  the  general  hospital  at  Fredericksburg, 
Va.  Subsequently  he  was  in  charge  of  the  general  hospital  at 
Goldsboro  until  May,  1862,  when  he  was  promoted  to  surgeon 
in  the  Confederate  Army  and  appointed  to  the  presidency  of 
the  medical  examining  board  at  Raleigh;  he  was  also  put  in 
charge  of  General  Hospital  No.  8,  at  Raleigh,  the  building  now 
known  as  Peace  Institute.  Remaining  there  until  April,  1864, 
he  was  then  assigned  as  surgeon  to  the  Fortieth  R^ment, 
North  Carolina  Troops,  and  in  December  following  was  ap- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  325 

pointed  chief  surgeon  of  the  North  Carolina  Reserves,  on  the 
staff  of  General  Holmes.  After  this  distinguished  career,  which 
was  brought  to  a  close  by  the  surrender  at  Greensboro,  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

In  April,  1861,  Lieut.  George  W.  Huggins  was  mustered  into 
military  service  as  a  private  in  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards, 
which  was  later  assigned  as  Company  I  to  the  Eighth  (Eigh- 
teenth) North  Carolina  Regiment,  one  of  the  volimteer  regi- 
ments of  the  State  first  organized.  Private  Huggins  was  pro- 
moted to  first  corporal  in  September,  1861,  and  to  second 
lieutenant  in  April,  1862.  With  his  regiment,  in  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  he  took  part  in  the  following  battles :  Han- 
over Courthouse,  Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Eraser's  Earm, 
and  Malvern  Hill.  At  the  close  of  the  bloody  Seven  Days' 
Battles  around  Richmond,  at  Harrison's  Landing,  he  received  a 
severe  wound  in  the  foot,  which  disabled  him  until  July,  1^63. 
He  then  returned  to  his  regiment  in  Virginia,  but  was  detailed 
for  duty  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department  at  Wilmington, 
where  he  remained  until  the  city  was  evacuated,  when  he  made 
his  way  to  Johnston's  army  and  was  paroled  with  it  at  Greens- 
boro. 

James  B.  Huggins  was  second  lieutenant  of  Company  G, 
Thirteenth  Battalion,  and  was  later  assigned  to  service  in  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Paymaster's  Departments,  with  the  rank 
of  captain. 

John  Christopher  James  entered  the  Confederate  service  in 
1863,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  in  Company  B,  Third  Junior  Re- 
serves, afterwards  the  Seventy-second  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
Troops,  Colonel  Hinsdale  commanding.  He  was  made  orderly 
sergeant  of  Company  D,  imder  Captain  Kerr,  and  later  commis- 
sioned third  lieutenant,  and  served  in  the  first  bombardment  of 
Eort  Eisher,  in  the  engagement  at  Kinston  (Hoke's  division), 
and  also  at  the  Battle  of  Bentonville.  He  surrendered  with 
General  Johnston's  army  at  Bush  Hill,  April  26,  1865,  and  was 
paroled  with  his  regiment.  May  2,  1866. 

He  possessed  in  common  with  his  brother  Theodore,  to  whom 
eloquent  reference  was  made  in  the  sketch  of  the  Third  Regi- 
ment by  Capt.  John  Cowan  and  Capt.  James  I.  Metts,  a  most 
attractive  personality;  and  in  his  devoted,  useful  life  were 
blended  the  finest  characteristics  of  the  old-time  Southern  gen- 
tleman. Beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  his  memory  still  lives 
in  the  hearts  of  his  friends. 


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326  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

Theodore  C.  James  was  an  adjutant  in  the  Third  R^ment. 
In  writing  of  him  Captain  Cowan  and  Captain  Metts  say: 
"Adjutant  Theodore  C.  James  has  also  crossed  the  narrow 
stream  of  death.  Our  pen  falters  when  we  attempt  to  pay 
tribute  to  his  memory ;  companion  of  our  youth,  friend  of  our 
manhood.  For  him  to  espouse  a  cause  was  to  make  it  a  part  of 
his  very  self.  Intrepid,  no  more  courageous  soldier  trod  the 
soil  of  any  battlefield  upon  which  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia encountered  a  foe.  The  impulses  of  his  nature  were  mag- 
nanimous; no  groveling  thoughts  unbalanced  the  equity  of  his 
judgment.    True  to  his  friends  and  to  principle,  he  remained  as 

'Constant  as  the  Northern  Star 

Of  whose  true,  flxt,  and  resting  quality 

There  is  no  feUow  in  the  firmament.' 

Leaving  his  right  arm  upon  a  battlefield  in  Virginia,  and  exempt 
for  that  cause  from  further  military  duty,  he  disdained  any 
privilege  which  such  disability  brought  to  him,  and  continued 
in  active  service  until  the  last  shot  had  been  fired,  'arms  stacked' 
forever." 

Stephen  Jewett,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  joined  Ripley's 
brigade.  Forty-fourth  Georgia  Regiment  of  Infantry,  near  Rich- 
mond, July  1,  1862,  just  after  the  Seven  Days'  Battle;  and  he 
served  with  that  regiment  until  May  10,  1864,  never  missing  a 
day's  service,  skirmish,  or  battle  in  which  his  regiment  partici- 
pated. He  was  in  the  engagements  at  South  Mountain,  Sharps- 
burg,  ♦  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Warrenton  Springs, 
Morton's  Ford,  the  Wilderness,  Gettysburg,  and  Spottsylvania, 
where  he  was  captured,  May  10,  1864,  and  taken  to  Fort  Dela- 
ware. He  remained  a  prisoner  of  war  until  March  10,  1865, 
when  he  was  sent  back  to  Richmond  on  parole,  and  was  on  parole 
furlough  when  the  surrender  of  th6  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
ended  the  war.  He  entered  the  army  as  a  private  when  he  could 
scarcely  carry  a  musket,  and  he  continued  to  serve  throughout 
the  war  in  that  capacity  with  ever  increasing  efficiency.  Stead- 
fastness, tenacity  of  purpose,  cheerfulness  in  devotion  to  duty,  a 
high  sense  of  integrity,  have  marked  his  career  from  boyhood  to 
comparatively  old  age. 

J.  Pembroke  Jones,  a  prominent  officer  in  the  United  States 
Navy,  resigned  his  commission  and  joined  the  Confederate 
Navy.  He  was  first  lieutenant  commanding  on  the  iron- 
clad sloop-of-war  Raleigh,  which  carried  four  guns,  and  which 
attacked  and  broke  the  Cape  Fear  blockade.     He  served  with 


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The  War  Between  the  States  327 

distinction  in  several  departments  of  the  Confederate  Navy,  and 
after  the  war  was  employed  by  the  Argentine  Republic  upon 
important  military  defenses. 

James  G.  Kenan:  "Man  must  endure  his  going  hence  even 
as  his  coming  hither,  ripeness  is  all." 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1912,  James  G.  Kenan  went,  as  must 
all  mortal  men,  back  upon  the  pathway  by  which  he  came — ^back 
to  the  great  unknown.  His  sun  went  down  after  it  reached  the 
zenith  and  began  receding  toward  the  west.  When  it  set  be- 
yond  our  vision,  darkness  fell  upon  thousands  of  devoted  and 
admiring  friends,  and  many  hearts  were  sad. 

Some  men  flower  early;  others  late.  Captain  Kenan  was  a 
noted  man  in  early  life,  and  was  at  his  best  when  the  final  siun- 
mons  came.  When  he  passed  away  he  left  an  enviable  record 
as  a  soldier,  public  official,  and  private  citizen,  and  the  work  he 
did  will  grow  brighter  and  brighter  as  the  years  pass  until 
it  becomes  his  lasting  monument,  more  enduring  than  marble 
and  brass  and  forever  sacred  in  the  hearts  of  his  grateful  coun- 
trymen. His  deeds  of  kindness,  of  charity,  and  of  generosity 
will  ever  keep  alive  his  memory  and  frequently  call  to  recollec- 
tion the  glory  of  his  name. 

Captain  Kenan  was  a  true  man,  a  lover  of  justice,  a  believer 
in  the  supremacy  of  the  law,  a  friend  of  every  cause  that  lacked 
assistance.  In  his  views  he  was  broad  and  liberal,  had  charity 
for  all,  trusted  the  people,  and  never  lost  faith  in  humanity. 

He  was  a  fine  type  of  the  Southern  gentleman  of  t^e  old 
school,  being  the  descendant  of  a  long  line  of  Southern  ancestry ; 
but  still  he  was  a  plain,  simple  man,  who  loved  his  fellow-man, 
a  friend  of  the  toiler  and  an  eloquent  advocate  of  the  oppressed. 
He  had  faith  in  his  Creator  sufficiently  abiding  to  illumine  his 
soul  when  he  reached  the  river  which  all  of  us  must  some  day 
cross.  Not  given  to  loud  professions  or  vain  boastings  of  a 
religious  experience,  yet  deep  down  in  his  heart  was  a  well  of 
love  and  trust  which  was  constant  in  its  flow  towards  the  Saviour 
of  mankind.  During  all  his  life  he  exemplified  the  himian  side 
of  religion  by  doing  what  he  believed  to  be  right.  In  this  respect 
his  faith  was  fixed.  His  purposes  were  strong.  His  constant 
effort  was  to  lift  all  persons  with  whom  he  associated  to  higher 
conceptions  of  life  and  duty. 

His  personal  character  was  as  spotless  as  a  maiden's,  and  as 
imsullied  as  a  ray  of  light.  The  memory  of  his  just,  virtuous, 
and  upright  life  will  linger  in  the  minds  of  all  who  knew  him. 


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328  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Upon  the  occasion  of  his  death  the  James  G.  Kenan  Chapter, 
Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  and  the  Confederate  Veterans 
of  Warsaw,  in  convention  assembled,  passed  the  following  reso- 
lutions : 

1st.  That  by  the  death  of  Captain  Kenan,  the  chapter  of  the  Daugh- 
ters which  bears  his  name  has  lost  a  devoted  friend  and  counselor;  the 
Confederate  Veterans,  a  noble  comrade  and  an  ever-ready  champion  of 
the  cause  which  they  so  nobly  espoused,  and  his  bereaved  family,  a 
devoted  husband  and  loving  father. 

2d.  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  of 
the  Daughters,  a  copy  be  sent  the  family,  and  a  copy  to  each  county 
paper,  and  one  to  some  State  paper. 

Captain  Kenan  was  the  last  of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Owen  R.  Kenan  and  was  bom  near  Kenana- 
ville,  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  being  descended  from  Thomas 
Kenan,  who  settled  in  Duplin  County  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  years  ago.  The  family  has  been  for  years  one  of 
the  most  prominent  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

He  served  the  county  of  Duplin  several  terms  as  sheriff  and 
enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  in  every 
walk  of  life.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  with  his  distinguished 
brothers,  William  Rand  Kenan  and  Thomas  S.  Kenan,  he  early 
enlisted  in  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  and  was  captain  of  a 
company  in  the  Forty-third  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops, 
Confederate  States  Army.  He  was  captured  at  Gettysburg  and 
confined  later  in  a  Federal  prison.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier 
and  numbered  among  his  comrades  many  of  the  veterans  of  the 
war  throughout  Eastern  Carolina. 

Captain  Kenan  was  about  seventy-two  years  old.  He  is  sur- 
vived by  his  wife,  three  sons,  and  one  daughter,  his  children 
being  Dr.  Owen  Kenan  of  New  York,  resident  physician  for  the 
season  at  the  chain  of  Palm  Beach  hotels,  Mr.  Thomas  S.  Kenan, 
of  Atlanta,  Graham  Kenan,  Esq.,  of  the  law  firm  of  Kenan  & 
Stacy,  in  Wilmington,  and  Miss  Emily  Kenan,  of  Kenansville. 

Thomas  S.  Kenan:  In  1735,  when  Henry  McCulloh  and  a 
number  of  Irish  gentlemen  obtained  from  the  King  grants  in  the 
province  of  Carolina  for  more  than  one  million  acres  of  land, 
several  large  tracts  were  laid  off  for  them  in  upper  New  Han- 
over, now  embraced  in  Duplin  and  Sampson  Counties,  in  which 
settlers  from  the  north  of  Ireland  located,  among  them  Colonel 
Sampson  and  Thomas  Kenan.  From  that  day  the  Kenan  family 
has  remained  in  the  settlement,  or  near  to  it,  where  their  ances- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  329 

tors  in  America  first  located.  ^'A  race  of  gentlemen/'  writes 
Captain  Ashe  in  his  Biographical  History  of  North  Carolina, 
"ever  observant  of  their  obligations,  they  have  always  been  held 
in  high  esteem  and  have  taken  a  prominent  part  in  regard  to  all 
great  questions  that  have  concerned  the  public  welfare."  The 
Kenan  family  came  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  in  1700;  thence 
to  the  Cape  Fear  in  1735;  and  in  the  succeeding  generation 
James  Kenan  was  a  zealous,  daring,  and  brilliant  patriot  ofiicer 
during  the  War  of  Independence.  His  son,  Thomas,  after  serv- 
ing in  the  General  Assembly,  was  a  member  of  the  United  States 
Congress  from  1805  to  1811,  and  his  grandson,  Owen  R.  Kenan, 
the  father  of  Col.  Thomas  Stephen  Kenan,  also  served  several 
terms  in  the  General  Assembly  and  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
federate Congress. 

Thomas  Stephen  Kenan  obtained  his  early  education  at  the  old 
Grove  Academy,  of  Kenansville,  under  the  venerated  Rev.  James 
Menzies  Sprimt.  This  was  an  institution  that  educated  many 
of  the  brightest  yoimg  men  of  the  Cape  Fear  section.  He  was 
afterwards  at  the  Central  Military  Institute  in  Selma,  Alabama, 
and  later  entered  Wake  Forest  CoUege.  In  1857  he  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  with  the  degree  of 
A.B.,  and  the  next  year  the  University  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  of  A.M.  Having  determined  to  become  a  lawyer,  he 
spent  two  years  studying  with  Chief  Justice  Pearson,  at  Rich- 
mond Hill,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  at  Kenansville 
in  1860.  In  1859  the  Duplin  Rifles  was  organized  in  Kenans- 
ville, and  in  1861  this  company  volunteered  under  Thomas 
Stephen  Kenan  as  its  captain,  and  was  assigned  to  the  First, 
or  Bethel,  Regiment,  and  afterwards  to  the  Second  Regiment. 
At  the  end  of  the  year,  it  was  reorganized  and  assigned  to  the 
Forty-third  Regiment,  and  Colonel  Kenan  was  made  lieutenant 
colonel,  on  April  24,  1862,  becoming  colonel.  His  regiment  was 
assigned  to  Daniel's  brigade  and  was  engaged  in  the  operations 
before  Richmond,  Colonel  Kenan  winning  high  laurels.  The 
next  year,  as  a  part  of  Rhodes's  division,  the  Forty-third  under 
Colonel  Kenan  carried  the  flag  to  Carlisle,  Pa.  Returning  to 
Gettysburg  on  the  first  of  July,  Colonel  Kenan  was  in  the  hard 
fight  on  Seminary  Ridge  that  day  and  was  under  fire  all  the 
next  day,  his  regiment  supporting  a  battery  of  artillery  on 
Seminary  Ridge,  and  on  the  third  day  he  participated  in  the 
desperate  assault  on  Culp^s  Hill.  While  leading  a  charge,  he 
fell  severely  wounded,  and,  while  being  borne  to  the  rear  in  an 


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330  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

ambulance  train  the  next  day,  he  was  captured.  He  was  con- 
fined on  Johnson's  Island,  a  prisoner  of  war,  until  March, 
1865,  when  he  was  paroled,  together  with  a  niunber  of  other 
prisoners,  but  he  was  never  exchanged. 

The  war  over,  he  returned  to  Kenansville  to  the  practice  of 
law  and  served  in  the  Legislature  of  1865-66  and  1866-67,  and 
his  wisdom  was  shown  in  those  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly, 
made  up  of  the  best  men  in  the  State,  who  sought  patriotically 
to  conform  the  laws  of  the  State  to  the  changed  conditions  that 
resulted  from  the  war.  Of  course  when  Reconstruction  came 
on  he  was  retired  to  private  life,  but  then,  as  during  the  war, 
he  was  regarded  as  the  natural  leader  of  his  people.  In  1868 
he  led  the  party  6ght  as  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Congress 
in  his  district. 

In  1869  he  moved  to  Wilson  to  practice  his  profession,  and 
shortly  afterwards  he  became  mayor  of  the  town  and  the  most 
progressive  citizen  of  that  growing  community.  To  this  day 
the  people  of  Wilson  point  with  pride  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
the  first  mayor  to  introduce  progressive  measures,  to  light  the 
town,  to  improve  the  streets,  and  to  make  it  what  he  always 
loved  to  think  it,  "the  village  beautiful." 

In  1876,  in  the  great  campaign  led  by  Vance  for  governor, 
the  campaign  that  redeemed  North  Carolina,  the  Democrats 
put  up  a  ticket  of  superior  men.  "There  were  giants  in  those 
days."  The  ticket  made  up  of  Vance  and  Jarvis  and  Kenan 
and  Saunders  and  Worth  and  Love  and  Scarborough  represented 
the  brains  and  chivalry  and  sterling  worth  of  the  State,  and  the 
character  of  those  men  had  much  to  do  with  the  victory  that 
was  won  in  the  election.  Vance,  of  course,  towered  above  all, 
but  none  of  that  great  combination  stood  higher  in  all  the  vir- 
tues of  noble  manhood  than  Thomas  Stephen  Kenan.  When  he 
was  elected  attorney  general,  he  measured  up  to  the  duties  of 
that  great  ofiice  and  broadened  and  deepened  the  respect  of  the 
people  of  the  State,  which  had  been  given  him  in  full  meas- 
ure in  every  community  in  which  he  had  lived  and  in  every 
station  to  which  he  had  been  called.  For  eight  years  he  was 
attorney  general,  and  upon  the  conclusion  of  this  period  re- 
turned to  Wilson  to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  But  in 
February,  1886,  Colonel  Kenan  was  selected  by  the  Supreme 
Court  as  clerk  of  that  court.  He  was  learned  and  wise  enough 
to  preside  over  the  court  itself.  He  made  a  distinguished  and 
faithful  oflScial.     Conscientious  in  the  highest  degree,  faithful 


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The  War  Between  the  States  331 

in  the  smaller  as  well  as  the  greater  duties,  a  master  of  detail, 
he  let  nothing  come  between  him  and  public  duty,  and  he  set 
an  example  of  official  conduct  worthy  of  lasting  emulation. 

In  1904  he  was  elected  president  of  the  State  Bar  Association, 
and  his  address  upon  that  occasion  contained  words  of  wisdom 
as  the  result  of  long  experience  and  wide  observation.  He  held 
the  highest  ideals  of  his  profession,  and  by  precept  and  example 
sought  to  inspire  a  devotion  to  the  highest  ethics  in  its  practice. 

Colonel  Kenan  was  a  trustee  of  the  University  College  of 
Medicine,  at  Richmond,  Va.,  took  deep  interest  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Oxford  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  he  was  a  director, 
and  held  the  highest  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  Masonic  Order,  of 
which  he  became  a  member  in  early  life. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1866,  Colonel  Kenan  married  Miss 
Sallie  Dortch,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Lewis  Dortch,  of 
Edgecombe  County,  and  their  home  was  ever  the  center  of  a 
delightful  social  life  illustrative  of  the  best  hospitality  and  hap- 
piness of  the  South.  Having  no  children  of  their  own,  the 
home  of  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Kenan  was  the  home  of  their  nieces 
and  nephews,  to  whom  Colonel  Kenan  maintained  a  fatherly 
relationship  that  was  most  beautiful  and  endeared  him  to  them 
as  if  he  had  been  in  truth  their  father.  His  niece,  Mrs.  Henry 
M.  Flagler,  during  childhood  and  young  womanhood  was  always 
in  his  home,  and  was  to  him  as  a  daughter. 

Colonel  Kenan  was  the  oldest  of  five  children,  the  sons  of 
Owen  Eand  Kenan  and  Sarah  Graham.  He  was  bom  February 
12,  1838,  and  was  nearly  73  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

From  the  day  he  graduated  at  Chapel  Hill  in  1857  the  master 
passion  of  his  life,  outside  his  own  family,  was  his  love  for  the 
University  of  North  Carolina.  He  was  one  of  those  who  led  in 
the  reopening  of  the  University  in  1876,  after  its  doors  had 
been  closed  under  Reconstruction,  and  he  was  one  of  its  trustees 
thirty  years  or  more.  Never  when  in  health  did  he  miss  attend- 
ing a  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  the  University  or  a  commence- 
ment at  Chapel  Hill.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Board.  For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  was 
also  the  president  of  the  Alunmi  Association  and  looked  forward 
to  its  annual  meetings  with  joy  and  delight.  Except  Dr.  Kemp 
P.  Battle,  no  one  in  the  State  did  as  much  for  the  University 
as  Colonel  Kenan. 

Knowing  for  months  that  the  end  was  near.  Colonel  Kenan 
not  long  before  his  death  selected  in  Oakwood  Cemetery,  in 


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332  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Raleigh,  the  city  in  which  he  lived  over  twenty-five  years,  a  lot 
in  which  he  wished  to  be  buried.  It  is  as  near  as  he  could 
secure  it  to  the  Confederate  Cemetery,  where  his  comrades 
sleep  in  honored,  though  some  in  unknown,  graves. 

Capt.  William  Rand  Kenan  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Forty-third  Regiment  in  November,  1863,  while  attending  the 
University  of.  North  Carolina.  He  was  at  once  detailed  as 
sergeant  major.  In  May  and  June,  1864,  he  was  acting  adju- 
tant of  his  regiment,  and  after  that,  on  account  of  his  gallantry 
at  the  Battle  of  Bethesda  Church,  he  was  ordered  by  Greneral 
Grimes  to  take  command  of  the  sharpshooters  from  his  regiment, 
with  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  While  serving  in  this  capacity, 
he  was  shot  through  the  body  in  the  fight  at  Charles  Town, 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  August  22,  1864,  which  compelled 
him  to  remain  at  home  sixty  days.  On  recovery,  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  Company  E,  Forty-third  Regiment, 
by  Colonel  Winston,  who  sent  in  an  application  for  his  promo- 
tion to  second  lieutenant  on  account  of  distinguished  gallantry. 
This  bore  the  warm  endorsement  of  General  Grimes  and  was 
approved  by  General  Early.  After  three  weeks  service  in  com- 
mand of  Company  E,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  regi- 
ment, the  rank  which  he  held  to  the  close  of  hostilities. 
Among  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  he  was  engaged  were 
the  following:  Plymouth,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Bethesda  Church, 
Gaines's  Mill,  Cold  Harbor,  Harper's  Ferry,  Monocacy,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  Snicker's  Ford,  Kemstown,  Winchester,  Hare's 
Hill,  Petersburg,  Sailor's  Creek,  Farmville,  and  Appomattox 
Courthouse. 

George  W.  Kidder  was  a  lieutenant  in  Company  A,  First 
North  Carolina  Battalion,  until  he  resigned  in  1862  or  1863. 

Charles  Humphrey  King  entered  service  in  the  Wilmington 
Rifle  Guards,  in  April,  1861,  serving  in  the  occupation  of  Fort 
Caswell.  This  company  was  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  he  continued  with  it,  earning 
promotion  to  corporal  and  fourth  sergeant,  until  June,  1862, 
when  the  period  of  enlistment  expired.  He  then  became  a 
private  trooper  in  the  Scotland  Neck  Rifles;  and  eight  or  ten 
months  later  he  was  transferred  to  the  Sixty-first  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Infantry,  as  quartermaster  sergeant.  He  was 
on  duty  with  this  command  until  the  surrender  of  Johnston's 
army. 

Lieut.  William  Emmett  Kyle  enlisted  at  the  first  call  to  serv- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  333 

ice  in  the  famous  First  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  under  Col. 
D.  H.  Hill,  and  shared  the  service  of  that  command  at  Big 
Bethel.  After  the  disbandment  of  that  regiment,  he  entered  the 
Fifty-second  Eegiment  of  State  Troops,  and  was  commissioned 
lieutenant  of  Company  B.  With  this  regiment,  in  Pettigrew's 
brigade,  he  fought  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  at 
Franklin,  Hanover  Junction,  Gettysburg,  Hagerstown,  Falling 
Waters,  Bristow  Station,  Culpeper,  Mine  Eun,  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Drewry^s 
Bluff,  Hatcher's  Run,  Southerland's  Station,  Reams  Station, 
Amelia  Courthouse,  and  Farmville,  and  he  surrendered  at  Appo- 
mattox, April  9,  1866.  Lieutenant  Kyle  was  wounded  three 
times — at  Gettysburg,  Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  and  Peters- 
burg— in  the  head,  hip,  and  leg,  and  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Petersburg,  but  managed  to  escape  a  few  hours  later.  At  the 
time  of  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  he  was  in  command  of  the 
sharpshooters  of  MacRae's  brigade. 

Col.  William  Lamb  came  to  Wilmington  with  General  Ander- 
son, and  at  first  was  quartermaster.  His  great  efficiency  caused 
him  to  be  elected  colonel  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment,  which 
was  formed  of  ten  artillery  companies  for  local  defense.  On 
July  4,  1862,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Confederate 
Point,  succeeding  Major  Hedrick.  He  advanced  the  construc- 
tion of  Fort  Fisher,  greatly  enlarging  and  strengthening  the 
works  and  making  it,  by  1866,  one  of  the  strongest  fortifications 
in  the  world.  In  particular  he  constructed  the  Mound  Battery, 
of  a  great  height,  commanding  the  inlet  and  intended  to  protect 
the  blockade  runners  and  to  keep  the  port  open,  both  of  these 
objects  being  successfully  accomplished.  He  was  at  every  point 
a  most  efficient  officer,  and  his  defense  when  the  fort  was  as- 
saulted in  1865  was  heroic. 

As  a  man  Colonel  Lamb  was  of  the  most  attractive  personal- 
ity. A  comrade  says  of  him :  "Lamb  was  one  of  the  most  lov- 
able men  in  existence,  a  fine,  dashing  young  Confederate  offi- 
cer.*' After  the  war  he  returned  to  Norfolk,  where  he  lived 
for  many  years  an  active,  useful  life. 

John  R.  Latta  was  adjutant  of  the  Fifty-first  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  organized  at  Wilmington,  April  13,  1862. 
About  December  1,  this  regiment  was  on  picket  duty  near  New 
Bern,  and  was  tmder  fire  for  the  first  time  near  Goldsboro  on 
December  17. 

In  February,  1863,  the  Fifty-first  Regiment  proceeded  to 


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334  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Charleston,  thence  to  Savannah,  and  later  camped  on  James 
Island,  returning  to  Wilmington  on  May  1,  along  with  the 
other  regiments  of  Clingman's  brigade.  About  July  1,  the  regi- 
ment was  sent  to  Morris  Island  as  a  part  of  the  garrison  for 
Battery  Wagner.  Remaining  at  Charleston  until  November 
24,  it  returned  to  North  Carolina,  and  was  stationed  at  Foster's 
Mill  in  Martin  County.  On  January  5,  1864,  the  regiment 
went  to  Petersburg,  but  later  in  the  month  it  returned  to  North 
Carolina,  and  engaged  in  a  sharp  skirmish  at  Bachelor's  Creek, 
driving  the  enemy  into  New  Bern.  On  May  12,  the  Fifty-first 
marched  to  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  on  the  18th  and  19th  to  Cold 
Harbor,  where  on  June  1  the  Battle  of  Cold  Harbor  was  fought. 

From  August  19  to  December  24,  the  Fifty-first  Regiment 
was  engaged  in  meeting  a  raiding  party  operating  on  the  Wil- 
mington and  Weldon  Railroad,  and  in  assaulting  Fort  Harri- 
son ;  after  which  it  proceeded  to  North  Carolina,  where  it  was 
needed  on  account  of  Butler's  threatening  Fort  Fisher.  After 
the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  the  regiment  went  to  Kinston,  where  it 
engaged  in  three  days'  fighting,  March  7,  8,  and  9,  1865.  The 
advance  of  the  enemy  from  Wilmington  and  the  near  approach 
of  Sherman's  army  from  Fayetteville  caused  it  to  proceed  to 
Bentonville,  where  the  Confederate  forces  met  and  checked 
Sherman.  The  regiment  surrendered  with  Johnston's  army  at 
Bush  Hill,  and  was  paroled  May  2,  1865.  Adjutant  Latta  was 
with  the  regiment  from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  without  once 
returning  home,  having  participated  in  the  campaigns  men- 
tioned above. 

Lewis  Leon,  a  well  known  resident  of  Wilmington  and  a 
veteran  of  the  Confederate  States  service,  was  bom  in  Mecklen- 
burg, Germany,  November  27,  1841.  Three  years  later  he  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  New  York  City,  whence  he  moved  to 
Charlotte  in  1858,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  as  a 
clerk.  Becoming  a  member  of  the  Charlotte  Grays,  he  entered 
the  active  service  of  that  command,  going  to  the  camp  of  in- 
struction at  Raleigh  on  April  21,  1861.  The  Grays  were  as- 
signed to  Col.  D.  H.  Hill's  regiment,  the  First,  as  Company 
C,  and  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Big  Bethel,  in  which  Private 
Leon  was  a  participant.  At  the  expiration  of  the  six  months' 
enlistment  of  the  Bethel  Regiment,  he  reenlisted  in  Company 
B,  Capt.  Harvey  White,  of  the  Fifty-first  Regiment,  comimanded 
by  Col.  William  Owen.  He  shared  the  service  of  this  regiment 
in  its  subsequent  honorable  career,  fighting  at  Gettysburg,  Bris- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  335 

tow  Station,  Mine  Run,  and  the  Wilderness,  receiving  a  slight 
wound  at  Gettysburg,  but  not  allowing  it  to  interfere  with  his 
duty.  During  the  larger  part  of  his  service  he  was  a  sharp- 
shooter. 

On  the  5th  or  6th  of  May,  1864,  the  sharpshooters  of  his 
regiment  were  much  annoyed  by  one  of  the  Federal  sharp- 
shooters who  had  a  long-range  rifle  and  who  had  climbed  up  a 
tall  tree,  from  which  he  could  pick  off  the  men,  though  sheltered 
by  stumps  and  stones,  himseK  out  of  range  of  their  guns.  Pri- 
vate Leon  concluded  that  "this  thing  had  to  be  stopped,''  and 
taking  advantage  of  every  knoll,  hollow,  and  stump,  he  crawled 
near  enough  for  his  rifle  to  reach,  and  took  a  "pop"  at  this  dis- 
turber of  the  peace,  who  came  tumbling  down.  Upon  running 
up  to  his  victim,  Leon  discovered  him  to  be  a  Canadian  Indian, 
and  clutching  his  scalp  lock,  he  dragged  him  back  to  the  Con- 
federate line. 

At  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  he  was  captured,  and  from 
that  time  until  June,  1865,  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Point 
Lookout  and  Elmira,  N.  Y.  Upon  being  paroled  he  visited  his 
parents  in  New  York  City,  and  then  worked  his  way  back  to 
North  Carolina.  He  is  warmly  regarded  by  his  comrades  of 
Cape  Fear  Camp,  U.  C.  V.,  and  has  served  several  terms  as  its 
adjutant.  When  Col.  James  T.  Morehead  prepared  a  sketch 
of  his  regiment,  the  Fifty-third,  Private  Leon  furnished  him 
with  a  copy  of  a  diary  which  he  had  kept  from  the  organization 
of  the  regiment  up  to  the  5th  of  May,  1864,  when  he  was 
captured. 

Richard  F.  Langdon  was  one  of  the  second  lieutenants  of 
Company  E  (New  Hanover  County),  First  Regiment  North 
Carolina  Troops,  and  was  subsequently  appointed  captain  and 
quartermaster  of  the  Third  North  Carolina  Infantry. 

Capt.  Thomas  C.  Lewis  became  a  member  of  the  Wilmington 
Rifle  Guards  and  went  on  duty  with  that  organization  early  in 
the  conflict.  When  it  became  Company  I  of  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment he  was  appointed  a  sergeant,  and  after  the  reenlistment 
in  1862  he  served  as  quartermaster  sergeant  until  the  Battle  of 
Second  Manassas,  when  he  became  second  lieutenant  of  his 
company.  At  this  battle  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  hip 
which  disabled  him  for  half  a  year.  Upon  rejoining  his  com- 
mand he  was  promoted  to  be  captain.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  he  was  captured  in  the  disaster  to  Johnston's 
division  at  Spottsylvania  Courthouse.    He  was  confined  at  Fort 


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836  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Delaware  and  shared  the  bitter  experience  of  the  600  officers 
held  under  fire  at  Morris  Island.  He  was  not  released  until 
June,  1865.  It  is  much  to  the  credit  of  Captain  Lewis'  mem- 
ory, that,  although  efforts  were  made  by  his  Northern  kinsmen 
to  induce  him  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  while  he  was  a 
prisoner  at  Fort  Delaware,  he  manfuUy  refused  and  remained 
a  prisoner  of  war  until  the  final  surrender. 

Capt.  J.  W.  Lippitt  was  captain  of  Company  G,  Fifty-first 
Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  and  conmianded  the  regi- 
ment at  the  surrender  at  Bush  Hill. 

Maj.  Charles  W.  McClammy  joined  a  cavalry  company  com- 
manded by  Captain  Newkirk  at  the  beginning  of  hostilities  in 
1861,  and  was  elected  lieutenant  of  this  organization.  This 
company  did  good  service  in  eastern  North  Carolina,  among  its 
achievements  being  the  capture  of  a  gimboat  of  the  enemy  which 
had  grounded  in  New  River  in  Onslow  County.  Upon  the 
resignation  of  Captain  Newkirk,  Lieutenant  McClammy  was 
promoted  to  the  captaincy.  His  subsequent  gallant  career  is 
well  described  in  the  following  extract  from  an  address  deliv- 
ered by  Colonel  Moore:  "From  the  time  he  gave  his  services 
to  his  State  and  country,  he  was  all  enthusiasm  and  dash,  and 
never  lost  an  opportunity  to  do  his  best.  In  nearly  every  fight 
in  which  our  regiment  was  engaged  he  was  present  in  glorious 
service.  His  services  were  so  meritorious  that  Colonel  Baker, 
before  his  capture,  spoke  of  wanting  to  promote  him.  When  he 
was  promoted,  he  was  the  ninth  captain  in  rank  and  one  of  the 
youngest,  if  not  the  very  youngest.  He  was  complimented  in 
general  orders  for  gallant  services  in  battles  on  the  White  Oak 
and  Charles  City  Road." 

During  the  Holden-Kirk  War,  in  1870,  favored  by  the  local 
factions  and  divisions  of  the  dominant  Republicans,  Major 
McClammy  and  Capt.  Samuel  A.  Ashe  were  elected  to  the 
Assembly,  and  became  leaders  in  the  important  work  of  that 
body,  remedying  many  of  the  excesses  of  the  Reconstruction 
period,  impeaching  and  deposing  the  Governor,  pacifying  the 
State,  and  measurably  unifying  the  discordant  elements  of  the 
white  people  of  the  State.  Many  years  then  elapsed  before  New 
Hanover  had  another  Democratic  representative  in  the  Assem- 
bly. Later,  Major  McClammy  represented  the  Cape  Fear  dis- 
trict in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

William  Dougald  McMillan  enlisted  in  the  spring  of  1861, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  in  the  Topsail  Rifles,  with  which  he 


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The  War  Between  the  States  337 

served  one  year  on  the  coast.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  became 
a  member  of  Rankin's  heavy  artillery ;  but,  after  a  few  months' 
service,  he  provided  a  substitute  for  that  command  and  volun- 
teered as  a  private  in  the  Fifty-first  Regiment  of  Infantry,  in 
which  he  served  in  1863  as  sergeant  major,  and  during  1864-66, 
while  able  for  duty,  as  acting  adjutant.  His  regiment  was  at- 
tached to  Clingman's  brigade  and  did  gallant  service  in  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia.  He  shared  its  fortunes  in  battle  at 
Plymouth,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor, 
Port  Walthall  Junction,  in  the  trenches  at  Petersburg  and  the 
fighting  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  at  Fort  Harrison  and 
the  Crater.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  Sec- 
ond Cold  Harbor,  Bermuda  Hundred,  and  Petersburg,  and 
seriously  at  Fort  Harrison.  He  was  last  in  battle  in  the  de- 
fense of  Fort  Fisher.  He  surrendered  at  High  Point  in  the 
spring  of  1865. 

Alexander  MacRae:  Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
in  1861,  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  cooperating  with 
the  Confederate  Government  in  defending  the  entrance  to  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  formation  of  a 
battalion  of  heavy  artillery,  to  be  composed  of  three  companies. 
One  of  the  companies  was  raised  by  Capt.  Alexander  MacRae, 
of  Wilmington.  Captain  MacRae  had  been  president  of  the 
Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad  Company,  and  was  then  well 
advanced  in  age.  Captain  MacRae's  company  was  on  duty  at 
Fort  Anderson  and  at  Fort  Fisher.  In  1863,  four  companies 
were  organized  into  a  battalion,  with  Alexander  MacRae  as 
major,  the  companies  being  known  as  Companies  A,  B,  C,  and 
D,  of  the  First  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery.  This,  with  the 
Thirty-sixth  and  Fortieth  Regiments,  and  attached  companies, 
form^  Hebert's  brigade.  After  participating  in  the  defense 
of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear,  this  brigade  returned  to  Goldsboro 
and  fought  at  Bentonville.  Major  MacRae  was  paroled  in  May, 
1865. 

Henry  MacRae:  The  Eighth  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
State  Troops,  was  organized  at  Camp  Macon,  near  Warrenton, 
N.  C,  in  August  and  September,  1861,  and  Henry  MacRae 
was  commissioned  captain  of  Company  C.  Captain  MacRae 
died  while  in  service. 

Capt.  Walter  G.  MacRae,  a  gallant  North  Carolina  soldier, 
was  bom  in  Wilmington,  January  27,  1841.  He  was  educated 
in  New  England,  entering  a  private  school  in  Boston  in  1856, 
22 


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338  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

and  was  graduated  from  the  English  High  School  in  that  city 
in  1860,  receiving  the  Franklin  medal.  He  then  studied  law  at 
the  Harvard  Law  School  until  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  in 
1861,  when  he  returned  home  to  fight  for  his  State.  Joining 
the  Eighth  North  Carolina,  he  accompanied  it  to  South  Caro- 
lina, and  a  few  months  later  was  transferred  to  the  heavy  artil- 
lery and  stationed  at  Fort  Fisher.  Subsequently  he  became  a 
member  of  McNeill's  Partisan  Rangers  and,  after  an  adventur- 
ous career  of  thirteen  months  with  that  command,  joined  Com- 
pany C  of  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Infantry,  with  a  conmtiis- 
sion  as  lieutenant.  From  that  time  he  was  in  command  of  his 
company,  with  promotion  to  captain  after  the  Battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. Among  the  engagements  in  which  he  participated  were 
the  encounters  at  Thompson's  Bridge,  on  the  Neuse  River,  the 
skirmish  near  PoUocksville,  and  the  Battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
where  he  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  right  thigh.  Afterwards, 
he  was  in  command  of  three  companies  of  skirmishers  during 
the  fighting  on  the  Rappahannock  River.  At  Gettysburg  he  was 
in  battle  three  days,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day  received 
a  severe  wound  in  the  left  thigh.  While  being  carried  to  Rich- 
mond he  was  sick  three  weeks  with  fever  at  Newton,  Va.,  and 
on  reaching  the  Confederate  Capital  he  was  granted  a  furlough 
for  forty  days.  In  May,  1864,  he  participated  in  the  death 
grapple  of  the  armies  in  the  Wilderness  and  had  the  misfortune 
to  be  captured.  He  was  held  at  Fort  Delaware,  and  in  the 
following  August  was  one  of  the  600  officers  placed  under  fire 
at  Morris  Island,  thence  being  returned  to  Fort  Delaware  and 
held  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 

Gen.  William  MacRae  was  a  man  of  commanding  gifts,  but 
very  strong  prejudices.  The  severity  of  his  discipline  in  his 
regiment  was  imiversally  known.  He  was  elected  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  Fifteenth  Regiment,  and  afterwards,  on  June  22, 
1864,  was  appointed  brigadier  general  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  Kirkland's  brigade.  An  officer  of  the  regiment  speak- 
ing of  General  MacRae,  said :  "General  MacRae  soon  won  the 
confidence  and  admiration  of  the  brigade,  both  officers  and  men. 
His  voice  was  like  that  of  a  woman ;  he  was  small  in  person  and 
quick  in  action.  History  has  never  done  him  justice.  He  could 
place  his  conMnand  in  position  quicker  and  infuse  more  of  his 
fighting  qualities  into  his  men  than  any  other  officer  I  ever 
saw.  His  presence  with  his  troops  seemed  to  dispel  all  fear 
and  to  inspire  every  one  with  a  desire  for  the  fray.    The  brigade 


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The  War  Between  the  States  339 

remained  under  his  command  until  the  surrender.  General 
MacKae,  on  being  assigned  to  the  brigade,  changed  the  physical 
expression  of  the  whole  conmiand  in  less  than  two  weeks,  and 
gave  the  men  infinite  faith  in  him  and  in  themselves  which  was 
never  lost,  not  even  when  they  grounded  arms  at  Appomattox." 

Gteneral  MacRae  distinguished  himself  in  the  Battle  of  Eeams 
Station,  August  26,  when  with  a  small  force  he  captured  sev- 
eral flags  and  cannon,  killed  a  large  number  of  the  enemy,  and 
took  2,100  prisoners.  He  was  one  of  the  best  of  Lee's  brigadiers 
and  won  a  most  enviable  reputation. 

Capt.  Robert  B.  MacRae  was  captain  of  Company  C  (New 
Hanover  County),  Seventh  Regiment,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
Battle  of  Hanover  Courthouse,  May  27,  1862.  Colonel  Hay- 
wood was  wounded  in  the  Battle  of  Second  Manassas,  and  Cap- 
tain MacRae  took  command  of  the  regiment,  and  right  gallantly 
did  he  discharge  the  duties  imposed  upon  him.  In  this  battle 
he  was  severely  wounded.  Later,  he  was  promoted  to  be  major 
of  the  regiment. 

MacRae's  battalion,  conmianded  by  Maj.  James  C.  MacRae, 
was  better  known  as  the  Eighteenth  Battalion.  It  was  organized 
in  the  sunmier  and  fall  of  1863  for  the  protection  of  the  counties 
of  western  North  Carolina  against  the  bushwhackers  and  parti- 
san leaders.  No  general  engagement  between  the  whole  force 
and  the  enemy  ever  occurred,  but  there  were  frequent  encounters 
between  the  detached  companies  and  parties  of  bushwhackers 
who  infested  the  mountains.  There  were  many  stirring  adven- 
tures and  brave  and  venturesome  acts  by  these  men,  whose  his- 
tory ought  to  have  been  better  preserved. 

Capt.  Robert  M.  Mclntire,  of  Rocky  Point,  raised  a  cavalry 
company  in  the  spring  of  1862,  afterwards  known  as  Company 
C,  Fourth  Regiment  of  Cavalry.  He  furnished  sabres,  saddles, 
and  twelve  horses,  and  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant,  while  his 
uncle.  Dr.  Andrew  Mclntire,  became  captain.  In  September, 
1863,  Lieutenant  Mclntire  was  promoted  to  be  captain  of  his 
company. 

The  service  of  Company  C  was  first  near  Suffolk,  Va.,  and 
then  in  eastern  North  Carolina.  It  was  a  part  of  the  force  that 
in  December,  1862,  repelled  Foster's  army,  which  threatened  to 
capture  Qoldsboro,  and  pursued  it  until  the  Federal  colunm 
found  shelter  in  New  Bern.  Some  months  later  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Virginia  and,  along  with  the  Fifth  North  Caro- 
lina Cavalry,  formed  Robertson's  cavalry  brigade,  which  was  a 


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340  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

part  of  the  great  cavalry  division  under  the  command  of  that 
brilliant  and  dashing  leader,  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

Company  C  shared  all  the  vicissitudes  and  endured  all  the 
hardships  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign*  Its  history  is  a  part  of 
the  history  of  the  regiment.  At  Middleburg  it  struck  the  First 
Rhode  Island  Regiment,  and  "then  commenced  a  series  of 
cavalry  battles  continuing  through  several  days,  in  which  the 
regiment  was  an  active  participant,  suffering  great  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  captured."  Then,  on  the  21st  of  June,  near 
Upperville,  "the  fighting  became  desperate,  often  hand  to  hand, 
with  severe  loss.  *  *  *  All  the  companies  were  engaged 
in  this  fight  and  sustained  losses." 

The  Fourth  Regiment  passed  through  HagerBtown,  and  on 
July  1,  reached  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  then  moved 
towards  Carlisle,  but  soon  hurried  to  Gettysburg,  arriving  on 
the  morning  of  the  3d,  when,  at  once  becoming  engaged,  it 
charged  and  routed  the  Federal  Cavalry.  But  this  hard  contest 
was  the  end  of  Captain  Mclntire's  fine,  active  career.  Like 
many  others,  he  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  at  South  Mountain, 
Pennsylvania,  and,  along  with  Colonel  Kenan  and  hundreds  of 
other  brave  soldiers  of  the  Cape  Fear,  he  suffered  all  the  terrible 
hardships  of  a  long  captivity  on  Johnson's  Island.  It  was  not 
until  the  war  had  virtually  closed,  March  15,  1865,  that  he  was 
paroled. 

John  C.  Mcllhenny  was  a  first  lieutenant  in  Company  E, 
Light  Artillery,  Tenth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops;  a 
fine  officer. 

Thomas  Hall  McKoy,  of  Wilmington,  entered  the  army  early 
in  the  war  and  saw  active  service  throughout  the  campaigns  of 
the  Branch-Lane  brigade,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  two  com- 
missaries, with  rank  of  major. 

His  devotion  to  the  cause,  and  his  eminence  as  a  merchant  of 
Wilmington  are  worthy  of  honorable  mention.  He  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  the  close  of  hostilities  and  died  some 
years  ago,  respected  and  honored  by  his  friends  and  associates. 

Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  jr.,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Third  North 
Carolina  Infantry,  and  was  faithful  and  well  beloved.  He  was 
commissioned  May  16,  1861,  from  New  Hanover  County. 

Sergt.  Maj.  Robert  McRee,  son  of  Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  jr., 
was  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Courthouse ;  a  gallant  soldier. 

Henry  C.  McQueen  was  bom  in  Lumberton,  North  Carolina, 
July  16,  1846.    His  ancestors  were  of  the  Highland  Scotch  who 


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The  War  Between  the  States  341 

adhered  with  romantic  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the  Pretender,  and 
after  his  final  defeat  at  CuUoden,  emigrated  to  America,  where 
their  descendants  have  been  distinguished  and  widely  known. 
Enlisting  when  a  mere  lad  as  a  private  in  the  First  North  Caro- 
lina Battery,  Henry  McQueen,  by  the  faithful  discharge  of 
every  duty  devolving  upon  him,  won  the  esteem  and  admiration 
of  all  his  comrades.  On  the  16th  of  January,  1866,  when  Fort 
Fisher  fell,  he  was  wounded  and  captured,  remaining  in  prison 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

His  business  career,  which  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted 
honor  and  success,  began  in  Wilmington,  in  January,  1866.  In 
1869  he  entered  the  employ  of  Williams  &  Murchison,  in  New 
York,  and  twelve  years  later  became  a  partner  in  this  firm.  In 
1899  he  became  president  of  the  Murchison  National  Bank, 
of  Wilmington,  and  its  success,  which  has  been  unexcelled  in 
the  financial  history  of  the  State,  has  been  due  in  large  measure 
to  his  exceptional  ability  and  superior  management.  From  its 
organization  in  1900  until  he  resigned  in  1915,  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  People's  Savings  Bank,  and  he  is  still  chairman  of 
its  Board  of  Directors.  Under  his  wise  control,  this  bank  has 
reached  a  degree  of  prosperity  which  makes  it  a  marvel  to  the 
public.  The  same  success  has  marked  his  presidency  of  the 
Bank  of  Duplin,  at  Wallace,  North  Carolina,  which  he  helped 
to  organize.  He  served  two  terms  as  president  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  was  for  many  years  commissioner  of  the  Sinking 
Fund  of  Wilmington  and  chairman  of  its  Board  of  Audit  and 
Finance.  At  present  he  is  president  of  the  Carolina  Insurance 
Company  and  vice  president  of  the  Jefferson  Standard  Life  In- 
surance Company,  which  is  the  largest  insurance  company  in 
the  South  and  which  has  kept  millions  of  dollars  in  this  section. 

A  man  of  dignity,  gentleness,  courtesy,  modesty,  and  imself- 
ishness,  Mr.  McQueen  has  the  most  attractive  personality,  while 
his  unswerving  integrity,  moral  firmness,  and  frank  sincerity 
have  won  for  him  universal  confidence  and  respect.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wilmington  and 
one  of  its  ruling  elders. 

In  1871,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Agnes  Hall,  a  daughter  of 
Avon  E.  Hall,  of  Fayetteville,  and  until  her  death  in  January, 
1904,  their  life  together  was  completely  happy,  with  no  dis- 
cordant note. 

Capt.  Eugene  S.  Martin  was  fourth  sergeant  of  the  Wilming- 
ton Rifle  Ghiards,  a  company  formed  before  the  war  and  which 


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342  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

entered  service  on  April  15,  1861,  on  the  occupation  of  Fort 
Caswell.  Captain  Martin  was  assigned  to  duty  as  sergeant 
major,  and  afterwards  as  adjutant  of  the  post,  and  served  as 
such  until  June  20,  1861,  when  he  resigned  the  office  and  re- 
turned to  his  company.  In  the  meantime,  the  Eighth  R^- 
ment  was  formed,  and  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards  became 
Company  I  of  that  regiment.  Captain  Martin  being  second 
sergeant,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  he  was  mustered 
out,  April  15,  1862.  He  was  commissioned  in  May,  1862,  first 
lieutenant  of  artillery,  and  assigned  to  Company  A,  First  North 
Carolina  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  he  was  detached  from  the  company 
and  ordered  to  Fort  Caswell  as  ordnance  officer,  where  he  served 
until  the  fort  was  evacuated  and  blown  up  in  January,  1865, 
upon  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher.  He  served  at  Fort  Anderson 
during  the  bombardment  in  February,  1865,  as  ordnance  officer, 
and  at  the  Battles  of  Town  Creek,  Kinston,  and  Bentonville,  as 
ordnance  officer  of  Hagood's  brigade;  and  afterwards  was  or- 
dered to  the  brigade  of  Junior  Reserves,  as  ordnance  officer,  to 
assist  in  organizing  that  brigade.  He  never  received  his  com- 
mission of  captain,  but  ranked  as  captain  during  the  time  he 
was  at  Fort  Caswell  and  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  sur- 
rendered in  Wilmington  in  May,  1865,  to  General  Hawley, 
commanding  that  post,  and  afterwards  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance. 

Clarence  D.  Martin,  a  younger  brother,  left  the  University 
in  1861  and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Thirteenth  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  serving  as  sergeant  of  his  company.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Williamsburg  in  May,  1862,  and 
carried  to  a  hospital  in  Richmond.  Later,  he  was  removed  to 
Kenansville,  where  his  father  was  residing  temporarily,  and  died 
there  on  his  eighteenth  birthday,  June  27,  1862.  His  com- 
rades and  officers  praised  him  as  a  fine  soldier,  and  his  memory 
is  cherished  by  all  who  knew  him. 

John  E.  Matthews:  When  Fort  Sumter  was  bombarded  by 
Beauregard,  Dr.  Matthews  was  a  member  of  the  Elm  City 
cadets,  of  New  Bern,  which  were  ordered  at  once  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Fort  Macon.  He  remained  there  for  two  months  under 
Col.  C.  C.  Tew,  who  was  in  command,  and  returned  with  the 
company  to  New  Bern,  where  he  remained  imtil  ordered  to 
Garysburg,  when  the  company  became  a  part  of  the  Second  Regi- 


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The  War  Between  the  States  343 

ment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  under  Colonel  Tew.  Dr.  Mat- 
thews served  continuously  and  actively  with  this  regiment 
throughout  the  war. 

After  the  Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  in  December,  1862,  the 
first  corps  of  sharpshooters  for  Ramseur's  brigade  was  organ- 
ized, which  was  the  beginning  of  this  branch  of  the  service,  and 
Dr.  Matthews  was  made  second  sergeant  of  the  corps,  partici- 
pating at  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  and  Kelly's  Ford,  where, 
while  on  picket  duty,  he  was  captured.  He  was  confined  at 
Point  Lookout,  but  was  exchanged  in  February,  1865,  returned 
to  duty  at  Petersburg,  and  took  part  in  the  subsequent  battles 
around  Petersburg  and  on  the  retreat  at  Sailor's  Creek,  where 
he  was  again  captured  and  again  confined  at  Point  Lookout  until 
July  1,  1865,  months  after  the  surrender. 

Thomas  D.  Meares  has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  boy 
soldiers  of  North  Carolina  during  the  closing  scenes  of  the 
great  stru^le.  In  December,  1864,  being  about  sixteen  years 
of  age,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Junior  Reserves,  but 
within  a  few  weeks  his  soldierly  qualities  led  to  his  selection  as 
a  courier  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  between  Hillsboro 
and  Durham,  and  he  began  a  service  as  courier  for  that  gallant 
cavalry  commander  which  continued  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Col.  Oliver  Pendleton  Meares  was  captain  of  the  Wilmington 
Rifle  Guards,  which  was  one  of  the  companies  that  occupied 
Fort  Caswell  on  April  16,  1861.  This  company  was  composed 
of  all  the  best  young  men  of  Wilmington  who  were  not  mem- 
bers of  the  older  company,  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry. 
At  one  time  it  had  on  its  rolls  more  than  a  hundred  men,  rang- 
ing from  sixteen  to  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  only  one  mar- 
ried man  among  them. 

On  the  formation  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  the 
Rifle  Guards  became  Company  I  of  that  Regiment.  The  organ- 
ization was  effected  at  Camp  Wyatt  on  July  1,  1861,  and  Col- 
onel Radcliffe  was  elected  colonel  and  Oliver  P.  Meares,  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  The  Rifle  Guards,  like  the  Wilmington  Light 
Infantry,  furnished  a  large  number  of  officers  to  other  organiza- 
tions of  the  State. 

On  the  expiration  of  the  twelve  months  for  which  the  volun- 
teer companies  had  originally  enlisted,  the  regiment  was  reor- 
ganized, and  Colonel  Meares  retired  as  lieutenant  colonel.  On 
the  formation  of  the  ten  regiments  of  State  Troops,  enlisted  for 


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344  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

three  years,  or  the  war,  they  were  called  the  First  Eegiment, 
North  Carolina  State  Troops,  and  so  on ;  and  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment Volunteers  became  the  Eighteenth,  and  so  on. 

In  August,  1862,  Colonel  Meares  became  commissary  of  the 
Sixty-first  Regiment.  After  the  war  he  became  a  judge.  Wil- 
mington never  had  a  truer  son  than  Colonel  Meares,  and  his 
memory  is  justly  revered. 

Capt.  E.  G.  Meares,  of  Company  D,  Third  North  Carolina 
State  Troops,  was  killed  in  the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg.  He  was 
"a  good  soldier,  a  brave  man,  discharging  his  duty  under  all 
conditions."  He  was  a  young  man  of  fine  character  and  was 
greatly  lamented. 

Capt.  James  I.  Metts  was  bom  at  Kinston,  N.  C,  March  16, 
1842,  but  has  lived  in  Wilmington  since  he  was  six  years  old. 
Early  in  1861  he  left  the  State  University  to  enlist  in  the  Rifle 
Guards,  organized  in  anticipation  of  war,  and  on  April  15  was 
with  his  company  in  the  seizure  of  Fort  Caswell.  Soon  after- 
wards his  company  was  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Regiment,  and 
he  was  made  corporal  and  was  one  of  the  color  guard  of  the  regi- 
ment when  it  was  ordered  to  Coosawhatchie,  S.  C.  After  this 
he  was  given  charge  of  the  regimental  colors,  which  he  carried 
until  the  twelve  months'  term  of  service  expired.  Reenlisting, 
he  became  fifth  sergeant  of  Company  G,  Third  Regiment,  Col. 
Gaston  Meares.  His  bravery  and  ability  won  for  him  distinc- 
tion in  the  Seven  Days'  Battle,  and  were  specially  manifested 
at  Cold  Harbor,  where  he  re-formed  part  of  the  regiment,  and 
when  in  command  of  a  detail  in  Chickahominy  Swamp.  After 
Malvern  Hill,  where  he  was  among  those  receiving  the  last 
orders  of  Col.  Gaston  Meares,  he  was  promoted  to  orderly  ser- 
geant, and  was  assigned  to  the  main  work  of  drilling  the  recruits 
for  his  company.  During  the  Maryland  campaign  he  was  dis- 
abled by  illness,  but  rejoined  his  company  at  Bunker  Hill,  and 
in  the  promotions  following  the  death  at  Sharpsburg  of  Cap- 
tain Rhodes  and  First  Lieutenant  Quince,  Sergeant  Metts  be- 
came senior  second  lieutenant.  At  Winchester  he  was  detailed 
as  commissary  of  the  regiment,  and  after  Front  Royal  he  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  adjutant.  His  coolness  at  Fredericksburg 
attracted  the  attention  of  superior  officers.  Afterwards  he  was 
in  the  hospital  at  Richmond  ill  of  pneumonia,  but  joined  his 
regiment  in  the  fighting  around  Winchester,  where  his  brigade, 
Stuart's,  did  much  at  Jordan  Springs  towards  the  victory  over 
Milroy. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  345 

In  the  Confederate  assault  at  Gulp's  Hill,  on  the  evening  of 
the  second  day  at  Gettysburg,  he  led  his  men  within  seventy- 
five  yards  of  the  Federal  breastworks,  and  here,  while  hotly 
engaged,  a  boy  soldier  approached  him  and  said,  "Lieutenant, 
my  father  is  killed/'  He  could  only  answer,  "Well,  we  can  not 
help  it,"  and  the  brave  boy,  replying,  "No,  we  can  not  help  it," 
turned  and  resumed  firing  as  rapidly  as  he  could  at  the  enemy, 
which  he  continued  to  do  until  exhausted,  and  the  next  day  his 
face  was  black  with  powder.  In  this  engagement,  while  stand- 
ing with  Lieut.  CoL  William  M.  Parsley,  Adjutant  James,  and 
Capt.  Edward  H.  Armstrong,  three  as  brave  men  as  ever  stepped 
to  the  tap  of  a  drum.  Lieutenant  Metts  was  wounded  in  the  left 
lung,  and  experienced  excruciating  pain  as  he  was  hauled  two 
miles  over  a  rough  road  in  an  ambulance.  But  for  a  Sister  of 
Charity,  he  would  have  died  in  the  field  hospital.  Many  people 
from  Baltimore  and  elsewhere  visited  the  wounded  Confederates 
at  Gettysburg,  bringing  clothing  and  delicacies  of  food.  An 
elderly  lady,  accompanied  by  two  charming  young  lady  friends, 
finding  Lieutenant  Metts  without  a  sheet,  removed  her  petticoat, 
tore  it  in  two,  and  pinning  it  together,  said,  "Don't  mind  me, 
boys,  I'm  a  mother,  and  he  shall  have  a  good  sheet  tomorrow." 
The  same  kindness  followed  him  in  the  general  camp  hospital 
and  in  the  West  Building  Hospital  in  Baltimore,  where  he 
found  his  kinsmen.  Col.  Thomas  S.  Eenan  and  James  G.  Kenan, 
also  wounded  on  Gulp's  Hill.  He  was  transferred  to  Johnson's 
Island,  Lake  Erie,  where  for  thirteen  months  Colonel  Kenan 
was  his  bimkmate.  Their  sufferings  here  during  the  winter 
were  very  severe,  with  cruel  guards,  insufBcient  food,  scanty 
clothing,  in  houses  neither  ceiled  nor  plastered,  and  with  but 
one  stove  for  about  sixty  prisoners.  During  the  night  of  Janu- 
ary 1,  1864,  when  the  mercury  registered  twenty  degrees  below 
zero  and  even  the  guard  was  forced  to  take  shelter,  Maj.  John 
Winsted  and  three  or  four  others  escaped  and  made  their  way 
across  the  ice  to  the  mainland,  but  the  excessive  cold  prevented 
all  but  Major  Winsted  from  going  farther.  He  reached  Can- 
ada, and  returned  to  the  Confederacy  on  a  blockade  runner. 
In  August,  1864,  Lieutenant  Metts  was  selected  as  one  of  the 
most  enfeebled  and  delicate  of  the  prisoners,  for  exchange,  and 
he  soon  reached  Richmond,  rejoicing  in  a  new  lease  of  life,  for 
he  had  been  assured  that  he  could  not  survive  another  winter  on 
Johnson's  Island.  He  found  that  Captain  Armstrong,  an  ami- 
able gentleman,  a  fine  scholar,  and  one  of  the  bravest  of  men, 


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346  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

had  been  killed  at  Spottsylvania,  and  he  had  been  promoted  to 
the  captaincy  of  his  company,  which  he  took  conmiand  of,  to- 
gether with  Company  E,  and  served  in  Cox's  brigade,  Grimes's 
division,  notwithstanding  his  delicate  health,  imtil  detailed  to 
serve  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Grimes  as  special  instructor 
of  division.  The  night  before  arms  were  stacked  at  Appomattox 
he  accompanied  a  band  from  division  headquarters  to  serenade 
General  Lee,  who  was  too  much  affected  to  say  much,  but  gave 
each  of  the  boys  a  warm  pressure  of  the  hand  and  an  affectionate 
good-bye.  Joining  his  family,  who  had  lost  all  of  their  prop- 
erty. Captain  Metts  went  to  Wilmington  to  begin  the  struggle  of 
civil  life.  His  first  engagement  was  with  two  Federal  sutlers, 
who  treated  him  kindly.  Since  then  his  exertions  have  been 
rewarded  with  the  success  that  is  the  just  desert  of  a  brave 
patriot. 

Dr.  James  A.  Miller,  surgeon  of  the  Eighth  (Eighteenth) 
Regiment,  became  surgeon  of  the  brigade  and  then  division  sur- 
geon, and  finally  district  surgeon  of  the  district  of  the  Cape 
Fear. 

Capt.  John  Miller,  a  son  of  Mr.  Tom  Miller,  commanded 
A.  D.  Moore's  battery  after  Moore's  promotion  to  the  colonelcy 
of  the  Sixty-sixth  Eegiment.     He  moved  to  California. 

Capt.  Julius  Walker  Moore  was  instrumental  in  raising  a 
company  of  cavalry  early  in  the  war.  Later,  he  became  captain 
of  a  cavalry  company  raised  chiefly  in  Onslow  County,  called 
the  "Himiphrey  Troop,"  and  borne  on  the  roll  as  Company  H, 
Forty-first  Regiment.  Captain  Moore,  along  with  a  consider- 
able number  of  his  company,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  was  confined  in  Fort  Delaware  and  on  James  Island  until 
the  end  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  home  broken  in  health 
and  fortune,  and  he  soon  died  at  Charlotte. 

James  Osborne  Moore  became  a  purser  in  the  Confederate 
Navy.  After  the  war  he  became  a  civil  engineer.  He  died  at 
Charlotte.  A  still  younger  brother,  Alexander  Duncan  Moore, 
enlisted  in  Company  I,  Eighth  Regiment  of  Volimteers,  and 
was  sergeant  major  of  the  regiment  when  he  fell  on  one  of  the 
battlefields  in  Virginia.  He  was  a  bright  yoimg  man,  with  the 
finest  characteristics,  and  was  imbued  with  the  noble  spirit  of 
his  Revolutionary  forefathers. 

Charles  D.  Myers  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  Wilmington 
Light  Infantry  of  ante-bellum  times,  and  served  in  that  com- 
pany imtil  he  was  made  adjutant  of  the.  Eighth  Regiment, 


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The  War  Between  the  States  347 

North  Carolina  Troops.  He.  subsequently  served  upon  the 
staff  of  Gen.  Samuel  G.  French,  who  commanded  the  Confeder- 
ate forces  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington,  with  the  rank  of 
captain. 

Kenneth  McKenzie  Murchison^  was  bom  near  Fayetteville, 
February  18,  1831,  the  son  of  Duncan  Murchison,  who  was  bom 
in  Manchester,  Cumberland  County,  May  20,  1801,  and  the 
grandson  of  Kenneth  McKenzie  Murchison,  for  whom  he  was 
named,  and  who  came  to  this  country  from  Scotland  in  1773. 
Duncan  Murchison  became  prominent  in  the  planting  and  man- 
ufacture of  cotton. 

Colonel  Murchison,  the  second  son  of  Duncan,  was  graduated 
at  Chapel  Hill  in  1853,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in  business 
pursuits  in  New  York  City  and  Wilmington  until  the  spring  of 
1861,  when  he  disposed  of  his  business  in  the  North,  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  a  company  at  Fayetteville,  and  entered 
the  service  as  second  lieutenant.  He  commanded  Company  C, 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  which  was  captured  at  Roanoke  Island, 
a  disaster  which  Lieutenant  Murchison  escaped  by  his  fortunate 
absence  on  military  detail.  He  then  organized  another  com- 
pany in  Cumberland  Coimty,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Fifty- 
fourth  Regiment,  with  himself  as  captain.  Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiment  he  was  elected  major,  was  soon  promoted 
to  lieutenant  colonel,  and  after  the  death  of  Col.  J.  C.  S. 
McDowell,  at  Fredericksburg,  became  the  colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment. He  was  especially  commended  by  Gen.  E.  M.  Law,  com- 
mander of  his  brigade,  for  gallant  service  at  Fredericksburg. 
He  commanded  his  regiment  at  Chancellorsville,  and  in  the 
Battle  of  Winchester  against  Milroy.  Subsequently  he  was 
ordered  to  convey  the  prisoners  taken  on  that  occasion  to  Rich- 
mond, after  which  he  returned  to  Winchester  and  served  in 
guarding  the  wagon  trains  of  Lee's  army.  On  July  6,  in  com- 
mand of  his  regiment,  he  gallantly  repulsed  the  enemy's  ad- 
vance on  Williamsport.  He  served  in  Hoke's  brigade  during 
the  subsequent  operations  in  Virginia,  and  when  the  brigade 
was  cut  off  by  the  enemy  at  Rappahannock  Station,  November  7, 
1863,  he  was  among  those  captured.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  of 
war  on  Johnson's  Island,  Lake  Erie,  from  that  time  imtil  July, 
1865,  an  imprisonment  of  twenty  months.  Upon  his  release  he 
resumed  business  in  New  York,  and  formed  a  brief  partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  Murray  &  Murchison,  but  dissolved  it 

iSketch  bv  Col.  Alfred  M.  Waddell,  In  the  Biographical  History  of 
North  Carolina. 


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348  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

in  June,  1866,  and  established  the  firm  of  Murchison  &  Com- 
pany, the  members  of  the  firm  being  himself,  his  brother, 
David  K.  Murchison,  George  W.  Williams,  of  Wilmington, 
and  John  D.  Williams,  of  Fayetteville.  This  firm  did  a  very 
large  and  profitable  business  for  some  years,  the  New  York 
house  being  managed  by  Colonel  Murchison,  under  the  name 
of  Murchison  &  Company.  The  Wilmington  house  was  known 
as  Williams  &  Murchison,  and  the  Fayetteville  connection  was 
known  as  John  D.  Williams  &  Company. 

Colonel  Murchison  lived  in  New  York  after  the  war,  but 
generally  spent  the  winter  in  North  Carolina.  In  the  year  1880 
he  bought  the  old  historic  plantation  called  "Orton,^'  the  family 
seat  of  "King"  Roger  Moore,  situated  about  sixteen  miles  be- 
low Wilmington,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  the 
southernmost  of  all  the  old  rice  plantations  on  that  river,  and 
he  expended  a  large  amount  of  money  in  restoring  it  to  its 
former  condition  and  improving  it  in  various  ways  to  satisfy 
his  taste.  Within  its  boundary  was  the  colonial  parish  church 
and  churchyard  of  St.  Philip's,  and  this  interesting  ruin  with 
its  consecrated  grounds  was  conveyed  in  fee  simple  by  Colonel 
Murchison  and  his  brother,  David  R.  Murchison,  to  the  diocese 
of  North  Carolina.  It  is  now  carefully  preserved  by  the  North 
Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames  of  America.  Orton  has 
always  been  a  paradise  of  sportsmen,  and  the  colonel  was  very 
fond  of  hunting.  It  was  his  custom  to  bring  some  of  his  friends 
down  from  the  North  every  winter,  and  give  them  the  oppor- 
timity  to  enjoy  the  old-time  hospitality,  which  he  dispensed 
with  a  lavish  hand.  It  was  here  that  those  who  loved  him  best 
and  who  were  loved  by  him  spent  their  happiest  days.  The  rest- 
ful seclusion  of  this  grandest  of  all  colonial  homes,  with  its  broad 
acres  and  primeval  forests,  was  most  grateful  to  him  and  to  his 
intimate  associates  after  the  storm  and  stress  of  war  and  the 
subsequent  struggles  of  business  life.  It  was  here  that  the 
austerity  of  worldly  contact  was  relaxed  and  the  manifold  hu- 
manities of  a  gentle,  kindly  life  unfolded.  He  never  spoke  of 
his  own  exploits,  nor  did  he  willingly  recall  the  horrors  of  the 
four  years'  war.  He  loved  to  roam  the  woods  with  his  faithful 
dogs,  to  linger  for  hours  in  the  secluded  sanctuary  of  the  game 
he  sought  so  eagerly,  and  the  sight  of  his  triumphant  return 
from  an  exciting  chase,  with  Reynard  at  the  saddlebow,  sur- 
rounded by  his  yelping  pack  of  English  hounds,  would  rouse  the 
dullest  of  his  guests  to  exclamations  of  delight. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  349 

Colonel  Murchison  was  also  the  joint  owner  with  his  brother 
David  of  the  celebrated  Caney  Kiver  hunting  preserve,  in  the 
wildest  part  of  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  where  they 
spent  the  sununers  of  several  happy  years  along  the  fourteen 
miles  of  trout  streams  of  icy  waters.  Within  this  splendid  do- 
main is  some  of  the  most  picturesque  of  American  mountain 
scenery,  including  Mount  Mitchell  and  the  neighboring  peaks. 
It  is  the  scene  of  big  Tom  Wilson's  hunting  and  trapping  ex- 
ploits, and  Wilson  still  survives  as  the  custodian  of  the  magnifi- 
cent forest  and  stream,  to  tell  the  curious  stranger  in  his  own 
peculiar  way  how  he  found  the  body  of  the  great  naturalist 
whose  name  Mount  Mitchell  bears. 

Colonel  Murchison's  striking  personality  was  likened  by  those 
who  knew  him  to  that  of  the  great  German  chancellor,  Prince 
Bismarck,  in  his  younger  years.  The  commanding  figure  and 
uncompromising  expression,  which  characterized  his  outward 
life,  suggested  a  military  training  beyond  that  of  his  war 
experience,  and  this  was  in  strange  contrast  to  his  inner  life,  a 
knowledge  of  which  disclosed  a  sympathetic  tenderness  for  all 
suffering  or  afflicted  humanity.  He  preferred  and  practiced  the 
simple  life ;  his  wants  were  few  and  easily  supplied.  A  notable 
characteristic  was  his  exceeding  devotion  to  his  five  surviving 
children ;  he  was  proud  of  them  and  of  their  loyal  love  to  him, 
and  he  made  them  his  constant  companions.  He  gave  to  worthy 
charities  with  a  liberal  and  unostentatious  hand.  His  patriotic 
spirit  responded  quickly  to  every  public  emergency,  and  his  local 
pride  was  manifested  in  the  building  and  equipment,  at  a  great 
expense,  of  "The  Orton,"  when  a  good  hotel  was  needed  in 
Wilmington,  and  when  no  one  else  would  venture  the  invest- 
ment. 

During  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  honored  life.  Colonel 
Murchison  gradually  withdrew  from  the  activities  of  strenuous 
business  cares,  and  with  the  first  frosts  of  autumn  resumed 
control  at  Orton  Plantation.  He  left  it  in  June  of  1904  in  the 
vigor  and  spirits  of  abounding  health,  to  meet,  a  few  days  later, 
the  sudden  call  of  the  Messenger  of  Death,  whom  he  had  never 
feared.  So  lived  and  died  a  man  of  whom  it  may  be  said,  "We 
ne'er  shall  see  his  like  again."  He  was  an  example  of  splendid 
physical  manhood,  of  broad  experience,  of  unyielding  integrity, 
pure  in  heart  and  in  speech,  with  the  native  modesty  of  a  woman 
and  the  courage  of  a  lion.  He  was  especially  sympathetic  and 
generous  to  his  negro  servitors,  who  regarded  him  with  loving 
veneration. 


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350  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Another  of  the  long  line  of  proprietors  of  Orton,  where  the 
soft  south  breezes,  which  brought  from  their  island  home  the 
first  Barbadian  settlers,  bring  to  the  listening  ear  the  murmured 
miserere  of  the  sea,  has  "crossed  over  the  river  to  rest  under  the 
shade  of  the  trees." 

David  Reid  Murchison^  was  bom  at  Holly  Hill,  Manchester, 
N.  C,  December  5,  1837.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  at  Holly 
Hill  and  received  his  early  education  in  Cimiberland  County. 
Later,  he  was  a  student  at  the  University  of  Virginia.  In  1860 
he  commenced  his  business  career  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Eli  Murray  &  Co.,  of  Wilmington,  which  was  interrupted 
in  1861  by  the  commencement  of  the  War  between  the  States. 
He  enlisted  at  once  in  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment 
and  remained  with  that  command  one  year,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Fifty-fourth  North  Carolina  Regiment  and  as- 
signed to  duty  with  the  rank  of  captain.  With  this  regiment 
he  saw  active  service,  and  his  conduct  always  reflected  honor  and 
credit  upon  him  as  a  brave  and  efficient  officer.  He  was  taken 
from  the  Fifty-fourth  North  Carolina  Regiment  and  made 
inspector  general  of  the  Conmiissary  Department  of  North 
Carolina,  having  been  appointed  to  this  position  by  President 
Davis  on  account  of  his  executive  ability,  which  was  then,  de- 
spite his  early  age,  recognized  as  of  a  very  high  order.  The 
change  from  active  service  to  his  new  duties  was  very  distasteful 
to  him  and  against  his  wishes.  Brave  himself,  and  bom  of 
heroic  blood,  with  a  firmness  and  fortitude  which  faltered  in  no 
crisis,  he  had  an  apitude  for  war,  and  doubtless  would  have 
risen  high  in  the  profession  of  arms  had  he  been  allowed  to  see 
active  service  in  the  field  to  the  close  of  the  war,  as  was  his  wish 
and  desire.  One  of  his  chief  characteristics,  however,  was  a 
high  sense  of  duty,  which  always  prompted  him  to  do  whatever 
work  was  before  him  as  best  he  knew  how.  He  filled  the  posi- 
tion to  which  he  was  assigned  until  the  close  of  the  war  with 
great  credit  to  himself  and  benefit  to  the  soldiers  of  North  Caro- 
lina. His  papers  for  advancement  to  the  grade  of  major  were 
prepared,  but  were  not  executed  because  of  the  close  of  hostili- 
ties. 

He  was  a  singularly  brave  man,  devoid  of  fear.  Cool  and 
self-reliant  under  all  circumstances,  he  gave  confidence  and 
strength  to  the  weak  and  timid.  He  was  generous,  full  of 
sympathy  and  of  kindness  to  the  poor  and  needy,  to  whom  he 

1  Sketch  by  Major  C.  M.  Stedman. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  351 

gave  with  an  open  and  liberal  hand.  He  was  a  sincere  man, 
abhoring  deception  and  hypocrisy  and  looking  with  scorn  upon 
all  that  was  base  and  mean.  He  died  in  New  York,  where  he 
had  gone  for  medical  treatment,  February  22,  1882.  He  was 
in  the  full  meridian  of  his  intellectual  powers  and  his  nobility 
of  mind  and  heart  was  never  more  clearly  manifested  than  in 
his  last  days.  He  went  to  his  rest,  his  fortitude  unshaken  by 
long-continued  and  severe  suffering,  his  chief  desire  to  give  the 
least  possible  pain  and  trouble  to  others,  solicitous  not  for  him- 
self, but  for  the  happiness  of  those  he  loved.  His  gentleness 
and  self-abnegation  were  as  beautiful  as  his  iron  nerve  was  firm 
and  unyielding.  North  Carolina  has  furnished  to  the  world 
a  race  of  men  who  by  their  great  qualities  have  shed  lustre 
upon  the  State  which  gave  them  birih.  In  the  elements  of 
character  which  constitute  true  greatness — courage,  honor,  truth, 
fidelity,  unselfish  love  of  country  and  humanity — Capt.  David 
Reid  Murchison  will  rank  with  the  best  and  noblest  of  her 
citizens. 

He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  business  sagacity,  which  was 
made  manifest  about  the  year  1880,  when,  after  being  appointed 
receiver  of  the  Carolina  Central  Railway,  he  startled  the  com- 
mimity  by  buying  out  the  whole  road,  and  he  conducted  it  suc- 
cessfully until  his  health  began  to  fail,  when  he  sold  it  at  a 
profit. 

Col.  John  R.  Murchison,  the  oldest  of  the  sons  of  Duncan 
Murchison,  had  a  career  brilliant  with  heroic  deeds  and  per- 
sonal sacrifice.  Beloved  at  home  by  his  fellow-coimtrymen  and 
upon  the  field  by  his  devoted  followers,  as  colonel  of  the  Eighth 
North  Carolina  Regiment,  Clingman's  brigade,  Hoke's  division, 
he  took  part  in  the  Battles  of  Hatteras  Inlet  and  Neuse  Bridge, 
and  after  camping  for  two  months  at  Camp  Ashe,  Old  Topsail 
Sound,  he  won  distinction  at  Morris  Island,  and  fought  so 
bravely  at  Plymouth  and  Drewry's  Bluff,  that  he  was  recom- 
mended for  honors,  and  was  promoted  to  be  brigadier  general 
a  few  hours  before  his  untimely  death.  In  the  Battle  of  Cold 
Harbor,  while  personally  leading  a  second  charge  of  his  regi- 
ment, he  was  mortally  wounded  and  fell  within  the  enemy's 
lines.  This  final  sacrifice  of  his  noble  life  was  marked  by  an 
armistice  between  General  Grant  and  General  Lee,  during 
which  several  officers  and  men  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  seek- 
ing the  body  of  their  beloved  commander,  were,  through  a  mis- 
understanding by  General  Grant,  made  prisoners  and  sent  to 


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352  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  rear  of  the  Federal  Army,  and  the  body  of  Colonel  Murchi- 
son  was  never  recovered.  The  official  correspondence  on  that 
occasion  is  as  follows : 

Cold  Haebob,  Va.,  June  7,  1864—10.30  a.  m. 
General  R.  E.  Lee, 

Comdg.  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 

I  regret  that  your  note  of  7  p.  m.  yesterday  should  have  been 
received  at  the  nearest  corps  headquarters  to  where  it  was  delivered 
after  the  hour  that  had  been  given  for  the  removal  of  the  dead  and 
wounded  had  expired.  10.45  p.  m.  was  the  hour  at  which  it  was 
received  at  corps  headquarters,  and  between  11  and  12  it  reached  my 
headquarters.  As  a  consequence,  it  was  not  understood  by  the  troops 
of  this  army  that  there  was  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  none  were  collected.  Two  officers 
and  six  men  of  the  Eighth  and  Twenty-fifth  North  Carolina  Regiments, 
who  were  out  in  search  of  the  bodies  of  officers  of  their  respective  regi- 
ments, were  captured  and  brought  into  our  lines,  owing  to  this  want  of 
understanding.  I  regret  this,  but  will  state  that  as  soon  as  I  learned 
the  fact  I  directed  that  they  should  not  be  held  as  prisoners,  but  must 
be  returned  to  their  comrades.  These  officers  and  men  having  been 
carelessly  brought  through  our  lines  to  the  rear,  I  have  not  determined 
whether  they  will  be  sent  back  the  way  they  came  or  whether  they  will 
be  sent  by  some  other  route. 

Regretting  that  all  my  efforts  for  alleviating  the  sufferings  of  wounded 
men  left  upon  the  battlefield  have  been  rendered  nugatory,  I  remain,  Ac., 

U.  S.  Gbant, 
Lieutenant  General, 

Headquabtebs  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
Lieut.  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  July  7,  1864—2  p.  m. 

Commanding  U.  S,  Armies, 

General: — Your  note  of  10.30  a.  m.  today  has  just  been  received.  I 
regret  that  my  letter  to  you  of  7  p.  m.  yesterday  should  have  been  too 
late  in  reaching  you  to  effect  the  removal  of  the  wounded. 

I  am  willing,  if  you  desire  it,  to  devote  the  hours  between  6  and  8  this 
afternoon  to  accomplish  that  object  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  as 
set  forth  in  my  letter  of  7  p.  m.  yesterday.  If  this  will  answer  your  pur- 
pose, and  you  will  send  parties  from  your  lines  at  the  hour  designated 
with  white  flags,  I  will  direct  that  they  be  recognized  and  be  permitted 
to  collect  the  dead  and  wounded. 

I  will  also  notify  the  officers  on  my  lines  that  they  will  be  permitted 
to  collect  any  of  our  men  that  may  be  on  the  field.  I  request  you  will 
notify  me  as  soon  as  practicable  if  this  arrangement  is  agreeable  to 
you.  Lieutenant  McAllister,  Corporal  Martin,  and  two  privates  of  the 
Eighth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Hartman,  Corpl.  T. 
Kinlaw,  and  Privates  Bass  and  Grey  were  sent  last  night,  between  the 
hours  of  8  and  10  p.  m.,  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  the  body  of 


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The  War  Between  the  States  353 

Colonel  Murchison,  and  as  they  have  not  returned  I  presume  they  are 
the  men  mentioned  in  your  letter.  I  request  that  they  be  returned  to 
our  lines.  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  E.  Lee, 
General. 

June  7,  1864. 
Referred  to  General  G.  G.  Meade,  commanding  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
I  will  notify  General  Lee  that  hostilities  will  cease  from  6  to  8  for 
the  purposes  mentioned.    You  may  send  the  officers  and  men  referred 
to  as  you  deem  best.    Please  return  this.  U.  S.  Grant, 

Lieutenant  General, 

Cold  Habbob,  Va.,  June  7,  1864 — 5.30  p.  m. 
General  R.  E.  Lee, 

Commanding  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 
Your  note  of  this  date  just  received.  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to 
communicate  the  fact  of  the  truce  by  the  hour  named  by  you  (6  p.  m.), 
but  I  will  avail  myself  of  your  offer  at  the  earliest  possible  moment, 
which  I  hope  will  not  be  much  after  that  hour.  The  officers  and  men 
taken  last  evening  are  the  same  mentioned  in  your  note,  and  will  be 
returned.  U.  S.  Gbant, 

Lieutenant  General, 

Commodore  W.  T.  Muse  was  an  officer  in  the  North  Carolina 
Navy.  The  State  of  North  Carolina,  immediately  after  the 
adoption  of  the  ordinance  of  secession,  began  the  defense  of  her 
inland  sounds  by  the  construction  of  forts  at  Hatteras  and  Ocra- 
coke  Inlets  and  by  the  purchase  of  several  small  steamers,  which 
were  converted  into  gunboats.  Those  of  her  sons  who  were  in 
the  United  States  Navy  tendered  their  resignations  and  placed 
their  services  at  the  disposal  of  their  native  State;  prominent 
among  them  being  William  T.  Muse,  who  was  ordered  by  the 
Naval  and  Military  Board,  of  which  Warren  Winslow  was  presi- 
dent, to  Norfolk,  to  take  charge  of,  and  fit  out,  as  gunboats  at 
the  navy  yard  at  Portsmouth  the  steamers  purchased  by  the 
State.  Commander  W.  T.  Muse  sailed  from  Norfolk,  August  2, 
1861,  with  the  Ellis,  arriving  off  Ocracoke  Inlet  the  4th.  North 
Carolina's  naval  force  consisted  of  seven  vessels,  but  she  sold 
them  to  the  Confederate  Navy  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  her  naval 
officers  were  then  transferred  to  the  Confederacy. 

A.  W.  Newkirk  was  commissioned  as  captain  of  Company  A 
(originally  known  as  the  'Tlebel  Rangers''),  New  Hanover 
County,  Forty-first  Regiment,  the  19th  of  October,  1861.  A 
brilliant  exploit  performed  by  the  Rebel  Rangers  is  reported  by 
Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  commanding  the  district  of  Wilming- 

23 


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354  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ton.  He  says  that  in  November,  1862,  Captain  Newkirk's 
cavalry  and  Captain  Adams  with  a  section  of  a  field  battery 
captured  a  steam  gunboat  of  the  enemy  on  New  River.  Her 
crew  escaped,  but  her  armament,  ammunition,  and  small  arms 
were  captured. 

Capt.  William  Harris  Northrop,  a  prominent  business  man 
of  Wilmington,  who  served  in  the  Confederate  cause  in  various 
capacities  throughout  the  war,  was  bom  in  that  city  in  1836, 
and  there  reared  and  educated.  In  1855  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  with  which  he  was  on  duty 
before  the  secession  of  the  State  at  Fort  Caswell,  and  later  at 
Fort  Fisher.  In  June,  1865,  he  was  conmussioned  lieutenant 
and  assigned  to  the  Third  North  Carolina,  then  stationed  at 
Aquia  Creek,  on  the  Potomac.  He  served  in  the  line  about 
eighteen  months  and  was  then  commissioned  captain  quarter- 
master. After  six  months  of  this  duty  with  his  regiment,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Second  Corps,  Engineer  Troops,  and 
stationed  at  Wilmington  and  vicinity.  After  the  evacuation  of 
that  city  he  was  attached  to  the  staff  of  General  Bragg  until  the 
surrender.  Among  the  engagements  in  which  he  participated 
were  Aquia  Creek  on  the  Potomac,  the  Seven  Days'  Battle  be- 
fore Richmond,  Frederick  City,  Boonsboro,  Sharpsburg,  and 
Bentonville.  Both  as  a  company  officer  and  as  a  staff  officer, 
his  service  was  marked  by  bravery  and  entire  devotion  to  the 
cause.  After  the  close  of  hostilities  Captain  Northrop  con- 
stantly resided  at  Wilmington. 

Capt.  W.  P.  Oldham  was  captain  of  Company  K,  Forty- 
fourth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops.  At  the  Battle  of 
Reams  Station  Captain  Oldham  sighted  one  of  the  guns  repeat- 
edly, and  when  he  saw  the  effect  of  his  accurate  aim  upon  the 
masses  in  front,  he  was  so  jubilant  that  General  MacRae,  with 
his  usual  quiet  humor,  remarked:  '^Oldham  thinks  he  is  at  a 
ball  in  Petersburg." 

Rev.  George  Patterson,  D.D.,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  was  commissioned  on  the  30th  day  of  December,  1862, 
chaplain  of  the  Third  Regiment.  He  was  faithful  to  the  last. 
He  preached  in  Wilmington  for  years  after  the  war,  and  after- 
wards in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  recently  died. 

One  of  our  venerable  survivors  of  war  times  who  retains  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  all  who  know  him,  and  they  are 
legion,  is  Richard  P.  Paddison,^  of  Point  Caswell,  whose  mili- 

iCaptaln  Paddison  has  since  died. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  355 

tary  record  is  told  in  his  own  words.  A  chapter  of  his  humor- 
ous experiences  can  appropriately  be  added,  as  the  tragedies  of 
these  fearful  years  of  bloodshed  were  not  without  a  comic  point 
of  view. 

He  tells  us  that  in  the  month  of  March,  1861,  "this  part  of 
North  Carolina  was  wild  with  excitement  and  rumors  of  war, 
and  a  public  meeting  was  called  at  Harrell's  Store,  in  Sampson 
County,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  military  company  to  be 
tendered  the  Governor.  In  a  short  time  an  organization  was 
effected,  and  a  man  named  Taylor  was  elect;ed  captain.  At  the 
next  meeting  they  voted  to  call  the  company  the  *Wild  Cat 
Minute  Men.'  Next  the  question  came  up  as  to  where  the  com- 
pany should  go.  After  considerable  talk  it  was  voted  that  the 
company  should  remain  around  Wild  Cat  as  a  home  protection. 
There  were  a  number  of  us,  however,  who  did  not  take  to  the 
Wild  Cat  idea,  and  quietly  withdrew  and  marched  to  Clinton, 
where  a  company  was  being  organized  by  Capt.  Frank  Faison, 
called  the  ^Sampson  Rangers,'  composed  of  the  flower  of  the 
young  men  of  the  county.  I  joined  as  a  private  in  this  com- 
pany. We  had  a  good  time  drilling  and  eating  the  best  the 
country  could  afford,  and  every  fellow  was  a  hero  in  the  eyes  of 
some  pretty  maiden.  But  this  easement  was  suddenly  cut  short 
by  orders  to  go  with  utmost  dispatch  to  Fort  Johnston.  The 
whole  town  was  in  excitement.  We  were  ordered  to  get  in 
marching  order,  and  to  my  dying  day  I  shall  remember  that 
scene — ^mothers,  wives,  sisters,  and  sweethearts  all  cheering  and 
encouraging  their  loved  ones  to  go  forth  and  do  their  duty;  such 
love  of  country  could  only  be  shown  by  true  Southern  woman- 
hood. After  a  good  dinner  and  a  sweet  farewell  under  the  in- 
spiring strains  by  the  band  of  'The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me,'  we 
took  up  our  march  to  Warsaw,  where  we  boarded  the  train  for 
Wilmington  and  arrived  before  night.  We  were  met  by  the 
officials  and  marched  up  Front  Street  to  Princess  and  Second ; 
here  we  halted  and  the  fun  began.  On  the  northeast  comer 
stood  a  large  brick  house  built  for  a  negro  jail  and  operated,  I 
think,  by  a  Mr.  Southerland.  We  were  informed  that  this  was 
to  be  our  quarters  for  the  night.  Now  picture  in  your  mind, 
if  you  can,  a  hundred  and  twenty  wealthy  young  men,  most  of 
them  Chapel  Hill  and  high-school  boys,  whose  combined  wealth 
could  purchase  half  the  city  of  Wilmington,  being  forced  to 
sleep  in  a  negro  jail.  We  marched  into  the  house  and  deposited 
our  luggage,  which  in  after  years  would  have  been  sufficient  for 


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356  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Stonewall  Jackson's  army.  The  rumbling  noise  of  discord  and 
discontent  rose  rapidly.  We  held  a  council  of  war  and  informed 
our  officers  that  we  would  not  submit  to  quarters  in  that  house. 
We  were  to  take  the  steamer  next  morning  at  nine  o'clock  for 
Fort  Johnston.  This  was  rather  a  critical  situation  for  both 
officers  and  men.  At  this  juncture,  Judge  A.  A.  McKoy,  who 
was  a  private,  said  he  would  stand  sponsor  for  the  boys  to  be  on 
hand  next  morning  on  time.  This  was  accepted,  and  there  was 
a  hot  time  in  the  old  town  that  night.  Next  morning,  promptly 
on  time,  every  man  was  present.  We  boarded  a  river  steamer, 
I  think  the  Flora  Macdonald,  and  arrived  in  good  shape  at  our 
destination,  where  we  had  a  good  time  imtil  the  organization  of 
the  Twentieth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  when  our  trouble  be- 
gan. Our  captain  was  elected  lieutenant  colonel,  and  an  order 
was  issued  for  the  election  of  a  captain.  The  candidates  were 
James  D.  Holmes  and  William  S.  Devane.  There  was  a  strong 
feeling  on  both  sides  in  the  company.  The  Devane  men,  of 
whom  I  was  one,  said  we  would  not  serve  under  Holmes.  I 
can  not  remember  how  long  this  trouble  lasted,  but  the  matter 
was  carried  to  Governor  Ellis,  who  settled  it  by  ordering  each 
faction  to  send  out  recruiting  officers  and  make  two  companies, 
which  was  done.  I  was  sent  out,  and  had  ten  recruits  in  three 
or  four  days.  Both  candidates  were  elected.  Captain  Holmes's 
company  going  to  the  Thirtieth  Eegiment;  and  Captain  De- 
vane's  company  was  detached  for  quite  a  long  time  doing  service 
at  Fort  Caswell  and  Fort  Johnston.  In  1862  the  Sixty-seventh 
Regiment  was  organized,  and  Captain  Devane  was  made  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  About  this  time  I  was  appointed  hospital  stew- 
ard by  Hon.  James  A.  Sedden,  Secretary  of  War.  I  remained 
at  Fort  Johnston  during  the  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  in  1862, 
and  of  smallpox  in  the  winter  of  the  same  year;  after  this  I 
was  transferred  to  General  Hospital  No.  4,  Wilmington,  which 
comprised  the  Seamen's  Home  building  and  buildings  on  the 
opposite  side  of  Front  Street.  Thomas  M.  Ritenour  was  sur- 
geon and  A.  E.  Wright  and  Josh  Walker,  assistant  surgeons. 
This  was  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  hospitals  in  the 
State. 

"After  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  we  had  orders  to  send  our  sick 
and  wounded  to  Fayetteville  and  Goldsboro.  By  the  aid  of 
Captain  Styron  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  I.  B.  Grainger,  who  was 
the  best  organizer  and  disciplinarian  I  ever  knew,  we  succeeded 
in  getting  all  except  thirty-two  removed  to  safety.    These  were 


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The  War  Between  the  States  357 

80  badly  wounded  that  it  was  impossible  to  move  them,  I  placed 
these  wounded  in  ward  No.  2  with  Mrs.  McCauslin,  matron,  in 
charge.  Supplies  were  very  scarce.  Dr.  Josh  Walker  was  the 
last  one  to  leave.  He  went  out  on  Tuesday  night,  and  Wednes- 
day morning  the  streets  were  swarming  with  Federal  soldiers. 
About  10  a.  m.  a  surgeon  came  to  our  hospital  and  inquired 
who  was  in  charge.  I  replied  that  I  was  in  charge.  He  said : 
1  want  you  to  move  everything  out.  I  want  this  hospital  for 
our  use.'  I  replied  that  I  had  nowhere  to  go,  and  no  way  to 
move.  'You  must  find  a  house,'  he  replied,  'and  at  once,  and 
report  to  me  at  headquarters.  I  will  furnish  you  with  trans- 
portation.' I  did  not  stand  on  the  order  of  my  going.  I  found 
a  house  on  Fourth  Street  near  Eed  Cross,  owned  by  David  Bunt- 
ing, whose  family  had  left  the  city.  I  made  the  report,  and  the 
Federal  surgeon  general  ordered  three  ambulances.  The  trans- 
fer was  soon  made.  I  wish  to  state  that  we  had  courteous  treat- 
ment from  the  authorities,  but  of  course  we  were  very  short  of 
supplies.  The  first  genuine  treat  we  had  was  by  Mr.  F.  W. 
Foster,  who  was  acting  as  sanitary  agent.  He  drove  up  one 
morning,  came  in  and  inquired  about  the  sick,  and  asked  if  I 
would  like  to  have  some  milk  punch  for  the  men.  I  said,  'Yes,' 
as  it  had  been  a  long  time  since  we  had  had  any  such  luxury. 
He  went  out  and  soon  returned  with  two  large  pails  and  a 
dipper,  and  personally  served  to  each  all  they  could  stand.  This 
he  continued  to  do  for  several  weeks.  On  one  of  his  visits  he 
asked  me  if  I  would  like  to  have  some  canned  goods  for  the 
hospital.  I  replied,  'Yes,'  and  he  said,  'The  steamer  Oeneral 
Lyon  is  unloading  a  cargo  of  hospital  supplies.  If  you  will  go 
down  there  you  can  get  what  you  want.'  I  replied  that  I  had 
no  way  to  get  them  and  no  money  to  hire  with.  He  said,  'I  will 
send  you  an  ambulance;  go  down  and  get  what  you  want.'  I 
said,  'Won't  you  give  me  an  order  V  to  which  he  replied,  'No, 
if  any  one  says  anjrthing  to  you  tell  them  Foster  sent  you.'  The 
ambulance  came.  I  didn't  want  any  help.  The  vessel  was 
unloading  near  where  Springer's  coal  yard  is  now.  We  backed 
up  and  I  began  to  select  what  I  wanted.  I  was  not  at  all  modest, 
and  thinking  that  this  would  be  the  last  haul  I  would  get  from 
Uncle  Sam,  I  loaded  to  the  limit.  Strange  to  say,  no  questions 
were  asked,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  our  boys  fared  well  while 
things  lasted.  As  the  men  improved  they  went  home,  and  on 
the  5th  of  June  I  closed  the  doors.  The  last  hero  had  gone  to 
rebuild  his  broken  fortunes  and  I  felt  a  free  man  once  more. 


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358  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

I  came  out  of  the  army  as  I  had  entered  it — ^without  one  dollar, 
but  with  a  clear  conscience,  having  performed  my  duty  to  my 
coimtry  as  I  saw  it.  From  April  20,  1861,  to  June  5,  1865, 
I  never  had  a  furlough  or  a  day's  absence  from  duty. 

"I  can  not  close  without  saying  a  word  about  the  splendid 
women  of  Wilmington  for  their  devotion  and  attention  to  our 
destitute  sick  and  wounded  during  those  trying  times.  I  have 
tried  to  recall  the  names  of  some  of  them,  but  can  not  do  so.  I 
fear  few,  if  any,  are  living  today." 

Capt.  Elisha  Porter,  of  Company  E,  Third  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  served  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  up  to  and  in- 
cluding the  Battle  of  Chancellorsville.  During  that  engagement 
he  penetrated  within  the  enemy's  breastworks  and  was  bayo- 
neted by  a  Federal  soldier.  Finding  that  he  was  about  to  be 
killed,  he  attempted  to  scale  the  breastworks  and  succeeded  in 
doing  so,  but  was  shot  in  the  thigh  and  apparently  mortally 
wounded.  After  the  battle  he  heard  the  voice  of  a  friend,  by 
whom  he  was  taken  to  the  Confederate  field  hospital.  Dr. 
Porter  survived  for  many  years  after  the  war,  but  was  always 
crippled. 

Joseph  Price  was  one  of  the  first  lieutenants  in  Company  H, 
Fortieth  Regiment,  which  was  organized  at  Bald  Head,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  the  1st  of  December,  1863,  from 
heavy  artillery  companies  already  in  the  service.  Company  H 
was  composed  principally  of  Irishmen,  and  no  better  or  more 
loyal  men  or  better  soldiers  could  be  foimd  in  any  company. 
Whether  work  or  fighting  was  to  be  done,  they  were  always 
ready  and  went  wherever  ordered.  Lieutenant  Price's  capture 
of  the  United  States  steamer  Water  Witch,  by  boarding  in  a 
night  attack,  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  the  Confederate 
exploits  on  the  water.  His  modest  official  report  of  this  affair 
was  characteristic  of  the  man. 

Capt.  Richard  W.  Price  entered  the  Confederate  service  in 
October,  1864,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  in  the  Jimior  Reserves, 
afterwards  the  Seventy-second  Regiment.  He  served  chiefly  at 
Fort  Fisher,  and  when  the  fort  fell  he  was  captured  and  taken 
a  prisoner  to  Fort  Delaware,  where  he  remained  until  after  the 
general  surrender.  When  the  Fort  Fisher  Survivors'  Associa- 
tion, composed  of  the  Blue  and  the  Gray,  was  organized.  Captain 
Price  was  made  secretary,  and  held  that  position  to  the  time  of 
his  death. 

Capt.  Robert  G.  Rankin  was  chairman  of  the  Safety  Com- 


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mittee  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
war  he  was  made  quartermaster  of  Wibnington,  and  was  after- 
wards made  captain  of  the  First  Battalion,  Heavy  Artillery. 
This  battalion  went  into  the  Battle  of  Bentonville  with  260  men 
and  came  out  with  115.  Every  officer  except  two  was  killed, 
wounded,  or  captured.  Captain  Rankin  was  among  the  killed, 
stricken  by  eight  balls. 

Capt.  John  T.  Rankin  entered  the  Confederate  Army  as  a 
private,  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  nineteen  was  made  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  D,  First  Battalion,  North  Carolina  Heavy 
Artillery,  under  Captain  McCormick.  He  was  at  Fort  Fisher 
during  the  first  battle  and  was  highly  complimented  by  General 
Whiting  for  gallantry.  During  the  second  battle  Captain 
McCormick  was  killed  and  Lieutenant  Rankin  became  captain. 

He  fought  at  Fort  Anderson,  and  on  February  20,  1865,  was 
wounded  in  the  thigh  at  Town  Creek  and  taken  prisoner.  He 
was  treated  with  great  courtesy  by  Colonel  Rundell,  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Ohio  Regiment,  and  carried  to  the  Old  Capitol 
Prison  at  Washington,  where  he  saw  the  crowd  and  commotion 
caused  by  the  second  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln.  He 
was  afterwards  sent  to  Fort  Delaware,  where  he  remained  until 
released  after  the  war. 

Maj.  James  I.  Reilly:  General  Whiting,  in  his  report  of  the 
fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  says :  "Of  Major  Reilly,  with  his  battalion 
of  the  Tenth  North  Carolina,  who  served  the  guns  of  the  land 
face  during  the  entire  action,  I  have  to  say  he  has  added  another 
name  to  the  long  list  of  fields  on  which  he  has  been  conspicuous 
for  indomitable  pluck  and  consunmiate  skill.''  Colonel  Lamb, 
in  his  official  report,  says :  "Major  Reilly,  of  the  Tenth  North 
Carolina  Regiment,  discharged  his  whole  duty.  To  the  coolness 
of  Major  Reilly  we  are  indebted  for  the  defense  of  the  land 
face."  Maj.  William  J.  Saunders,  chief  of  artillery,  says :  "I 
would  beg  particularly  to  call  attention  to  the  skill  displayed  by 
that  splendid  artillerist,  Maj.  James  Reilly,  of  the  Tenth  North 
Carolina  Regiment.'' 

James  Reilly  was  a  sergeant  in  the  old  United  States  Army, 
and  was  in  charge  of  Fort  Johnston,  when,  on  January  10, 1861, 
it  was  hastily  occupied  by  some  ardent  Southerners  from  Wil- 
mington. After  the  State  seceded  he  was  appointed  captain  of 
a  light  battery  and  won  fame  in  Virginia.  On  September  7, 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  major,  and  John  A.  Ramsay  became 
captain  of  the  company.  Major  Reilly  was  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  efficient  defenders  of  Fort  Fisher. 


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360  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

A.  Paul  Repiton,  a  son  of  Eev.  A.  Paul  Repiton,  joined  the 
Corps  of  Engineers  in  1863.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  spirit  and 
a  very  efficient  soldier. 

C.  H.  Robinson  enlisted  early  in  the  war,  having  given  up  a 
good  business  to  respond  to  the  call  of  his  adopted  State,  and 
became  quartermaster  sergeant  of  the  Fifty-first  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Troops,  in  which  capacity  he  served  throughout 
the  war. 

His  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Mangum,  near  Raleigh, 
September  18,  1862,  Col.  J.  V.  Jordan,  commanding;  E.  R. 
Liles,  lieutenant  colonel;  J.  A.  McKoy,  major;  W.  H.  Battle, 
surgeon;  John  W.  Cox,  quartermaster;  and  C.  H.  Robinson, 
quartermaster  sergeant. 

Frederick  G.  Robinson,  a  native  of  Bennington,  Vermont, 
joined  his  prominent  relatives  on  the  Cape  Fear  prior  to  the 
war  of  1861,  and,  full  of  enthusiasm  for  his  adopted  State, 
enlisted  at  the  beginning  of  hostilities  in  the  Wilmington  Rifle 
Guards,  which  became  Company  I  of  the  Eighth  Raiment, 
North  Carolina  Volunteers,  and  with  it,  and  later  with  the  For- 
tieth, he  did  valiant  service  through  all  the  campaigns  to  the 
Battle  of  Bentonville,  where  he  was  captured.  He  remained  a 
prisoner  of  war  until  after  the  general  surrender. 

The  writer,  an  intimate,  lifelong  friend,  who  admired  his 
brave  and  generous  nature,  recalls  a  characteristic  incident  in 
Sergeant  Robinson's  military  career.  A  contemptible  comrade 
having  behind  his  back  questioned  his  loyalty  to  the  South  on 
account  of  his  Northern  birth,  Sergeant  Robinson  stepped  out 
of  the  ranks  and  publicly  denounced  the  base  insinuation,  and 
offered  to  fight  each  and  every  man  then  and  there  who  dared  to 
repeat  the  allegation. 

Beloved  by  many  of  his  associates,  his  memory  is  still  cher- 
ished in  the  hearts  of  his  friends. 

Capt.  Edward  Savage  was  captain  of  Company  D,  Third 
Regiment,  a  company  raised  by  him.  In  May,  1862,  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Cowan  having  been  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the 
Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Infantry,  Captain  Savage  was  made 
major.  Major  Savage  was  wounded  in  the  Battle  of  Mechanics- 
ville.  After  the  death  of  Col.  Gaston  Meares  at  Malvern  Hill, 
Major  Savage  became  lieutenant  colonel.  He  resigned  after  the 
battles  around  Richmond  on  account  of  continued  ill  health. 

Capt.  Henry  Savage  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Wil- 
mington Light  Infantry,  in  1853,  in  which  he  held  the  rank  of 


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The  War  Between  the  States  361 

junior  second  lieutenant.  With  this  command,  which  became 
Company  G  of  the  Eighth,  later  the  Eighteenth,  North  Carolina 
Eegiment,  he  entered  the  Confederate  service  in  April,  1861, 
and  in  Jime  was  promoted  to  be  captain  of  his  company.  He 
served  in  Virginia,  in  the  brigade  of  General  Branch,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  Battle  of  Hanover  Courthouse  and  the  Seven 
Days'  Battle  before  Kichmond.  He  escaped  serious  injury  from 
the  enemy's  bullets,  though  hit  several  times ;  but,  falling  a  vic- 
tim to  disease  as  the  result  of  arduous  service  and  exposure,  he 
was  sent  to  a  hospital  in  Kichmond,  and  a  few  days  later  allowed 
to  go  home  on  furlough.  Four  or  five  months  afterwards, 
having  in  a  measure  recovered  strength,  he  attempted  to  rejoin 
his  regiment,  but,  suffering  a  relapse  en  route,  he  returned  home 
and  accepted  an  honorable  discharge.  In  the  early  part  of  1863 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Davis  collector  of  customs  at  the 
port  of  Wilmington  and  depositary  for  the  Confederate  States 
Treasury,  and  the  duties  of  this  position  occupied  him  imtil  the 
close  of  the  struggle  for  independence.  After  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  he  retired  to  Raleigh,  and,  establishing  his  office  in  a  box 
car,  moved  west  as  necessity  demanded  imtil  the  fall  of  the  gov- 
ernment. 

Daniel  Shackelford  enlisted  with  Company  I,  Eighth  Regi- 
ment, and  served  in  it  for  twelve  months.  He  reenlisted  in  the 
Sixty-first  Regiment  and  became  first  lieutenant,  and  was  killed 
at  the  Battle  of  Eraser's  Farm.  His  brother  Theodore,  who  was 
in  the  same  command,  and  who  was  also  in  the  hospital  with 
him,  died  literally  of  a  broken  heart,  grieving  because  of  the 
death  of  his  brother. 

Dr.  Joseph  C.  Shepard,  of  Wilmington,  was  bom  in  New 
Hanover  Coimty  in  1840.  Early  in  the  fall  of  1861  he  enlisted 
in  the  Confederate  States  service  and,  being  commissioned  as- 
sistant surgeon,  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  coast,  with  Adams' 
battery.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  transferred  to  Fort  Fisher, 
where  he  remained  through  the  first  bombardment  and  the  sec- 
ond, at  the  latter  being  captured  with  the  brave  defenders.  He 
was  sent  as  a  prisoner  of  war  to  Gbvemor's  Island  and  held 
there  until  early  in  March  following,  when  he  was  returned  to 
duty  in  North  Carolina  and  assigned  to  the  hospital  at  Greens- 
boro, where  he  remained  until  after  the  surrender. 

Rev.  James  A.  Smith  as  a  boy  participated  in  the  War  be- 
tween the  States,  manifesting  the  same  courage  and  energy 
which  characterized  his  subsequent  life.     At  the  age  of  seven- 


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362  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

teen  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Confederate  service  in 
Company  D,  First  North  Carolina  Heavy  Artillery,  January 
13,  1865,  and  was  given  a  position  as  courier  for  Major  Greneral 
Whiting.  While  serving  in  this  capacity  he  was  with  the  troops 
at  Fort  Fisher,  and  on  January  15,  1865,  during  the  bombard- 
ment and  assault  of  that  stronghold,  was  wounded.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  with  the  garrison  and  confined  for  six  months 
at  Point  Lookout,  being  released  June  9,  1865. 

Maj.  James  Martin  Stevenson  entered  the  Confederate  Army 
at  the  beginning  of  the  war  as  first  lieutenant  of  a  company 
raised  by  Capt.  J.  J.  Hedrick. 

Soon  after  the  seizure  of  Fort  Johnston,  Lieutenant  Steven- 
son was  ordered  to  Fort  Caswell  as  ordnance  officer,  and  while 
there  three  yoimg  men  from  Sampson  County  raised  a  company 
and  offered  him  the  captaincy,  which  he  accepted.  This  com- 
pany was  attached  to  the  Thirty-sixth  Kegiment  and  ordered  to 
Fort  Fisher,  where  Captain  Stevenson  was  made  major  of  the 
regiment.  Major  Stevenson  remained  at  Fort  Fisher  until  he 
was  ordered  to  reinforce  General  Hardee  in  Georgia.  There  he 
was  highly  complimented  for  his  cool  bravery  and  tact  in  cover- 
ing General  Hardee's  retreat.  He  took  with  him  to  Georgia  five 
companies  from  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment. 

Major  Stevenson  was  again  remanded  to  his  regiment  at  Fort 
Fisher,  where  he  arrived  just  after  the  attack  in  December, 
1864.  On  the  13th  of  January,  1865,  the  attack  was  renewed. 
In  the  battle  Major  Stevenson  was  hurled  from  the  parapet  by 
the  explosion  of  an  eleven-inch  shell.  He  fell  bleeding  in  the 
fort  below  the  battery  and  was  carried  a  prisoner  to  Fort  Colum- 
bus, Governor's  Island,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  He  did  his  whole 
duty  and  did  it  well.    Wilmington  had  no  nobler  son. 

James  C.  Stevenson  and  Daniel  S.  Stevenson  were  worthy 
sons  of  Maj.  James  M.  Stevenson,  of  Wilmington.  Both  en- 
listed in  the  Confederate  Army  when  they  were  much  below  the 
service  age  limit.  James,  for  a  time,  was  employed  on  the 
North  Carolina  steamer  Advance;  afterwards  he  served  in  the 
field  as  a  private  in  Company  A,  Thirty-sixth  Regiment,  North 
Carolina  Troops.  He  survived  the  war,  and  was  for  many  years 
a  prominent  merchant,  a  most  estimable  citizen,  and  an  active 
Christian  worker.  He  died  April  13,  1907,  lamented  by  the 
conmiimity. 

Daniel  Stevenson  was  an  efficient  member  of  the  Confederate 
States  Signal  Corps,  and  was  detailed  for  active  service  with 


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The  War  Between  the  States  363 

the  blockade  niimers,  on  several  of  which  he  served  with  great 
coolness  under  fire.  He  was  captured  in  1865  off  Galveston  and 
imprisoned  until  the  war  ended.  His  last  exploit  was  running 
through  the  blockade  in  daylight  in  the  steamer  Little  Hattie, 
which  drew  the  fire  of  the  whole  fleet,  but  anchored  compara- 
tively uninjured  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher.  Dan  Steven- 
son was  a  young  man  of  most  amiable,  generous  impulses,  and 
was  greatly  esteemed  by  his  associates  for  his  many  excellent 
qualities.    He  died  shortly  after  the  termination  of  the  war. 

Capt.  William  M.  Stevenson  was  elected  one  of  the  lieuten- 
ants of  Company  B,  Sixty-first  Regiment  of  North  Carolina 
Troops,  of  which  James  D.  Radcliffe  of  Wilmington  was  colonel 
and  William  S.  Devane  lieutenant-colonel  and  subsequently 
colonel.  At  the  Battle  of  Fort  Harrison,  in  Virginia,  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  while  in  command  of  the  company,  to  which  position 
he  had  succeeded,  he  was  captured  and  taken  to  Fort  Delaware, 
where  he  was  confined  until  the  surrender. 

Captain  Stevenson's  service  in  the  field  was  continuous  from 
his  enlistment  in  1861  up  to  the  last  of  1864,  including  the 
action  at  Fort  Hatteras  and  the  campaigns  of  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia. 

Rev.  Dr.  James  Menzies  Sprunt,  who  was  principal  of  the 
Grove  Academy,  went  to  the  front  with  the  Duplin  Rifles  and 
became  chaplain  of  the  Twentieth  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
Troops,  commanded  by  Colonel  Iverson,  in  Garland's  brigade, 
D.  H.  Hill's  division,  under  Stonewall  Jackson.  General  Hill, 
who  greatly  admired  him,  said  he  was  one  of  the  few  chaplains 
always  at  the  front  on  the  battlefield.  He  served  throughout 
the  war,  revered  by  the  men  of  his  regiment,  and  was  greatly 
beloved  at  his  home  in  Duplin  County  throughout  his  honored 
life. 

Maj.  Matthew  P.  Taylor  was  major  of  the  Sixth  Battalion, 
Armory  Guards.  The  battalion  was  as  well  drilled  and  as 
thoroughly  disciplined  as  any  command  in  the  Confederate 
service. 

Capt.  John  F.  S.  VanBokkelen  left  Harvard  College  in  1861 
and  returned  to  Wilmington,  where  he  aided  in  raising  a  com- 
pany which  was  assigned  to  the  Third  North  Carolina  Infantry 
as  Company  D,  Edward  Savage,  captain;  E.  G.  Meares,  first 
lieutenant;  and  John  F.  S.  VanBokkelen,  second  lieutenant. 
He  served  through  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  aroimd  Richmond, 
and  at  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville  with 
conspicuous  bravery. 


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364  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

After  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Richmond  he  was  pro- 
moted to  first  lieutenant,  and  he  acted  as  adjutant  of  the  com- 
pany for  some  time.  After  the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg  he  was 
promoted  to  be  captain  of  the  company,  Captain  Meares  having 
been  killed.  Capt.  VanBokkelen  was  woimded  at  the  Battle 
of  Chancellorsville,  and  died  within  a  month  afterwards. 

It  was  with  genuine  grief  that  the  death  of  Capt.  Van- 
Bokkelen, which  occurred  in  Richmond,  was  annoimced  to  the 
regiment  while  on  the  march  in  the  campaign  of  1863.  He  was 
imiversally  popular  and  almost  idolized  by  his  own  men.  He 
was  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  full  of  youthful  ardor, 
intelligent,  and  with  an  acute  conception  of  his  duties  and  an 
indomitable  energy  in  pursuing  the  line  of  conduct  which  a  dis- 
criminating judgment  dictated  to  him.  To  him,  probably  more 
than  to  any  other  officer,  was  due  the  high  morale  which  the  com- 
pany attained.  His  surviving  classmates  of  Jewett's  school  still 
remember  the  sterling  character  of  this  worthy  son  of  the  Cape 
Fear,  who  was  generally  beloved  for  his  unselfish,  kindly  nature 
and  genial  humor. 

Rev.  Dr.  Alfred  A.  Watson  was  chaplain  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment, and,  besides  his  clerical  duties,  gave  valuable  service  as  a 
scout.  His  acquaintance  with  the  topography  of  the  country  was 
of  great  value  to  the  commanding  officer.  He  had  the  profound 
respect  of  every  man.  He  was  commissioned  the  21st  of  June, 
1861,  and  resigned  in  1862.  He  preached  in  Wilmington  many 
years  after  the  war,  and  was  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  East  Caro- 
lina from  1884  imtil  his  death. 

Capt.  O.  A.  Wiggins,  a  gallant  veteran  of  Lane's  brigade, 
entered  the  service  as  a  private  in  the  Scotland  Neck  Mounted 
Riflemen,  organized  in  his  native  coimty,  and  subsequently  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  Thirty-seventh  Regi- 
ment, in  the  brigade  then  commanded  by  General  Branch,  and 
later  by  General  Lane.  With  this  command  he  went  through 
the  entire  war,  participating  in  the  battles  at  Hanover  Court- 
house, Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Eraser's  Farm,  Cedar 
Run,  Second  Manassas,  Ox  Hill,  Sharpsburg,  Harper's  Ferry, 
Shepherdstown,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Falling  Waters,  Bristow  Station,  Mine  Run,  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  Reams  Station,  Jones's  Farm,  Hare's 
Hill,  and  the  fighting  on  the  Petersburg  lines  until  they  were 
broken.  He  was  wounded  at  Chancellorsville.  At  Spottsylvania 
Courthouse,  May  12,  he  was  promoted  to  captain  on  the  field. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  '  365 

and  was  wounded  on  the  same  field  May  21 ;  at  Petersburg, 
April  2,  he  was  shot  in  the  head  and  made  prisoner.  While  be- 
ing conveyed  to  Johnson's  Island,  he  escaped  by  jumping  from 
a  car  window  while  the  train  was  at  full  speed,  near  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  after  which  he  disguised  himself  and  worked  his 
way  back  to  Dixie. 

Capt.  J.  Marshall  Williams,  of  Fayetteville,  entered  the  Con- 
federate service  in  the  Bethel  Regiment  as  a  private.  When  the 
regiment  was  disbanded  he  and  Col.  K.  M.  Murchison  organized 
a  company  of  125  men,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Fifty-fourth 
Regiment.  After  the  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  was  organized,  it 
was  sent  immediately  to  Lee's  army  and  assigned  to  Hood's 
brigade.  When  Hood  was  promoted.  Gen.  Robert  F.  Hoke  suc- 
ceeded to  the  command.  The  brigade  was  composed  of  the  Sixth, 
Twenty-first,  Fifty-fourth,  and  Fifty-seventh  Regiments  and 
was  in  Jackson's  corps.  This  brigade  was  xmder  six  or  eight 
different  commanders,  but  was  always  known  as  Hoke's  old 
brigade.  It  was  in  most  of  Lee's  battles.  When  the  regiment 
was  captured  at  Fredericksburg,  Captain  Williams  was  absent 
on  detached  service. 

Having  no  command,  he  was  then  detailed  to  command  sharp- 
shooters in  different  regiments  until  his  regiment  was  exchanged. 
He  had  the  rank  of  captain  and  was  adjutant  and  inspector  gen- 
eral. He  saw  his  regiment  overpowered  and  captured  twice,  and 
on  the  latter  occasion  made  his  escape  by  swimming  the  Rapidan 
River  near  Brandy  Station.  He  was  wounded  once,  and  had  his 
shoulder  dislocated  by  a  fall.  He  surrendered  at  Appomattox 
as  second  senior  ofiicer  of  the  regiment,  and  rode  home  on  a 
horse  that  had  b^n  with  Hoke's  staff  for  two  years  and  wounded 
twice. 

Capt.  A.  B.  Williams,  of  Fayetteville,  entered  the  Confeder- 
ate service  at  the  age  of  eighteen  as  second  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany C,  Light  Battery,  Tenth  Regiment,  organized  at  Charlotte, 
May  16,  1861,  and  was  promoted  to  captain  March  1,  1864. 
He  was  first  ordered  to  Raleigh,  then  to  New  Bern  and  various 
other  places  in  eastern  North  Carolina,  and  was  in  many  of  the 
great  battles,  including  Malvern  Hill,  Gettysburg,  the  Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  where  he  was  severely  woimded, 
Petersburg,  and  Appomattox  Courthouse.  He  was  attached  to 
Pogue's  battalion.  Third  Corps,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
and  went  with  Lee's  army  to  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 

His  battery  is  supposed  to  have  fired  one  of  the  last,  if  not  the 


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366  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

last,  shots  at  Appomattox.  He  was  subsequently  mayor  of  Fay- 
etteville,  chairman  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  cap- 
tain of  the  Lafayette  Light  Infantry,  president  of  the  Centen- 
nial Celebration,  and  delegate  to  State  and  National  conven- 
tions. 

From  a  eulogy  by  Colonel  Broadf oot,  a  fellow-member  of  the 
United  Confederate  Veterans'  Camp,  the  following  is  taken : 

"Comrades : — This  time  it  is  an  artilleryman — Capt.  Arthur 
Butler  Williams,  of  Brem's  battery.  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, Company  C,  Tenth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops, 
whose  guns  fired  the  last  shot  at  Appomattox,  which  will  echo 
and  reecho  to  the  last  syllable  of  recorded  time,  and  gladden  all 
hearts  ready  and  worthy  to  do  and  die  for  country.  In  the 
sixty-first  year  of  his  age  he  passed  quietly  to  his  rest. 

"He  was  of  fine  presence,  good  manners,  pleasing  address, 
and  withal  plain  as  a  pikestaff.  His  habits  were  exemplary,  his 
principles  sound,  his  character  the  highest ;  in  the  conmiunity, 
in  fact,  in  this  part  of  the  State,  everybody  knew  him,  everybody 
respected,  and  those  who  knew  him  best,  loved  him. 

"We  shall  miss  his  manly  form,  his  cheerful  greeting — ^the 
eyes  that  looked  you  squarely  in  the  face,  but  always  pleasantly. 
The  open  hands  are  now  folded,  palm  downward;  the  tongue 
that  always  voiced  the  bright  side,  and  was  never — ^no  never — 
known  to  grumble,  has  been  hushed. 

"Comrades,  let  us  speak  more  often  the  kindly  word,  extend 
more  readily  the  helping  hand  to  each  other;  and  let  each 
^oldier  keep  his  armor  bright  against  that  day,  when  each  in 
turn  shall  be  called  to  pass  inspection  before  the  great  Cap- 
tain— 'Close  up.' " 

Capt.  Robert  Williams  became  captain  of  the  Rifle  Guards, 
but  later,  resigning,  was  appointed  purser  of  the  blockade  runner 
Index,  and  died  of  yellow  fever  while  in  that  service.  • 

Capt.  David  Williams,  of  the  Burgaw  section  of  New  Han- 
over, raised  Company  K  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  State  Troops, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  valued  officers  of  that  regiment.  He 
had  the  esteem,  confidence,  and  affection  of  his  soldiers  to  a 
remarkable  degree. 

Thomas  Fanning  Wood,  in  April,  1861,  joined  the  Wilming- 
ton Rifle  Guards,  which  later  became  Company  I,  Eighth  Regi- 
ment of  Volunteers.  In  November,  1861,  the  regiment  was 
hurried  to  Coosawhatchie  to  confront  the  Federals  who  had 
landed  on  the  South  Carolina  coast;  and  in  the  spring  of  1862, 
it  joined  Jackson's  corps  in  Virginia. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  367 

Dr.  Wood  was  often  called  on  to  help  the  sick  soldiers  in  the 
hospitals,  and  after  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Richmond 
he  was  ordered  to  hospital  duty.  When  Dr.  Otis  F.  Manson,  of 
Richmond  Hospital,  learned  that  he  was  a  medical  student,  he 
secured  from  the  Secretary  of  War  an  order  detailing  him  for 
duty  at  the  hospital,  with  the  privilege  of  attending  lectures  at 
the  Virginia  Medical  College.  Doctor  Manson  had  brought  his 
library  to  Richmond  with  him,  and  gave  Dr.  Wood  free  access 
to  it.  In  1862,  after  passing  the  examination  by  the  Medical 
Board,  Dr.  Wood  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

After  the  war,  Dr.  Wood  attained  eminence  in  his  profession. 
He  served  many  years  as  secretary  of  the  State  Medical  Society, 
and  he  established  and  edited  until  his  death  the  Medical  Jour- 
nal, a  publication,  highly  valued  by  his  professional  brethren. 

John  L.  Wooster  was  first  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  First 
Regiment.  He  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  at  one  of  the 
Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Richmond  in  1862,  and  disabled 
from  further  service. 

William  A.  Wooster,  private.  Company  I,  Eighteenth  Regi- 
ment, was  killed  in  the  Seven  Days'  fight  in  Virginia.  He  was 
one  of  the  brightest  yoimg  men  of  the  Cape  Fear.  He  had  been 
commissioned  lieutenant  before  he  was  killed. 

Adam  Empie  Wright  was  commissioned  the  20th  of  July, 
1862,  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  New  Hanover  County  Hos- 
pital, in  Wilmington. 

Thomas  Charles  Wright,  sergeant  major,  was  one  of  the 
brightest  and  best  of  the  Wilmington  boys  who  went  from 
Jewett's  school  to  the  War  between  the  States.  Fired  with  the 
enthusiasm  of  youth  and  manly  courage,  he  served  with  great 
credit  in  the  Virginia  campaigns  and  was  mortally  woimded  in 
the  head  and  died  at  a  hospital  in  Richmond. 

Capt.  James  A.  Wright,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright,  was 
captain  of  Company  E,  First  Regiment.  He  was  killed  in  the 
battles  aroimd  Richmond.  He  was  the  most  brilliant  young 
man  of  Wilmington — and  of  the  State — and  his  early  death 
was  greatly  deplored. 

•  Lieut.  Joshua  Grainger  Wright  first  enlisted  for  military 
duty  in  the  spring  of  1862,  becoming  the  orderly  sergeant  of  an 
independent  cavalry  company.  But  he  was  with  this  command 
not  more  than  four  or  five  weeks  when  he  became  a  member  of 
the  First  North  Carolina  Infantry,  which  had  been  on  duty  in 


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368  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Virginia  since  July,  1861.  In  this  regiment  lie  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant  of  Company  E.  The  regiment  was  part 
of  Ripley's  brigade,  D.  H.  Hill's  division,  and  served  with  great 
credit  in  the  Battles  of  Boonsboro,  or  South  Mountain,  Sharps- 
burg,  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancellorsville.  At  the  last  battle, 
while  participating  in  the  gallant  assault  by  Jackson's  corps, 
he  was  seriously  wounded,  a  shot  passing  through  his  left  hip. 
This  caused  his  entire  disability  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when 
he  attempted  to  reenter  the  service,  but  soon  found  it  impossible 
to  undertake  duty  in  the  field.  Returning  to  Wilmington,  he 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  office  of  the  provost  marshal  for 
several  months.  He  made  two  more  attempts  to  enter  the  field, 
but  without  success. 

Charles  W.  Yates  enlisted  in  1862  in  an  independent  cavalry 
company  organized  from  several  counties,  which  became  Com- 
pany E,  of  the  Forty-first  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops. 
During  nearly  the  whole  of  his  service  he  acted  as  courier  for 
Col.  John  A.  Baker  and  his  successor.  Col.  Roger  Moore. 
Among  the  cavalry  engagements  in  which  he  took  part  were 
those  at  New  Bern,  Kinston,  Hanover  Courthouse,  Reams  Sta- 
tion, Ashland,  Chaffin's  Farm,  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  Petersburg. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  skirmish  near  Kinstdn;  and 
just  after  the  fall  of  New  Bern  in  June,  1862,  he  was  captured 
and  imprisoned  in  a  jail  at  that  place  several  months,  and  after- 
wards held  nearly  two  months  at  Glovemor's  Island  and  Fort 
Delaware  before  he  was  exchanged.  During  the  retreat  at 
Appomattox  Courthouse,  he  was  captured  in  the  fight  at  Namo- 
zine  Church,  April  6,  and  after  that  was  a  prisoner  of  war  at 
Point  Lookout  until  June,  1865. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  369 


EOSTER  OF  CAPE  FEAR  CAMP,  U.  C.  V. 

Doubtless  many  examples  of  faithful,  efficient,  and  ever 
heroic  service  have  been  overlooked  in  the  preparation  of  this 
record,  although  diligent  inquiries  have  been  made  in  order  that 
it  might  be  as  nearly  complete  as  possible.  To  this  end  I  have 
been  permitted  to  copy  the  roster  of  Cape  Fear  Camp,  U.  C.  V., 
although  it  may  be  said  that  it  comprises  only  a  part  of  that 
great  number  of  Wilmington  men  who  served  the  Confederacy 
in  the  War  between  the  States. 

Alderman,  Allison 

•  •••••• 

Alderman,  O.  F. 

Private,  Co.  I,  lOth  N.  C 

Atkinson,  John  W. 

Colonel,  10th  Vs.  Artillery Died  Oct.  26,  1910. 

Baldwin,  A.  M. 

Private,  Co.  K,  40th  N.  C 

Barry,  John 

Sergeant,  Co.  B,  Ist  N.  C Died  Mar.  28,  1914. 

Bear,  Solomon 

Private,  Howard's  Cavalry Died  Feb.  24,  1904. 

Bellamy,  W.  J.  H. 

Private,  Co.  1, 18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  18, 1911. 

Belden,  Louis  S. 

Sergeant,  Co.  B,  10th  N.  C Died  June  8,  1914. 

Bernard,  W.  H. 

Private,  Co.  H,  Bethel  Regiment ' 

Bishop,  C.  W. 

Private,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Bishop,  H.  M. 

Private,  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C 

Blackwell,  Rev.  C.  S. 

Sergeant,  Co.  F,  2d  Va Removed  to  Norfolk,  Va. 

Blanks,  William 

Non-Commissioned,  Staff,  6l8t  N.  C Died  Feb.  26,  1904. 

Bolles,  C.  P. 
Captain,  P.  A.  C.  S Died  1910  or  1911. 

Boatwright,  J.  L. 

Captain,  P.  A.  C.  S 

Boatwright,  J.  H. 

Private,  Ist  Bat  S.  C.  Cadets Died  Jan.  27,  1911. 

Boney,  G.  J. 

Corporal,  Co.  H,  40th  N.  C 

Bowden,  W.  B. 

Private,  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry Died  Mar.  16,  1903. 

Brown,  A.  D. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  Cumming's  Battery 

Brown,  E.  A. 
Private,  Co.  C,  4th  Artillery Died  June  26, 1905. 

24 


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370  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Brown,  George  L. 

Hart's  Battery,  Va Sent  to  Richmond  1909. 

Brown,  I.  H. 

Private,  Co.  K,  3d  N.  C Died  May  5.  1892. 

Brown,  T.  A. 

Sergeant,  36tli  N.  C Died  Aug.  14.  1902. 

Bunting,  T.  O. 

Private,  Co.  C,  5th  Cavalry Died  June  20,  1913. 

Burr,  Ancrum 

Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  36th  N.  C ' Removed. 

Burr,  James  O. 

Colonel,  7th  Batt  H.  G Died  Nov.  13.  1898. 

Calder.  William 
Adjutant,  1st  Batt  Artillery 

Cantwell.  J.  L. 

Colonel,  5l8t  N.  C Died  Dec.  21,  1909. 

Capps,  T.  J. 

Corporal,  Co.  E.  3d  N.  C 

Carman,  Samuel 

Private,  Co.  E,  56th  N.  C Died  Apr.  17,  1902. 

Carmichael,  Rev.  James 

Chaplain,  30th  Va Died  Nov.  25,  1911. 

Cazaux,  A.  D. 

Captain,  A.  Q.  M.,  18th  N.  C 

Chadwick,  Robert 

Private,  Co.  K,  3d  N.  C 

Chapman,  Louis 

Private,  Co.  D,  2d  Cavalry 

Cobb.  John  G. 
Private,  Co.  C,  1st  Batt  Artillery 

Collier.  Sam  P. 

Sergeant  Major,  2d  N.  C 

Cook,  A.  B. 
Sergeant,  6o.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  Jan.  12,  1908. 

Corbett,  R.  A. 
Private,  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry 

Cornish,  F.  W. 

Private,  Co.  H,  51st  N.  C 

Cornish.  W.  A. 

Private.  Co.  H,  18th  N.  C 

Cowan,  M.  S. 

Captain,  Co.  I,  3d  N.  C Died  Mar.  24,  1900. 

Cowles.  Charles  L. 

Captain,  Co.  B,  56th  N.  C Died  Oct  9,  1901. 

Cox,  R.  B. 

Private,  Co.  B,  S.  C.  Cavalry 

Crapon.  George  M. 

Lieutenant  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C 

Crow.  J.  E. 

Sergeant  Co.  E.  12th  Va Died  Nov.  4,  1907. 

Gumming.  J.  D. 

Captain.  Cumming's  Battery Died  Nov.  26, 1901. 

Gumming,  Preston 

Sergeant.  Cumming's  Battery 

Currie,  John  H. 
Private,  5th  Cavalry To  Payetteville  Camp. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  871 


Casteen,  J.  B. 
Orderly  Sergeant,  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C 

Cannon,  J.  W. 
Private,  Co.  G,  20th  N.  C 


Cannon,  Alfred 

Cox,  T.  B. 

Priyate,  Co.  F,  67th  N.  C 

Cox,  A.  F. 
•  *  *•*  *  •  * 

Daves,  Graham 
Major,  P.  A.  C.  S Resigned,  Feh.  1,  1890. 

^)avl8  Jackson 
Sergeant,  Co.  K,  6th  N.  C ! Died  Mar.  12,  1902. 

Davis,  Junius 

Corporal,  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  April  11,  1916. 

Davis,  M.  T. 
Private,  Co.  A,  36th  N.  C 

DeRosset,  A.  L. 
Captain,  P.  A.  C.  S Died  Feb.,  1910. 

DeRosset,  William  L. 

Colonel,  3d  N.  C Died  Aug.  14,  19101 

Dickey,  J.  J. 
Private,  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C Died  Nov.  11,  1911. 

Dicksey  J.  TV. 
Private,  Co.  B,  10th  N.  C !..*...'. Died  Aug.  31,  1899. 

Divine,  J.  F. 
Captain,  A.  Q.  M.,  C.  S.  A Died  Aug.  20,  1909. 

Dixon,  W.  M. 
Private,  Co.  G.  10th  N.  C 

Dowdy,  W.  R. 
Private,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  19,  1911. 

Darden,  R.  J. 
Goldsboro  Provost  Guard 

Elliott,  W.  P. 
Private,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  May  20,  1894. 

Evans,  A.  H. 

Died  1911  or  1912. 

Everett,  John  A, 
Private,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Farrior,  S.  R. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  43d  N.  C 

Farrow,  J.  A. 

Private,  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Feb.,  1911. 

Farrow,  Benjamin 
Private,  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Oct.  14.  1911. 

Fennell,  Owen 

Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  1st  N.  C Died  July  6,  1910. 

Fillyaw,  DeLeon 
Corporal,  Co.  A,  40th  N.  C Died  Jan.  27,  1904. 

Fillyaw,  O.  M. 
Private,  Co.  A,  40th  N.  C 

French,  W.  R. 
Private,  Co.  B,  61st  N.  C Died 

Gaither,  W.  W. 
Surgeon,  28th  N.  C Died 


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372  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Ganzer,  C.  H. 

Private,  Howard's  Cavalry Died  May  22,  1899. 

Oarrell,  Jacob  F. 

Private,  Co.  I,  lOth  N.  C Died  May  29.  1891. 

Giles,  Clayton 

Private,  Co.  I,  63d  Ga.  Volunteers 

Giles,  Norwood 

Private,  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  11,  1899. 

Goodman,  William 

Private,  Co.  A,  1st  Batt.  Artillery Died  Apr.  3,  1911. 

Gore,  D.  L. 

Private,  Co.  D,  72d  N.  C 

Gray,  Jesse  W. 

Private,  Co.  B,  3d  Cavalry Died  Apr.  18,  1911. 

Green,  W.  H. 

Sergeant  Major,  Starr's  Battery Died  Jan.  12,  1914. 

Hall,  B.  F. 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  43d  N.  C 

Hall,  E.  D. 

Colonel,  46th  N.  C Died  June  11,  1896. 

Hall,  S.  G. 

Private.  Co.  B,  21st  N.  C Died  July  31, 1911. 

Hamme,  R.  F. 

Private,  Co.  G,  30th  N.  C 

Hanby,  John  H. 

Private,  Co.  B,  16th  Va Died  Apr.  22,  1910. 

Hanby,  Joseph  H. 

Private,  Co.  B,  16th  Va Died  Sept.  8, 1906. 

Hancock,  J.  T. 

Private,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Hankins,  J.  A. 

Private,  Co.  C,  Starr's  Battery Died  July.  1910. 

Hankins,  A.  G. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry 

Hankins,  W.  M. 
Private,  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry 

Harper,  John  H. 
PHvate,  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C ^ Died 

HarHss,  W.  W. 
Assistant  Surgeon Died 

Hawkins,  J.  W. 
Private,  Co.  A,  1st  Batt  Artillery 

Hayden,  P.  H. 

Private,  Co.  C,  19th  Va Died 

Heide,  A.  S. 

Private,  Co.  A,  5th  Cavalry Resigned  Feb.  4,  1901. 

Heide,  R.  E. 
Private,  Co.  H,  1st  N.  C Died  June  13,  1905. 

Heinsberger,  P. 
Private,  Co.  C,  Starr's  Battery 

Henderson,  T.  B. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry Died  Mar.  10,  1890. 

Hewett,  James  H. 
Sergeant,  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  Mar.  20, 1913. 

Hicks,  James  H. 
Prtvate,  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  Nov.  9, 1908. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  873 

Hill,  A.  J. 
Sergeant,  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry Died 

Hill  Owen  C. 
Prtvate,  Co.  G,  3d  N.  C ....'. Died  Sept.  2,  1904. 

Hines,  John  W. 
Private,  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C Died  Feb.  27, 1906. 

Hodges,  L.  W. 
Private,  16th  Va 

Hodges,  T.  A. 

Company  E,  15th  Batt.  Artillery 

Huggins,  George  W. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C 

Huggins,  J.  B. 

Captain,  A.  Q.  M.,  C.  S.  A Died  May  16,  1910. 

Hawes,  J.  J. 
Sergeant,  Co.  G,  20th  N.  C 

James,  Josh  T. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  1, 18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  13, 1899. 

Jewett,  Stephen 
Private,  Co.  K,  44th  Ga 

Jones,  George  T. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  50th  N.  C 

Keeter,  Elijah 

Private,  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C Died 

Kelly,  D.  C. 
Private,  Co.  B,  36th  N.  C 

Kelly,  James  E. 
Private,  Co.  K,  20th  N.  C Died  Nov.  2,  1910. 

Kenly,  John  R. 
Private,  Co.  A,  1st  Md.  Cavalry 

Kenan,  W.  R. 

Adjutant,  43d  N.  C Died  Apr.  14,  1903. 

King,  Charles  H. 
Q.  M.  Sergeant,  61st  N.  C Died  1909  or  1910. 

King,  James  A. 
Private,  Co.  A,  3d  Cavalry 

King,  James  A. 

Private,  Co.  B,  10th  N.  C 

King,  James  M. 

Private,  Co.  P,  3d  N.  C 

King,  John  M. 

Private,  Co.  1, 10th  N.  C Died  Dec.,  1912. 

King,  T.  E. 

Sergeant,  Co.  1, 10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  1, 1911. 

King,  W.  H. 

Private,  Co.  A,  3d  Cavalry 

Latta,  John  R. 

Adjutant,  51st  N.  C Died  June  30,  1898. 

Lee,  J.  B. 

Leon,  L. 
Private,  Co.  C,  Ist  N.  C 

Leslie,  Alexander 
Private.  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C 

Leslie,  Joseph  H. 
Private.  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  Sept  13,  1896. 


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374  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Lewis,  Thomas  C. 

Captain,  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  14.  1909. 

Lippitt,  Thomas  B. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  51st  N.  C Died  Dec.  21,  1898. 

Uttleton,  D.  C. 

Private,  Co.  H,  4l8t  N.  C 

Loftin,  Dr.  I.  C.  M. 

Company  E,  20th  M Died 

Love,  Richard  S. 

Sergeant,  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry Died 

Love,  Thaddeus  D. 

Major,  24th  N.  C Died  Jan.  6,  1892. 

Lumsden,  H.  C. 

Private,  Co.  E,  Ist  N.  C 

MacRae,  W.  G. 

Captain,  Co.  C,  7th  N.  C 

Manning,  E.  W. 

Chief  Engineer,  C.  S.  N Died  Dec.  10, 1900. 

Martin,  E.  a 

Lieutenant,  1st  Batt.  Artillery 

Marshall,  J.  R. 

Private,  Co.  B,  8d  N.  C 

Mason,  W.  H. 

Private,  Co.  B,  3d  N.  C 

Matthews,  D.  W. 
Private,  Co.  C,  1st  Batt  Artillery 

Matthews,  J.  B. 

Sergeant,  Sharpshooters Drc^ped  by  request,  Apr.  9,  1910. 

Meares,  O.  P. 

Lieutenant  Colonel,  18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  21, 1906. 

Meares,  T.  D. 

Courier  to  Gen.  Wade  Hampton 

Merritt,  Joseph 
Private,  18th  N.  C Died  Aug.  12, 1904. 

Merritt,  L.  W. 
******* 

Metts,  J.  I. 

Captain,  Co.  G,  3d  N.  C 

Mitchell,  Frank  H. 

Private,  Co.  1, 18th  N.  C Died  Feb.  28, 1899. 

Mintz,  W.  W. 

Private,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Sept.  16,  1897. 

Montgomery,  James  A. 

Private,  Co.  B,  36th  N.  C 

Moore,  Benjamin  R. 

Lieutenant  Colonel,  Gen.  Bates's  Staff Died  Apr.  12,  1894. 

Moore,  E.  H. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  7th  N.  C 

Moore,  Edward  J. 

Sergeant,  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  May  12,  1891. 

Moore,  Roger 

Lieutenant  Colonel,  3d  N.  C Died  Apr.  21, 1900. 

Itfoore   ^V    A 

Private,  Co.  K,  36th  N.  C '...*...'. Died  Apr.  26. 1906. 

Moore,  W.  H. 
Private,  Co.  A,  1st  Cavalry 


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The  War  Between  the  States  375 

Morton,  Rev.  P.  C. 
Chaplain,  23d  Va Died  Feb.  28, 1903. 

Mott,  A.  J. 

PHvate,  Co.  G,  6lBt  N.  C 

Munn,  D. 

Captain,  Co.  B,  36tli  N.  C Died  Feb.,  1905. 

MyerSp  Charles  D. 

Captain,  P.  A.  C.  S Died  Oct  2, 1892. 

Myrry,  R.  S. 

McClammy,  Charles  W. 

Major,  3d  Cavalry Died  Feb.  2t,  189e. 

McClammy,  Charles  W. 

Private,  Co.  F.  3d  N.  C Died  Nov.  19, 1900. 

McEiVoy,  John 

Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  2d  N.  C Died  Nov.  21,  1896. 

McGirt,  A.  G. 

Private,  Co.  D,  46th  N.  C Died  Aug.  22,  1890. 

McGowan,  James  M. 

Captain,  A.  Q.  M Died  June  20,  1903. 

Mclntyre,  R.  M. 

Captain,  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry Died  Apr.  17,  1913. 

Mclver,  J.  T. 

Private,  Co.  G,  48th  N.  C Died  Feb.  24,  1907. 

McKeithan,  R.  W. 

Corporal,  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C 

McKoy,  T.  Hall 

Major  Lane's  Staff Died  May  10,  1902. 

McMillan,  W.  D. 

Sergeant  Major,  51st  N.  C 

McQueen,  H.  C. 

Private,  Co.  D,  1st  Batt.  Artillery 

Nohl6S    S   T7 

Captain,  Co.  K,  61st  N.  C !...... Died  Feb.  16,  1904. 

Northrop,  W.  H. 

Captain,  A,  Q.  M.,  3d  N.  C 

Oldham,  William  P. 

Captain,  Co.  K,  44th  N.  C 

Ormsby,  James  O. 
Private,  Co.  1, 10th  N.  C 

Ortman,  F.  W. 

Private,  Co.  A,  26th  S.  C Died  Apr.  22, 1911. 

Pearce,  E.  L. 

Captain,  Co.  B,  26th  Ga Died 

Percy,  A.  B. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  F,  56th  Regiment Died  Oct.  13, 1893. 

Pickett,  J.  H. 
Private,  Co.  B,  1st  Batl.  Artillery 

Pinner,  J.  L. 
Private,  Co.  A,  1st  Batt.  Artillery 

Poisson,  J.  D. 
Sergeant,  Co.  G.,  18th  N.  C Died  Jan.  11,  1911. 

Porter,  Elijah 

Captain,  Co.  E,  3d  N.  C Died  July  1, 1907. 

Potter,  Dr.  F.  W. 
Surgeon,  50th  N.  C Died  June  1,  1893. 


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376  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Pratt,  D. 

Private.  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died 

Prempert,  H.  C. 

Sergeant,  Co.  H,  2d  N.  C Died  Sept.  17,  1896. 

Price,  Josepli 

Commander,  C.  S.  N Died  May  15, 1895. 

Price,  R.  W. 

Private,  Co.  D,  72d  N.  C Died  Nov.  25, 1909. 

Primrose,  John  W. 
Captain,  A.  C.  S.,  let  Cavalry Resigned  Dec.  29,  1890. 

Rankin,  R.  G. 
PHvate,  Co.  A,  Ist  Batt  Artillery Died  June  28,  1913. 

Rankin,  J.  T. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  Ist  Batt.  Artillery 

Reaves,  Calvin 
Private,  Co.  G,  61st  N.  C 

Reaves,  J.  F.  A. 
Private,  Co.  P,  3d  N.  C Died  June  27,  1908. 

Reaves,  R.  M. 

Private,  Co.  B,  18th  N.  C 

Rivenbark,  W.  W. 
Private,  Co.  F,  20th  N.  C Died  Nov.  25,  1904. 

Roberts,  B.  M. 

Private,  Co.  C,  13th  Battery Died  Feb.  4,  1903. 

Robinson,  Charles  H. 

Quartermaster,  31st  N.  C 

Rogers,  J.  M. 

Private,  Co.  B,  1st  Batt.  Artillery 

Ruark,  J.  H. 
Sergeant,  Co.  P,  3d  N.  C 

Russell,  B.  R. 
Assistant  Engineer,  C.  S.  N Died  Dec.  15,  1906. 

Savage,  Henry 

Captain,  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  Aug.  1,  1904. 

Scharf,  E. 
Private,  1st  Batt.  Ala.  Cavalry Removed  to  New  York. 

Schenck,  N.  W. 
Captain,  A.  C.  S 

Schriver,  Eli 
Private,  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C.  Cavalry 

Sharp,  John  H. 

Private,  13th  Batt.  Va.  Artillery 

Shepard,  Dr.  J.  C. 

Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  S.  A Died  Mar.  4, 1903. 

Shepard,  T.  A. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  July  5,  1899. 

Shutte,  John  T. 

Corporal,  Starr's  Battery Removed  to  New  York. 

Slkes,  R.  J. 

Private,  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C 

Skipper,  Joshua  G. 

Private,  Co.  1, 10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  18,  1904. 

Smith,  H.  H. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  5th  N.  C Died  Aug.  24,  1908. 

Smith,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Private,  Co.  I,  N.  C.  Artillery 


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The  War  Between  the  States  377 

Smith,  M.  K. 

Private,  Co.  D,  72d  N.  C 

Smith,  Peter  H. 

Private,  Co.  P,  3d  N.  C Died 

Smith,  T.  Jefferson. 

Private,  Co.  1, 18th  N.  C 

Sneeden,  S.  J. 

Private,  Co.  A,  3d  N.  C Died  Dec.  7,  1910. 

Southerland,  D.  D. 

Private,  Co.  1, 10th  N.  C Died  June  14,  1900. 

Southerland,  T.  J. 

Captain,  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Feb.  18,  1891. 

Spooner,  W.  T. 

Company  P,  3d  N.  C 

Stedman,  C.  M. 

Major,  44th  N.  C Greenstwro,  N.  C. 

Stevenson,  J.  C. 

Private,  Co.  A,  36th  N.  C Died  Apr.  13, 1907. 

Stevenson,  W.  M. 

Captain,  Co.  B,  61st  N.  C 

Stolter,  Henry 

Private,  Co.  A,  18th  N.  C Died  Oct  5, 1896. 

Stolter,  John  P. 

Private,  Co.  A,  18th  N.  C Died  Dec.  27,  1903. 

Story,  S.  A. 

Private,  Co.  1,  10th  N.  C Died 

Sutton,  D.  M. 

Private,  Co.  K,  18th  N.  C Died 

Swain,  S.  A. 

Private,  Co.  C,  Ist  Batt  Artillery Died  Peb.  11,  1899. 

Sykes,  Thomas  P. 

Private,  3d  N.  C.  Cavalry 

Taylor,  James  H. 

Adjutant,  51st  N.  C 

Taylor,  John  D. 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  36th  N.  C Died  May  21,  1912. 

Taylor,  J.  J. 
Private,  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry Died  Apr.  29,  1902. 

Taylor,  Liewis 

Private,  Co.  B,  1st  Batt  ArUllery Died  Oct  8,  1912. 

Taylor,  M.  P. 

Died 

Tilley,  George  P. 

Private,  Co.  H,  18th  N.  C Died  May  9,  1905. 

Turrentine,  J.  R. 
Hart's  Battery,  Light  Artillery 

Ulmer,  J.  H. 

Died  Sept  2,  1910. 

Van  Amringe,  Stacy 

Captain,  Co.  O,  61st  N.  C Died  Jan.  2,  1897. 

Voss,  John  G. 

Private,  Co.  A,  18th  N.  C Died  July  19,  1890. 

Waddell,  A.  M. 

Lieutenant  Colonel,  3d  N.  C Died  Mar.  17, 1912. 

Walker  J.  Alvis 
Private,  Co.  B,  2d  Bng.,  C.  S.  A.. ...'.. Died  Sept.  29, 1912. 


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878  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Walker,  John  M. 
Orderly  Sergeant,  Co.  P,  2d  N.  C.  Batt  Artillery 

Walker  J  P 
Private,  Co.  B,  18th  N.  C .'..*...* Died  1909  or  1910. 

Wallace,  J.  P. 

Color  Corporal,  Co.  C,  5l8t  N.  C Died  Oct,  1911. 

Ward,  C.  H. 
PHvate,  Co.  G,  10th  N.  C 

Warrock,  B.  S. 
Corporal,  Ga.  Artillery Removed. 

Warrock  W.  S. 
Captain,  Co.  B,  iBt  Ala.  Cavalry Died  Mar.  19, 1900. 

Watkins,  L.  A. 

Private,  Co.  D,  5th  N.  C.  Batt.  Artillery 

Watson,  Rt  Rev.  A.  A. 
Chaplain,  2d  N.  C Died  Apr.  21,  1906. 

Watson,  A.  W. 
Private,  Co.  F.  7th  N.  C 

Weill,  Abram 
Medical  Department  Withdrawn. 

West,  John  W. 

Sergeant,  Co.  D,  86th  N.  C 

White,  B.  F. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  1, 18th  N.  C Died  June  23, 1903. 

Wiggs,  Alexander  W. 

Sergeant,  Co.  D.  36th  N.  C Died  Aug.  30.  1906. 

Wiggins,  0.  A. 

Captain,  Co.  E,  36th  N.  C Resigned  May  10,  1902. 

Wilder,  Jesse 

Lieutenant,  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry 

Wilkins,  W.  L. 

Corporal,  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  Aug.  31,  1908. 

Williams,  George  W. 

Private,  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C 

Williams,  J.  A. 

Private,  Co.  G,  3d  N.  C.  Cavalry 

Williams,  J.  R. 

Sergeant,  Co.  H,  S.  C.  V 

Wood,  Dr.  Thomas  F. 

Assistant  Surgeon,  3d  N.  C Died  Aug.  22, 1896. 

^^oodcock  OeorKe  ^V 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  18th  N.  C .' *. Died  Feb.  10.  1896. 

Woodcock,  Henry  M. 

Private,  Co.  B,  18th  N.  C Removed  to  Georgia. 

Woodward,  W.  J. 

Private,  Co.  H,  1st  N.  C Died  Oct.  11,  1907. 

Wooten,  Edward 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  6th  Cavalry Withdrawn. 

Wright,  Joshua  G. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  1st  N.  C Died  Dec.  30, 1900. 

Yates,  C.  W. 

Company  B,  3d  Cavalry 

Yopp,  F.  V.  B. 
Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  61st  N.  C Died  Dec.  29, 1894. 


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The  War  Between  the  States  379 


FORT  CASWELL. 

The  work  at  Fort  Caswell  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River  was  commenced  by  the  government  in  the  year  1826. 
Maj.  George  Blaney,  of  the  United  States  Engineer  Corps,  was 
in  charge  of  it  for  several  years  until  his  death  at  Smithville  in 
1836  or  1837.  He  was  bom  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  was 
an  accomplished  officer.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Wilming- 
ton, and  the  Wilmington  Volunteers,  a  uniformed  company  and 
the  only  one  then  existing  in  the  town,  formed  at  Market  Street 
dock  to  receive  them,  and  escorted  them  to  the  old  burial  ground 
adjoining  St.  James's  Church,  where  they  were  interred  with 
military  honors  and  where  they  still  repose. 

Major  Blaney's  assistant  in  building  the  fort  was  Mr.  James 
Ancrum  Berry,  a  native  of  Wilmington,  a  natural  engineer,  the 
bent  of  whose  mind  was  strongly  mathematical.  He  was  thor- 
oughly competent  for  the  position  he  held,  and  took  great  pride 
in  the  work — so  much  so,  indeed,  that  he  had  a  small  house 
erected  on  the  river  front  of  the  fort  and  resided  there  vrith  his 
family  for  a  year  or  two  until  the  encroaching  waters  rendered 
his  habitation  untenable,  when  he  returned  to  Smithville.  He 
died  suddenly  in  1832.  He  was  hunting  with  the  late  Mr.  John 
Brown,  and,  while  crossing  a  small  stream  on  a  log,  lost  his 
footing  and  his  gun  came  in  contact  with  the  log  and  was  dis- 
charged, the  contents  entering  his  brain,  killing  him  almost 
instantly.  He  was  an  honorable  gentleman,  high-toned,  chival- 
ric,  and  was  greatly  mourned. 

It  is  probable  that  Capt.  A.  J.  Swift,  son  of  the  distinguished 
chief  of  the  Engineer  Corps,  Gen.  Joseph  Swift,  succeeded 
Major  Blaney.  It  is  known  that  he  had  charge  of  the  works  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  for  quite  a  long  time,  and  it  is  believed 
they  were  finished  under  his  supervision. 

Captain  Swift  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  engineer 
officers  in  the  army  and,  though  dying  quite  young,  left  behind 
him  a  reputation  second  to  none  in  that  branch  of  the  service. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  notwithstanding  its  exposed  posi- 
tion to  the  Federal  fleet,  no  general  engagement  occurred  at  Fort 
Caswell  during  the  four  years'  war.  The  fort  was  of  great  serv- 
ice, however,  in  defending  the  Main  Bar  and  the  garrison  at 
Smithville,  although  the  fighting  was  confined  to  an  occasional 
artillery  duel  with  the  United  States  blockading  fleet 


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380  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  defenses  of  Oak  Island  during  the  War  between  the 
States  were  composed  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Campbell,  the  latter 
a  large  earth  fort  situated  about  one  mile  down  the  beach  from 
Fort  Caswell,  and  Battery  Shaw,  with  some  other  small  works, 
all  at  the  close  of  the  war  under  the  command  of  Col.  Charles  H, 
Simonton.  With  Colonel  Simonton  were  the  following  members 
of  his  staff :  Capt.  E.  S.  Martin,  chief  of  ordnance  and  artillery ; 
Capt.  Booker  Jones,  commissary ;  Capt.  H.  C.  Whiting,  quarter- 
master, and  Captain  Booker,  assistant  adjutant  generaL 

Fort  Fisher  fell  about  nine  o'clock  Simday  night,  January  15, 
1865,  and  by  midnight  orders  had  been  received  at  Fort  Caswell 
to  send  the  garrisons  of  that  fort  and  Fort  Campbell  down  the 
beach  and  into  the  woods  before  daylight  in  order  to  conceal 
them  from  the  Federal  fleet.  The  troops  were  immediately  with- 
drawn from  the  forts,  and  under  cover  of  darkness  marched 
away.  Orders  were  also  received  to  spike  the  guns  in  those  two 
forts  and  destroy  the  ammunition  as  far  as  possible.  Accord- 
ingly, during  Monday,  the  16th  of  January,  the  chief  of  ord- 
nance and  artillery,  Capt.  E.  S.  Martin,  was  employed  with  the 
ordnance  force  of  the  forts  in  carrying  out  this  order,  preparing 
to  burn  the  barracks — large  wooden  structures  built  outside  and 
around  Fort  Caswell — and  to  blow  up  the  magazines. 

About  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  January  17, 
the  order  came  to  evacuate  and  blow  up  the  magazines.  There- 
upon Col.  C.  H.  Simonton,  Lieut.  Col.  John  D.  Taylor,  and 
Capt.  Booker  Jones,  who  had  remained  up  to  this  time,  de- 
parted, leaving  Captain  Martin  to  destroy  the  barracks  and 
forts.  The  buildings  without  the  fort  and  the  citadel  within 
were  at  once  set  on  fire  and  were  soon  blazing  from  bottom  to 
top.  Trains  had  been  laid  during  the  day  to  each  of  the  seven 
magazines  at  Fort  Caswell  and  the  five  magazines  at  Fort  Camp- 
bell, and  under  the  lurid  glare  of  the  burning  buildings  the 
match  was  applied  to  the  trains,  and  magazine  after  magazine 
exploded  with  terrific  report.  One  of  the  magazines  in  Fort 
Caswell  contained  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  pow- 
der, and  when  it  exploded  the  volume  of  sound  seemed  to  rend 
the  very  heavens,  while  the  earth  trembled,  the  violence  of  the 
shock  being  felt  in  Wilmington,  thirty  miles  distant,  and  even 
at  Fayetteville,  more  than  one  hundred  miles  away.  The  sight 
was  grand  beyond  description.  Amidst  this  sublime  and  im- 
pressive scene  the  flag  at  Fort  Caswell  was  for  the  last  time 
hauled  down.     It  was  carried  away  by  Captain  Martin,  who, 


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The  War  Between  the  States  381 

with  his  men,  silently  departed,  the  last  to  leave  the  old  fort, 
which  for  four  long  years  of  war  had  so  effectually  guarded  the 
main  entrance  to  the  river. 


FORT  FISHER. 

Col.  William  Lamb,  who  was  in  command  of  Fort  Fisher,  in 
his  admirable  report  of  its  defense,  says : 

"The  indentation  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  in  the  Carolina  coast 
known  as  Onslow  Bay  and  the  Cape  Fear  River,  running  south 
from  Wilmington,  form  the  peninsula  known  as  Federal  Point, 
which  during  the  Civil  War  was  called  Confederate  Point. 
Not  quite  seven  miles  north  of  the  end  of  this  peninsula  stood 
a  high  sandhill  called  the  'Sugar  Loaf.'  Here  there  was  an 
intrenched  camp  for  the  army  of  Wilmington  under  Gen.  Brax- 
ton Bragg,  the  department  commander,  that  was  hid  from  the 
sea  by  forest  and  sandhills.  From  this  intrenched  camp  the 
river  bank,  with  a  neighboring  ridge  of  sand-dunes,  formed  a 
covered  "way  for  troops  to  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  left 
salient  of  Fort  Fisher.  Between  the  road  and  the  ocean  beach 
was  an  arm  of  Masonboro  Sound,  and  where  it  ended,  three 
miles  north  of  the  fort,  were  occasional  fresh-water  swamps, 
generally  wooded  with  scrub  growth  and  in  many  cases  quite 
impassable.  Along  the  ocean  shore  was  an  occasional  battery 
formed  from  a  natural  sandhill,  behind  which  Whitworth  guns 
were  carried  from  the  fort  to  cover  belated  blockade  runners  or 
to  protect  more  unfortunate  ones  that  had  been  chased  ashore. 

"About  half  a  mile  north  of  the  fort  there  was  a  rise  in  the 
plain,  forming  a  hill  some  twenty  feet  above  the  tide  on  the 
river  side,  and  on  this  was  a  redoubt  commanding  the  approach 
to  the  fort  by  the  river  road.  Thus  nature,  assisted  by  some 
slight  engineering  work,  had  given  a  defense  to  Confederate 
Point  which  would  have  enabled  an  efficient  commander  at  the 
intrenched  camp,  cooperating  with  the  garrison  of  Fort  Fisher, 
to  render  the  point  untenable  for  a  largely  superior  force  at 
night,  when  the  covering  fire  of  the  Federal  Navy  could  not 
distinguish  between  friend  and  foe." 

The  plans  of  Fort  Fisher  were  Colonel  Lamb's,  and  as  the 
work  progressed  they  were  approved  by  (Jenerals  French, 
Raines,  Longstreet,  Beauregard,  and  Whiting.  It  was  styled  by 
Federd  engineers  the  "Malakoff  of  the  South."    It  was  built 


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382  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

solely  with  the  view  of  resisting  the  fire  of  a  fleet,  and  it  stood 
uninjured,  except  as  to  armament,  in  two  of  the  fiercest  bom- 
bardments the  world  ever  witnessed.  The  two  faces  to  the  works 
were  2,580  yards  long.  The  land  face  was  682  yards  long,  and 
the  sea  face  1,898  yards  long. 

Thb  Land  Facb  op  Foet  Fishbb. 

At  the  land  face  of  Fort  Fisher  the  peninsula  was  about  half 
a  mile  wide.  This  face  commenced  about  one  hundred  feet 
from  the  river  with  a  half  bastion,  and  extended  with  a  heavy 
curtain  to  a  full  bastion  on  the  ocean  side,  where  it  joined  the 
sea  face.  The  work  was  built  to  withstand  the  heaviest  artillery 
fire.  There  was  no  moat  with  scarp  and  counterscarp,  so  essen- 
tial for  defense  against  storming  parties,  the  shifting  sands  ren- 
dering such  a  construction  impossible  with  the  material  avail- 
able. 

The  outer  slope  was  twenty  feet  high  and  was  sodded  with 
marsh  grass,  which  grew  luxuriantly.  The  parapet  was  not  less 
than  twenty-five  feet  thick,  with  an  inclination  of  only  one  foot. 
The  revetment  was  five  feet  nine  inches  high  from  the  floor  of 
the  gun  chambers,  and  these  were  some  twelve  feet  or  more  from 
the  interior  plane.  The  guns  were  all  mounted  in  barbette  on 
Columbiad  carriages,  there  being  no  casemated  gun  in  the  fort. 
There  were  twenty  heavy  guns  on  the  land  face,  each  gun 
chamber  containing  one  or  two  guns,  and  there  were  heavy 
traverses,  exceeding  in  size  any  before  known  to  engineers,  to 
protect  from  an  enfilading  fire.  They  extended  out  some  twelve 
feet  or  more  in  height  above  the  parapet,  running  back  thirty 
feet  or  more.  The  gun  chambers  were  reached  from  the  rear 
by  steps.  In  each  traverse  was  an  alternate  magazine  or  bomb- 
proof, the  latter  ventilated  by  an  air  chamber.  The  passage- 
ways penetrated  traverses  in  the  interior  of  the  work,  forming 
additional  bombproofs  for  the  reliefs  of  the  guns. 

As  a  defense  against  infantry,  there  was  a  system  of  subter- 
ranean torpedoes  extending  across  the  peninsula,  five  to  six  hun- 
dred feet  from  the  land  face,  and  so  disconnected  that  the  explo- 
sion of  one  would  not  affect  the  others;  inside  the  torpedoes, 
about  fifty  feet  from  the  berm  of  the  work,  extending  from  river 
bank  to  seashore,  was  a  heavy  palisade  of  sharpened  logs  nine 
feet  hiffh,  pierced  for  musketry,  and  so  laid  out  as  to  have  an 
enfilading  fire  on  the  center,  where  there  was  a  redoubt  guarding 


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The  War  Between  the  States  383 

a  sally-port,  from  which  two  Napoleons  were  run  out  as  occasion 
required.  At  the  river  end  of  the  palisade  was  a  deep  and 
muddy  slough,  across  which  was  a  bridge,  the  entrance  of  the 
river  road  into  the  fort;  commanding  this  bridge  was  a  Napo- 
leon gun.    There  were  three  mortars  in  the  rear  of  the  land  face. 

The  Sea  Face  op  Fort  Fisher. 

The  sea  face,  for  one  hundred  yards  from  the  northwest 
bastion,  was  of  the  same  massive  character  as  the  land  face.  A 
crescent  battery  intended  for  four  guns  joined  this,  but  it  was 
converted  into  a  hospital  bombproof.  In  the  rear  a  heavy  cur- 
tain was  thrown  up  to  protect  the  chamber  from  fragments  of 
shells.  From  the  bombproof  a  series  of  batteries  extended  for 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  along  the  sea,  connected  by  an  infantry 
curtain.  These  batteries  had  heavy  traverses,  but  were  not  more 
than  ten  or  twelve  feet  high  to  the  top  of  the  parapets,  and  were 
built  for  ricochet  firing.  On  the  line  was  a  bombproof  electric 
battery  connected  with  a  system  of  submarine  torpedoes.  Far- 
ther along,  where  the  channel  ran  close  to  the  beach,  inside  the 
bar,  a  mound  battery  sixty  feet  high  was  erected,  with  two  heavy 
gims  which  had  a  plunging  fire  on  the  channel;  this  was  con- 
nected with  a  battery  north  of  it  by  a  light  curtain.  Following 
the  line  of  the  works,  it  was  over  one  mile  from  the  mound  to 
the  northeast  bastion  at  the  angle  of  the  sea  and  land  faces,  and 
upon  this  line  twenty-four  heavy  gims  were  mounted.  From  the 
mound  for  nearly  one  mile  to  the  end  of  Confederate  Point,  was 
a  level  sand  plain  scarcely  three  feet  above  high  tide,  and  much 
of  it  was  submerged  during  gales.  At  the  point  was  Battery 
Buchanan,  four  guns,  in  the  shape  of  an  ellipse  commanding 
New  Inlet,  its  two  11-inch  guns  covering  the  approach  by  land. 
An  advanced  redoubt  with  a  24-pounder  was  added  after  the 
attack  by  the  forces  on  the  25th  of  Deopmber,  1864.  A  wharf 
for  large  steamers  was  in  close  proximity  to  these  works.  Bat- 
tery Buchanan  was  a  citadel  to  which  an  overpowered  garrison 
might  retreat  and  with  proper  transportation  be  safely  carried 
off  at  night,  and  to  which  reinforcements  could  be  sent  under 
the  cover  of  darkness. 

The  Fort  Fisher  Fight. 

General  Whiting,  in  his  official  report  of  the  taking  of  Fort 
Fisher  on  the  night  of  the  15th  of  January,  1865,  after  an  as- 


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384  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

sault  of  unprecedented  fury,  both  by  sea  and  land,  lasting  from 
Friday  morning  until  Sunday  night,  says : 

"On  Thursday  night  the  enemy's  fleet  was  reported  off  the 
fort.  On  Friday  morning  the  fleet  opened  very  heavily.  On 
Friday  and  Saturday,  during  the  furious  bombardment  of  the 
fort,  the  enemy  was  allowed  to  land  without  molestation  and  to 
throw  up  a  light  line  of  field-works  from  Battery  Kamseur  to 
the  river,  thus  securing  his  position  from  molestation  and  mak- 
ing the  fate  of  Fort  Fisher,  under  the  circumstances,  but  a 
question  of  time. 

"On  Sunday,  the  fire  on  the  fort  reached  a  pitch  of  fury  to 
which  no  language  can  do  justice.  It  was  concentrated  on  the 
land  face  and  front.  In  a  short  time  nearly  every  gun  was  dis- 
mounted or  disabled,  and  the  garrison  suffered  severely  by  the 
fire.  At  three  o'clock  the  enemy's  land  force,  which  had  been 
gradually  and  slowly  advancing,  formed  in  two  columns  for 
assault.  The  garrison,  during  the  fierce  bombardment,  was  not 
able  to  stand  to  the  parapets,  and  many  of  the  reinforcements 
were  obliged  to  be  kept  a  great  distance  from  the  fort.  As  the 
enemy  slackened  his  fire  to  allow  the  assault  to  take  place,  the 
men  hastily  manned  the  ramparts  and  gallantly  repulsed  the 
right  column  of  assault.  A  portion  of  the  troops  on  the  left  had 
also  repulsed  the  first  rush  to  the  left  of  the  work.  The  greater 
portion  of  the  garrison  being,  however,  engaged  on  the  right,  and 
not  being  able  to  man  the  entire  works,  the  enemy  succeeded  in 
making  a  lodgment  on  the  left  flank,  planting  two  of  his  regi- 
mental flags  in  the  traverses.  From  this  point  we  could  not  dis- 
lodge him,  our  own  traverses  protecting  him  from  the  fire  of  our 
most  distant  guns.  From  this  time  it  was  a  succession  of  fight- 
ing from  traverse  to  traverse,  and  from  line  to  line  until  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  when  we  were  overpowered  and  all  resistance 
ceased. 

"The  fall  both  of  the  general  and  the  colonel  commanding  the 
fort — one  about  four  and  the  other  about  four-thirty  o'clock 
p.  m. — had  a  perceptible  effect  upon  the  men,  and  no  doubt 
hastened  greatly  the  result;  but  we  were  overpowered,  and  no 
skill  or  gallantry  could  have  saved  the  place  after  the  enemy 
effected  a  lodgment,  except  attack  in  the  rear.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  very  heavy,  and  so,  also,  was  our  own.  Of  the  latter,  as  a 
prisoner,  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 

"At  nine  o'clock,  p.  m.,  the  gallant  Major  Reilly,  who  had 


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The  War  Between  the  States  385 

fought  the  fort  after  the  fall  of  his  superiors,  reported  the 
enemy  in  possession  of  the  sally-port.  The  brave  Captain  Van 
Benthuysen,  of  the  marines,  though  himself  badly  wounded, 
with  a  squad  of  his  men  picked  up  the  general  and  the  colonel 
and  endeavored  to  make  his  way  to  Battery  Buchanan,  followed 
by  Reilly,  with  the  remnant  of  the  forces.  On  reaching  there,  it 
was  found  to  be  evacuated,  by  whose  order  and  by  what  author- 
ity I  know  not.  No  boats  were  there.  The  garrison  of  Fort 
Fisher  had  been  coolly  abandoned  to  its  fate.  Thus  fell  Fort 
Fisher  after  three  days'  battle  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  the 
war.  Nothing  was  left  but  to  await  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
who  took  us  about  10  p.  m.  The  fleet  surpassed  its  tremendous 
efforts  in  the  previous  attack.  The  fort  had  fallen  in  precisely 
the  manner  indicated  so  often  by  myself,  and  to  which  your 
attention  has  been  so  frequently  called,  and  in  the  presence  of 
the  ample  force  provided  by  you  to  meet  the  contingency." 

Colonel  Lamb,  in  his  report,  says  he  had  half  a  mile  of  land 
face  to  defend  with  1,900  men.  He  knew  every  company  pres- 
ent and  its  strength.  This  included  the  killed,  wounded,  and 
sick. 

To  capture  Fort  Fisher,  the  enemy  lost,  by  their  own  state- 
ment, 1,445  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Nineteen  hundred 
Confederates  with  44  guns  contended  against  10,000  men  on 
shore  and  600  heavy  guns  afloat,  killing  and  wounding  almost 
as  many  of  the  enemy  as  there  were  soldiers  in  the  fort,  and  not 
surrendering  until  the  last  shot  was  expended. 

The  garrison  consisted  of  two  companies  of  the  Tenth  North 
Carolina  under  Major  Reilly ;  the  Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina, 
Col.  William  Lamb,  ten  companies ;  four  companies  of  the  For- 
tieth North  Carolina ;  Company  D,  First  North  Carolina  Artil- 
lery Battalion;  Company  C,  Third  North  Carolina  Artillery 
Battalion;  Company  D,  Thirteenth  North  Carolina  Artillery 
Battalion,  and  the  naval  detachment  under  Captain  Van  Ben- 
thuysen. 

General  Whiting  had  been  assigned  to  no  duty  by  General 
Bragg,  although  it  was  his  right  to  conmiand  the  supporting 
troops.  He  determined  to  go  to  the  fort  and  share  its  fate.  The 
commander.  Colonel  Lamb,  offered  to  relinquish  the  control,  but 
General  Whiting  declined  to  take  away  the  glory  of  the  defense 
from  him.  He  remained  with  him,  however,  and  fought  as  a 
volunteer.    It  is  related  that  during  the  fight,  when  one  hundred 


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386  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Pear  River 

immenBe  projectiles  per  minute^  were  being  hurled  at  the  fort, 
General  Whiting  was  seen  "standing  with  folded  arms,  smiling 
upon  a  400-pound  shell,  as  it  lay  smoking  and  spinning  like 
a  billiard  ball  on  the  sand,  not  twenty  feet  away,  until  it  burst, 
and  he  then  moved  quietly  away."  During  the  fight  General 
Whiting  saw  the  Federal  flag  planted  on  the  traverses.  Call- 
iiig  on  the  troops  to  follow  him,  they  fought  hand  to  hand  with 
clubbed  muskets,  and  one  traverse  was  taken.  Just  as  he  was 
climbing  the  other,  and  had  his  hand  upon  the  Federal  flag  to 
tear  it  down,  he  fell,  receiving  two  wounds.  Colonel  Lamb,  a 
half-hour  later,  fell  with  a  desperate  wound  through  the  hip. 
The  troops  fought  on.  Lamb,  in  the  hospital,  found  voice 
enough,  though  faint  unto  death,  to  say:  "I  will  not  surren- 
der"; and  Whiting,  lying  among  the  surgeons  near  by,  re- 
sponded: "Lamb,  if  you  die,  I  will  assimie  command,  and  I 
will  never  surrender." 

After  the  fort  was  captured  and  (General  Whiting  was  made 
prisoner,  he  was  taken  to  Fort  Columbus,  on  Governor's  Island, 
and  there  died,  March  10,  1865.  The  fearless  defender  of  the 
last  stand  at  Fort  Fisher,  Maj.  James  ReiUy,  in  after  years 
lived  not  far  from  the  scene  of  his  exploits  until  his  death, 
November  5,  1894. 


iRear-Admlral  Porter's  oflElcial  report  of  the  second  attack  on  Fort 
Fisher  contains  the  following  statement:  "We  expended  in  the  bom- 
bardment about  60,000  shells,"  but  in  commenting  on  this  the  compil- 
ers of  the  Otflcial  Records  of  the  Union  and  Confederate  Navies  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  Series  1,  Vol.  XI,  p.  441,  say  "An  examination  of 
reports  and  logs  shows  that  in  the  first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher  by  the 
Federal  fleet  there  were  expended  20,271  projectiles,  weighing  1,276,299 
pounds.  In  the  second  attack  there  were  expended  19,682  projectiles, 
weight,  1,662,638  pounds.  It  is  estimated  that  the  above  statement 
includes  between  90  and  96  per  cent  of  the  projectiles  actually 
expended." 


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Blockade  Running 

FINANCIAL  ESTIMATES  OF  BLOCKADE 
RUNNING. 

Some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  blockade-nmning  interests 
involving  the  Cape  Fear  alone  may  be  gathered  from  Badeau's 
statement  that  "in  little  more  than  a  year  before  the  capture  of 
Fort  Fisher,  the  ventures  of  British  capitalists  and  speculators 
with  Wilmington  alone  had  amounted  to  sixty-six  million  dol- 
lars in  gold,  and  sixty-five  million  dollars  worth  of  cotton  in  gold 
had  been  exported  in  return." 

In  the  same  period  397  steamers  had  run  the  blockade  at  Wil- 
mington. Ridpath  says  that  the  number  of  prizes  of  blockade 
runners  made  during  the  four  years'  war  was  1,504  vessels 
captured,  stranded,  or  destroyed. 

Admiral  Porter,  who  directed  the  naval  operations  against 
Fort  Fisher,  says  that  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from  General  Lee 
to  Colonel  Lamb  at  Fort  Fisher  was  captured  which  read  as 
follows :  "If  Fort  Fisher  falls,  I  shall  have  to  evacuate  Rich- 
mond." 

In  "Tales  of  the  Cape  Fear  Blocjkade,"  published  in  the 
North  Carolina  Booklet,  February  10,  1902,  page  20,  under  the 
caption  "Financial  Estimates,"  the  writer  said : 

I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  an  approximate  estimate  of 
the  value  of  supplies  brought  by  blockade  runners  into  the 
Confederacy  during  the  four  years'  war,  nor  the  amount  of  the 
losses  by  shipowners  who  failed  to  make  a  successful  voyage 
through  the  Federal  fleet.  I  have,  however,  carefully  computed 
the  actual  sum  realized  by  the  United  States  Government  from 
public  sales  of  prizes,  recorded  by  Admiral  Porter  in  his  Naval 
History  of  the  Civil  War,  which  aggregates  $21,759,595.05;  to 
which  may  reasonably  be  added  $10,000,000  for  prizes  to  my 
knowledge  not  included  in  this  report,  and  $10,000,000  more 
for  valuable  ships  and  cargoes  stranded  or  destroyed  by  design 
or  accident  while  attempting  to  escape  from  the  blockading 
squadron.  This  total  of  $42,000,000  represents  only  a  part,  per- 
haps one-half,  of  the  capital  invested.  Many  successful  steamers 
ran  up  their  profits  into  millions.     A  steamer  carrying  1,000 

[387] 


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388  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

bales  of  cotton  sometimes  realized  a  profit  of  a  quarter  of  a  mil- 
lion dollars  on  the  inward  and  outward  run  within  two  weeks. 
Cotton  could  be  purchased  in  the  Confederacy  for  three  cents 
per  pound  in  gold,  and  sold  in  England  at  the  equivalent  of 
forty-five  cents  to  one  dollar  a  pound,  and  the  profits  on  some 
classes  of  goods  brought  into  the  Confederacy  were  in  the  same 
proportion.  It  is  probably  within  the  bounds  of  truth  to  say 
that  the  blockade-nmning  traffic  during  the  war,  including  the 
cost  of  the  ships,  amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  mil- 
lion dollars,  gold  standard. 

The  Confederate  States  steamer  jB.  E.  Lee,  under  Captain 
Wilkinson,  ran  the  blockade  at  Wilmington  twenty-one  times 
and  carried  abroad  nearly  seven  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  worth 
at  that  time  about  two  million  dollars  in  gold ;  and  she  also  took 
into  the  Confederacy  equally  valuable  cargoes. 

The  steamer  Siren,  most  successful  of  all,  made  sixty-four 
runs  through  the  blockade,  and  her  profits  ran  into  millions. 

Montesquieu  has  said  that  it  is  not  the  number  killed  and 
wounded  in  a  battle  that  determines  its  general  historical  im- 
portance, and  Creasy,  in  Fifteen  Decisive  Battles  of  the  World, 
from  Marathon  to  Waterloo,  says :  "It  is  not  because  only  a  few 
hundred  fell  in  the  battle  by  which  Joan  of  Arc  captured  the 
Tourelles  and  raised  the  seige  of  Orleans  that  the  effect  of  that 
crisis  is  to  be  judged." 

Napoleon  said  that  an  army  moves  upon  its  belly.  The  re- 
sources of  the  Confederate  Army  commissariat,  steadily  de- 
pleted by  the  incessant  drain  upon  the  food  producers  and  by 
the  blockade  of  the  Southern  ports,  were  largely  sustained  dur- 
ing the  war  by  the  successful  blockade  runners  from  the  West 
Indies  to  Wilmington,  whence  cargoes  of  increasing  value  were 
immediately  transported  to  our  starving  Confederates  in  the 
field ;  but  when  the  multiplied  arms  of  the  new  navy,  like  the 
deadly  tentacles  of  the  octupus,  reached  into  every  hiding-place 
of  these  fugitives  of  the  sea,  they  gradually  brought  to  an  end, 
in  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  this  wonderful  epoch  in  our  naval 
and  commercial  history. 

New  Inlet,  since  closed  by  harbor  and  river  improvements, 
was  more  frequently  used  by  the  blockade  runners  than  the 
Main  Bar,  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Caswell,  It  was  protected 
for  four  years  by  Fort  Fisher,  which  commanded  the  last  gate- 
way between  the  Confederate  States  and  the  outside  world. 
Its  capture,  with  the  resulting  loss  of  all  the  Cape  Fear  River 


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Blockade  Running  389 

defenses  and  Wilmington,  the  entrepot  of  the  Confederacy, 
effectually  ended  blockade  running  and  compelled  the  subse- 
quent surrender  of  the  Confederate  Army  in  the  field. 

It  was,  therefore,  not  the  valor  of  the  Federal  or  of  the  Con- 
federate forces  in  the  contest  at  Fort  Fisher  that  made  it  most 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  war.  It  was  the  fatal  blow  to 
the  Confederate  conmiissariat,  the  cutting  off  of  supplies,  the 
starvation  of  Lee's  army,  the  closure  of  the  last  hope  of  the 
Confederacy,  which  gives  to  the  victory  of  Curtis,  the  gallant 
leader  of  the  Union  forces  at  Fort  Fisher,  its  lasting  importance 
as  an  historical  event. 


THE  PORT  OF  WILMINGTON  DURING  THE  WAR. 

When  Beauregard  fired  that  fateful  bombshell  which  burst 
over  Fort  Sumter  at  half  past  four  on  the  morning  of  April  12, 
1861,  it  sent  a  thrill  of  dismay  into  every  Southern  port,  and 
panic-stricken  master  mariners  hurriedly  prepared  their  ships 
for  sea,  and  welcomed  any  wind  that  would  blow  them  away 
from  the  impending  danger. 

In  a  short  time  the  Cape  Fear  was  deserted,  and  the  occupa- 
tion of  pilots  and  longshoremen  was  gone.  At  that  time  there 
were  siirty  or  seventy  licensed  bar  and  river  pilots  and  appren- 
tices, who  had  no  thought  of  the  rich  harvest  of  golden  sovereigns 
which  Fortune  was  to  pour  into  their  pockets  in  the  strange 
commerce  of  the  beleaguered  city  that  became  the  gateway  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy. 

Thb    BlOGEjU)B. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  April,  1861,  President  Lincoln  declared 
by  proclamation  a  military  and  conmiercial  blockade  of  our 
Southern  ports,  which  was  supplemented  by  the  proclamation 
of  the  27th  of  May  to  embrace  the  whole  Atlantic  coast  from 
the  capes  of  Virginia  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande.  This 
was  technically  a  "constructive,"  or  "paper,"  blockade,  inas- 
Qiuch  as  the  declaration  of  the  great  powers  assembled  in  con- 
gress at  Paris,  in  1856,  removed  all  imcertainty  as  to  the  prin- 
ciples upon  which  the  adjudication  of  prize  claims  must  pro- 
ceed by  declaring  that  "blockades,  in  order  to  be  binding,  must 
be  effective;  that  is  to  say,  must  be  maintained  by  a  force  suffi- 
cient really  to  prevent  access  to  the  enemy's  coast" 


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390  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

It  was  obviously  impossible  at  that  time  for  the  Federal 
Government  to  enforce  a  blockade  of  the  Southern  coast,  meas- 
uring 3,649  miles  and  containing  189  harbors,  besides  almost 
innumerable  inlets  and  sounds  through  which  small  craft  might 
easily  elude  the  four  United  States  warships  then  available  for 
service,  the  remaining  38  ships  of  war  in  commission  being  on 
distant  stations. 

Measures  were,  therefore,  taken  by  the  Navy  Department  to 
close  the  entrances  of  the  most  important  Southern  ports,  notably 
those  of  Charleston  and  Savannah,  by  sinking  vessels  loaded 
with  stone  across  the  main  channels  or  bars.  Preparations  were 
also  made  on  a  more  extensive  plan  to  destroy  the  natural  road- 
steads of  other  Southern  ports  and  harbors  along  the  coast  by 
the  same  means ;  but,  although  twenty-five  vessels  were  sunk  in 
the  smaller  inlets,  it  does  not  appear  that  this  novel  method  of 
blockade  was  generally  adopted. 

In  the  meantime,  urgent  orders  had  been  sent  recalling  from 
foreign  stations  every  available  ship  of  war;  and  by  December 
of  the  same  year  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  had  purchased  and 
armed  264  ships,  which,  with  their  2,557  guns  and  22,000  men, 
rendered  the  "paper  blockade"  comparatively  effective.  A 
sorry  looking  fleet  it  was  as  compared  with  our  modem  navies ; 
ships,  barks,  schooners,  sloops,  tugs,  passenger  boats — anything 
that  would  carry  a  gun,  from  the  hoary  type  of  Noah's  Ark  to 
the  double-end  ferry  boat  still  conspicuous  in  New  York  waters. 

"The  blockading  fleet,"  says  Judge  Advocate  Cowley,  "was 
divided  into  two  squadrons ;  the  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron 
of  22  vessels,  carrying  296  guns  and  3,300  men,  and  the  Gulf 
Blockading  Squadron  of  21  vessels,  carrying  282  guns  and 
3,500  men."  This  force  was  constantly  increased  as  the  two 
himdred  specially  designed  ships  of  war  were  built  by  the  Navy 
Department.  The  squadron  reached  its  highest  degree  of  effi- 
ciency during  the  fourth  year  of  the  war  by  the  acquisition  of 
many  prizes,  which  were  quickly  converted  into  light  draft  cruis- 
ers and  rendered  effective  naval  service,  frequently  imder  their 
original  names. 

The  Blockadees. 

The  first  blockader  placed  upon  the  Cape  Fear  Station  was 
one  bearing  the  misnomer  Daylight,  which  appeared  July  20, 
1861.    Others  soon  followed,  until  the  number  of  the  blockaders 


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Blockade  Running  391 

off  New  Inlet  and  the  Main,  or  Western,  Bar  of  the  river 
was  increased  thirty  or  more;  these  formed  a  cordon  every 
night  in  the  shape  of  a  crescent,  the  horns  of  which  were  so 
close  in  shore  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for  a  small  boat  to 
pass  without  discovery.  Armed  picket  barges  also  patrolled 
the  bars  and  sometimes  crept  close  in  upon  the  forts.  For  a 
year  or  more  the  fleet  was  largely  kept  upon  the  blockading  sta- 
tions; then  a  second  cordon  was  placed  across  the  track  of  the 
blockade  runners  near  the  ports  of  Nassau  and  the  Bermudas, 
the  cruisers  of  which  sometimes  violated  the  international  dis- 
tance restriction  of  one  league — ^thr^  geographical  miles — 
from  neutral  land.  At  last  a  third  cordon  was  drawn  on  the 
edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  to  which  the  hunted  and  harassed 
blockade  runner  often  became  an  easy  prey  in  the  early  morn- 
ing after  a  hard  night's  run  in  the  darkness,  during  which  no 
lights  were  visible  to  friend  or  foe,  even  the  binnacle  lamp  being 
carefully  screened,  leaving  only  a  small  peephole  by  which  the 
ship  was  steered. 

Thb   Cruisbbs. 

Some  of  the  later  cruisers  were  faster  than  the  blockade 
runners  and  were  more  dreaded  than  the  blockading  squadron, 
not  only  because  of  their  greater  speed,  but  chiefly  because  of 
the  proximity  of  their  consorts,  which  kept  them  always  in 
sight,  often  to  the  discomfiture  of  their  unhappy  quarry, 
headed  off  and  opposed  in  every  direction.  The  prospective 
division  of  big  prize  money,  running  into  millions  of  dollars, 
was,  of  course,  the  most  exciting  feature  of  the  service  on  the 
Federal  side.  Occasionally  there  was  comparatively  trifling 
compensation,  but  great  enjoyment  in  the  capture  of  some 
small-fry  blockade  runners,  consisting  of  pilot  boats  or  large 
yawls  laden  with  two  or  three  bales  of  cotton  and  a  crew  of  three 
or  four  youths,  that  sometimes  came  to  grief  in  a  most  humiliat- 
ing way.  These  small  craft,  upon  one  of  which  the  writer  was 
at  sea  for  two  weeks,  were  too  frail  for  the  risk  of  the  longer 
voyages,  and  were  usually  projected  from  the  small  inlets,  or 
sounds,  farther  South,  which  gave  them  a  short  run  of  about 
a  hundred  miles  to  the  outer  Bahama  Keys,  through  whose  dan- 
gerous waters  they  would  warily  make  their  way  to  Nassau. 
A  boat  of  this  description  sailed  over  a  Florida  bar  on  a  dark 
night  under  a  favorable  wind ;  but,  failing  to  get  out  of  sight 
of  land  before  morning  dawned,  was  overhauled  at  sunrise  by  a 


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392  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

blockader  and  ordered  to  come  alongside,  where,  with  their  own 
hands,  these  miniature  blockade  runners  were  obliged  to  hook 
on  to  the  falls  of  the  Federal  davits,  by  which  they  were  igno- 
miniously  hoisted — boat,  cargo  and  crew,  to  the  captor's  deck. 
The  desertion  of  negro  slaves  from  tidewater  plantations  and 
their  subsequent  rescue  as  "Intelligent  Contrabands"  by  the 
coasting  cruisers  formed  an  occasional  incident  in  the  records 
of  their  oflScial  logs ;  but  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact,  deserving  hon- 
orable mention,  that  comparatively  few  of  the  trusted  negroes 
upon  whom  the  soldiers  in  the  Confederate  Army  relied  for  the 
protection  and  support  of  their  families  at  home  were  thus 
found  wanting.  A  pathetic  and  fatal  instance  is  recalled  in  the 
case  of  a  misguided  negro  family  which  put  off  from  the  shore 
in  the  darkness,  hoping  that  they  would  be  picked  up  by  a 
chance  gunboat  in  the  morning.  They  were  hailed  by  a  cruiser 
at  daylight,  but  in  attempting  to  board  her  their  frail  boat  was 
swamped,  and  the  father  alone  was  rescued,  the  mother  and  all 
the  children  perishing. 

A   Port  of   Rbfuob. 

The  natural  advantages  of  Wilmington  at  the  time  of  the 
War  between  the  States  made  it  an  ideal  port  for  blockade 
runners,  there  being  two  entrances  to  the  river.  New  Inlet  on 
the  north,  and  the  Western,  or  Main,  Bar,  on  the  south  of  Cape 
Fear. 

For  miles  the  slope  of  our  beach  is  very  gradual  to  deep 
water.  The  soundings  along  the  coast  are  regular,  and  the  floor 
of  the  ocean  is  remarkably  even.  A  steamer  hard  pressed  by 
the  enemy  could  run  along  the  outer  edge  of  the  breakers  with- 
out great  risk  of  grounding ;  the  pursuer,  being  usually  of  deeper 
draft,  was  obliged  to  keep  further  off  shore.  The  Confederate 
steamer  Lilian,  of  which  I  was  then  purser,  was  chased  for 
nearly  a  hundred  miles  from  Cape  Lookout  by  the  United 
States  steamer  Shenandoah,  which  sailed  a  parallel  course 
within  half  a  mile  of  her  and  forced  the  Lilian  at  times  into 
the  breakers.  This  was  probably  the  narrowest  escape  ever 
made  by  a  blockade  rimner  in  a  chase.  The  Shenandoah  began 
firing  her  broadside  guns  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  her 
gunners  and  the  commanding  officers  of  the  batteries  being 
distinctly  visible  to  the  Lilians  crew.  A  heavy  sea  was  nm- 
ning  which  deflected  the  aim  of  the  man-of-war,  and  this  alone 


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Blockade  Running  393 

saved  the  Lilian  from  destruction.  A  furious  bombardment 
by  the  Shenandoah^  aggravated  by  the  display  of  the  Lilian's 
Confederate  flag,  was  continued  until  nightfall,  when,  by  a 
clever  ruse,  the  Lilian,  guided  by  the  flash  of  her  pursuer's 
guns,  stopped  for  a  few  minutes;  then,  putting  her  helm  hard 
over  ran  across  the  wake  of  the  warship  straight  out  to  sea,  and 
on  the  following  morning,  passed  the  fleet  off  Fort  Fisher  in 
such  a  crippled  condition  that  several  weeks  were  spent  in 
Wilmington  for  repairs. 

THE  CHASE.i 
(After  Homeward  Bouod.] 

Freed  from  the  lingering  chase,  in  devious  ways 

Upon  the  swelling  tides 

Swiftly  the  Ulian  glides 
Through  hostile  shells  and  eager  foemen  past; 
The  lynx-eyed  pilot  gazing  through  the  haze. 
And  engines  straining,  "far  hope  dawns  at  last." 

Now  falls  in  billows  deep  the  welcome  night 

Upon  white  sands  below; 

While  signal  lamps  aglow 
Seek  out  Fort  Fisher's  distant  answering  gleams. 
The  blockade  runner's  keen,  supreme  delight, — 
Dear  Dixie  Land,  the  haven  of  our  dreams! 

Jabiss  Spbtjnt. 


CAPE    FEAE   PILOTS. 

The  four  years  of  blockade  running,  from  1861  to  1865, 
were  so  crowded  with  incidents  and  adventures  of  an  extraor- 
dinary and  startling  nature  that  each  day  brought  a  new  and 
novel  experience. 

I  recall  my  first  day  under  fire,  the  trembling  knees,  the 
terrifying  scream  of  the  approaching  shells,  the  dread  of  in- 
stant death.  Again,  the  notable  storm  at  sea  in  which  our 
ship  was  buffeted  and  lashed  by  the  waves  until  the  straining 
steel  plates  cut  the  rivets,  the  fireroom  was  flooded  and  the 
engines  stopped,  while  the  tempest  tossed  us  helpless  upon  the 
mountainous  waves,  and  all  hope  of  saving  our  lives  was  gone 
imtil  we  were  mercifully  cast  upon  a  reef  which  extends  about 

iFlrst  published  in  the  North  Carolina  Booklet. 


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394  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

thirty  miles  from  Bermuda.  And  later,  when  our  party  of  five 
persons  endeavoring  to  reach  the  Confederacy  in  a  small  launch 
after  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  was  cast  away  the  second  day  upon 
Green  Turtle  Cay,  an  obscure  island  of  the  Bahamas,  where 
we  dwelt  in  a  negro's  hut  for  three  weeks,  and  then  foolishly 
risked  our  lives  again  for  two  weeks  at  sea  in  a  small  boat 
which  landed  us  in  the  surf  among  the  man-eating  sharks  off 
Cape  Canaveral,  Florida. 

Strangely  enough,  as  I  was  writing  these  reminiscences  of 
long  ago,  a  benevolent  old  gentleman  presented  himself  at  my 
office  door  and  said,  "I  want  to  see  my  old  friend,  Mr.  Sprunt, 
who  was  purser  of  my  ship  fifty  years  ago,  and  whom  I  have 
not  seen  since  then,"  It  was  gratifying  to  see  again  in  the 
flesh  my  brother  officer,  Andrew  J.  Forrest,  of  Baltimore,  who 
was  first  assistant  engineer  with  us  when  Fort  Fisher  was  cap- 
tured and  our  occupation  as  blockade  runners  terminated. 
Among  many  other  incidents  which  our  meeting  brought  to 
mind  was  a  ludicrous  scene  recalled  by  my  friend.  'TDo  you 
remember,"  said  Andy,  'Tiow  annoying  it  was  to  the  captain 
when  his  belated  slumbers,  after  a  night  at  poker,  were  dis- 
turbed in  the  early  morning  by  the  usual  holy-stoning  and 
washing-down-decks  which  Chief  Officer  Carrow  was  so  par- 
ticular about?  Do  you  recall  the  occasion  when,  having  fin- 
ished breakfast,  we  were  strolling  about  the  quarter-deck,  and 
a  rooster  got  out  of  the  coop  near  the  galley  and,  perching  him- 
self upon  the  bridge-deck  near  the  captain's  stateroom,  crowed 
and  crowed,  imtil  with  a  savage  oath  the  skipper  burst  out  of 
the  door  in  his  pajamas  with  a  big  Colt's  revolver  and  chased 
that  rooster  all  over  the  ship  in  a  rage  that  fairly  choked  us 
with  laughter  ?" 

My  friend  tells  me  that  we  two  are  the  only  survivors  of  the 
fifty-two  officers  and  men  upon  the  muster  roll  of  the  old  ship, 
which  was  subsequently  used  as  a  transport  in  the  South  Ameri- 
can wars. 

The  stirring  scenes  recalled  in  these  reminiscences  occurred 
more  than  a  half-century  ago.  But  few  of  those  who  participated 
in  blockade  running  still  survive,  and  their  hoary  heads  and 
feeble  knees  attest  the  measure  of  their  days.  One,  whose 
moral  excellence  commands  universal  respect,  still  heeds  the 
call  of  the  sea,  and  none  of  his  profession  is  more  skillful  in 
piloting  the  big  steamers  with  their  valuable  cargoes  through 
the  devious  Cape  Fear  Channel  over  the  bar  to  the  city's  harbor. 


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Blockade  Running  395 

Fifty  years  ago  he  and  I  were  captured,  man  and  boy  together, 
in  the  same  ship,  under  the  Confederate  flag;  and  we  suffered 
together  the  privations,  discomforts,  and  trials  of  prisoners  of 
war.  Upon  the  return  of  peace  our  vocations  cemented  a  friend- 
ship which  has  extended  unbroken  to  the  present  time.  Some 
years  ago  he  was  called  by  the  Master  who  once  walked  upon 
the  sea  to  the  higher  service  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  in 
which  he  has  been  signally  blessed. 

The  writer,  for  twenty-six  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  of  Navigation  and  Pilotage,  having  ample 
means  of  observation  at  home  and  abroad,  believes  that  our 
pilots  compare  most  favorably  with  those  of  the  order  elsewhere 
in  all  the  essential  qualifications  of  this  dangerous  calling. 

The  story  of  their  wonderful  skill  and  bravery  in  the  time  of 
the  Federal  blockade  has  never  been  written,  because  the  sur- 
vivors were  modest  men,  and  because  time  obliterated  from 
their  memories  many  incidents  of  that  extraordinary  epoch  in 
their  history. 

Amidst  almost  impenetrable  darkness,  without  lightship  or 
beacon,  the  narrow  and  closely  watched  inlet  was  felt  for  with 
a  deep-sea  lead  as  a  blind  man  feels  his  way  along  a  familiar 
path,  and,  even  when  the  enemy's  fire  was  raking  the  wheel- 
house,  the  faithful  pilot,  with  steady  hand  and  iron  nerve, 
safely  steered  the  little  fugitive  of  the  sea  to  her  desired  haven. 
It  might  be  said  of  him  as  it  was  told  of  the  Nantucket  skipper, 
that  he  could  get  his  bearings  on  the  darkest  night  by  a  "taste" 
of  the  lead. 

We  recall  the  names  of  some  of  the  noted  blockade  runners 
and  their  pilots,  so  well  known  in  Smithville  about  fifty  years 
ago :  Comvbia,  afterwards  called  the  Lady  Davis,  C.  C.  Morse ; 
Giraffe,  afterwards  known  as  the  R.  E.  Lee,  Archibald  Ghithrie ; 
Fanny,  Henry  Howard ;  Hansa,  J.  N.  Burruss ;  City  of  Peters- 
burg, Joseph  Bensel;  Old  Dominion,  Richard  Dosher;  Alice, 
Joseph  Springs;  Margaret  and  Jessie,  Charles  W.  Craig;  Hebe, 
George  W.  Burruss;  Advance,  C.  C.  Morse;  Pet,  T.  W.  Craig; 
Atalanta,  Thomas  M.  Thompson;  Eugenia,  T.  W.  Newton; 
Ella  and  Annie,  J.  M.  Adkins;  Banshee,  Thomas  Burruss; 
Venus,  R.  Sellers;  Don,  William  St.  George;  Lynx,  J.  .W. 
Craig ;  Let  Her  Be,  J.  T.  Burruss ;  Little  Hattie,  R.  S.  Gris- 
som;  Lilian,  Thomas  Grissom;  North  Heath,  Julius  Dosher; 
Let  Her  Rip,  E.  T.  Burruss ;  Beauregard,  J.  W.  Potter ;  Owl, 
T.  B.  Garrason ;  Agnes  Fry,  Thomas  Dyer ;  Kate,  C.  C.  Morse ; 


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396  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Siren,  John  Hill;  Calypso,  C.  G.  Smith;  Ella,  John  Savage; 
Condor,  Thomas  Brinkman;  Coquette,  E.  T.  Daniels;  Mary 
Celeste,  J.  W.  Anderson;  Susan  Bieme,  Richard  Dosher. 

Many  other  steamers  might  be  named,  among  them  the 
Britannic,  Emma,  Dee,  Antonica,  Victory,  Oranite  City,  Stone- 
wall Jackson,  Flora,  Eavelock,  Hero,  Eagle,  Duoro,  Thistle, 
Scotia,  Gertrude,  Charleston,  Colonel  Lamb,  Dolphin,  and 
Dream,  the  names  of  whose  pilots  may  or  may  not  be  among 
those  already  recalled.  These  are  noted  here  because  there  is 
no  other  record  of  their  exploits  extant. 

Some  of  the  steamers  which  were  run  ashore  by  the  block- 
aders  may  still  be  seen :  The  Ella  on  Bald  Head,  the  Spunky 
and  the  Georgiana  McCall  on  Caswell  Beach,  the  Hehe  and 
the  Dee  between  Wrightsville  and  Masonboro.  The  Beauregard 
and  the  Venus  lie  stranded  on  Carolina  Beach;  the  Modem 
Greece,  near  New  Inlet;  the  Antonica,  on  Frying  Pan  Shoals. 
Two  others  lie  near  Lockwood's  Folly  Bar;  and  others  whose 
names  are  forgotten  lie  half-buried  in  sands,  where  they  may 
remain  for  centuries  to  come. 

James  William  Craig,  a  Veteran  Pilot. 

He  is  now  the  Rev.  James  William  Craig,  Methodist 
preacher,  but  I  like  to  think  of  him  as  Jim  Billy,  the  Cape 
Fear  pilot  of  war  times,  on  the  bridge  of  the  swift  Confederate 
blockade  runner  Lynx,  commanded  by  the  intrepid  Captain 
Reed,  as  she  races  through  the  blackness  of  night  on  her  course 
west  nor'west,  straight  and  true  for  the  Federal  fleet  off  New 
Inlet,  in  utter  silence,  the  salt  spray  of  the  sea  smiting  the  faces 
of  the  watch  as  they  gaze  ahead  for  the  first  sign  of  inuninent 
danger. 

Soon  there  is  added  to  the  incessant  noise  of  wind  and  waves 
the  ominous  roar  of  the  breakers,  as  the  surf  complains  to  the 
shore,  and  the  deep-sea  lead  gives  warning  of  shoaling  water. 
"Half -speed,''  is  muttered  through  the  speaking  tube ;  a  hurried 
parley-;  a  recognized  landfall — for  Reed  is  a  fine  navigator — 
and  "Are  you  ready  to  take  her.  Pilot  ?"  "Ready,  sir,"  comes 
from  Jim  Billy  in  the  darkness.  Then  the  whispered  orders 
through  the  tube:  "Slow  down,"  as  there  looms  ahead  the  first 
of  the  dread  monsters  of  destruction.  "Starboard,"  "Steady," 
and  the  little  ship  glides  past  like  a  phantom,  unseen  as  yet. 
Then  "Port,"  "Port,"  "Hard  a'port,"  in  quick  succession,  as 


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Blockade  Running  397 

she  almost  touches  the  second  cruiser.  She  is  now  in  the  thick  of 
the  blockading  squadron ;  and  suddenly,  out  of  the  darkness  and 
close  aboard;  comes  the  hoarse  hail,  "Heave  to,  or  I'll  sink  you,'' 
followed  by  a  blinding  glare  of  rockets  and  the  roar  of  heavy 
guns.  The  devoted  little  Confederate  is  now  naked  to  her 
enemies,  as  the  glare  of  rockets  and  Drunmiond  lights  from 
many  men-of-war  illuminate  the  chase.  Under  a  pitiless  hail 
of  shot  and  shell  from  every  quarter,  she  boimds  full  speed 
ahead,  every  joint  and  rivet  straining,  while  Jim  Billy  dodges 
her  in  and  out  through  a  maze  of  smoke  and  flame  and  burst- 
ing shells.  The  range  of  Fort  Fisher's  guns  is  yet  a  mile 
away.  Will  she  make  it?  Onward  speeds  the  little  ship,  for 
neither  Reed  nor  Jim  Billy  has  a  thought  of  surrender.  A 
shell  explodes  above  them,  smashing  the  wheelhouse;  another 
shell  tears  away  the  starboard  paddle-box ;  and  as  she  flies  like 
lightning  past  the  nearest  cruiser,  a  sullen  roar  from  Colonel 
Lamb's  artillery  warns  her  pursuers  that  they  have  reached 
their  limitations;  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  gallant  little  ship 
crosses  the  bar  and  anchors  imder  the  Confederate  guns.  The 
captain  and  his  trusty  pilot  shake  hands  and  go  below,  "to  take 
the  oath,"  as  Reed  described  it — ^for  the  strain  must  be  relaxed 
by  sleep  or  stimulation.  "A  close  shave,  Jim,"  was  all  the 
captain  said.  "It  was,  sir,  for  a  fact,"  was  the  equally  laconic 
answer. 

My  shipmate,  Jim  Billy,  is  growing  old,  and  so  am  I.  Our 
lives  have  been  united  all  these  years  in  a  bond  which  death 
only  can  divide;  and  as  we  talk,  as  we  often  do,  about  old 
times  and  those  who  took  part  with  us  in  the  stress  of  war,  all 
of  whom  have  gone  out  upon  the  boundless  tide,  we  are  thank- 
ful that  we  are  in  the  convoy  of  Him  who  walked  upon  the  sea, 
and  that  we  will  be  guided  to  our  desired  haven  by  His  good 
hand  upon  us.  Some  days  ago  I  drew  out  of  Jim  Billy  the 
following  narrative,  which  I  have  set  down  as  nearly  as  may 
be  in  his  own  words,  and  I  trust  it  may  serve  to  interest  and 
instruct  some  readers  who  do  not  often  hear  a  true  sailor's 
yam: 

^T.  was  bom  in  May,  1840,  and  piloted  my  first  vessel  into 
the  Cape  Fear  River  when  I  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  At 
that  time  Mr.  P.  W.  Fanning,  of  Wilmington,  was  chairman 
of  the  Board  of  Conmiissioners  of  Navigation  and  Pilotage, 
and  the  present  custom  of  issuing  branches,  or  licenses,  was  not 
in  vogue. 


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898  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"I  acted  under  the  protection  of  my  father,  who  was  a  fuU 
branch  pilot ;  in  other  words,  he  was  permitted  to  carry  in  ves- 
sels of  any  depth  suitable  for  the  water  then  available.  I  was 
an  apprentice  to  him. 

"When  the  war  broke  out  I  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  and, 
in  view  of  certain  circumstances  favorable  to  my  reputation,  I 
was  given  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Navigation  and 
Pilotage  a  license  for  twelve  feet,  the  laws  having  been  changed 
a  year  or  two  before  the  war  in  respect  to  the  method  of  issuing 
licenses. 

"My  father,  James  N.  Craig,  lived  a  short  distance  from 
Fort  Fisher  on  the  river  side  at  a  place  called  Craig's  Landing, 
and  his  house  and  landing  were  both  used  later  by  the  com- 
mander of  Fort  Fisher,  Col.  William  Lamb,  who  was  so  inti- 
mately engaged  with  my  father  that  he  gave  him  general  charge 
of  the  duty  of  setting  lights  for  the  benefit  of  blockade  run- 
ners, under  certain  restrictions  which  had  been  provided.  I 
was  therefore  engaged  for  nearly  two  years  after  the  outbreak 
of  the  war  in  assisting  my  father,  and  became  more  familiar 
with  the  channel  and  the  approaches  of  the  channel  than  many 
other  pilots  who  had  not  the  opportunity  of  sounding,  as  we  had 
frequently,  under  government  instructions. 

"The  first  proposal  made  to  me  to  take  a  ship  through  the 
blockade  was  by  Capt.  E.  C.  Reed,  commander  of  the  celebrated 
cruiser  Sumter.  This  vessel  had  been  dismantled  of  her  guns 
on  account  of  her  slow  speed  and  general  imfitness  for  a  cruiser, 
after  her  destruction  of  many  vessels  of  the  enemy,  and  she  was 
sent  into  Wilmington  with  a  cargo  of  war  stores,  conspicuous 
among  which  were  two  enormous  Blakely  guns,  which  were 
subsequently  used  in  the  defense  of  Charleston. 

"After  the  discharge  of  the  cargo  at  Wilmington,  the  Sumter 
was  loaded  with  cotton,  and  Captain  Reed  brought  her  down  to 
Old  Brunswick  landing  and  anchored  before  he  made  arrange- 
ments for  the  engagement  of  a  pilot  to  take  him  out. 

"In  coming  into  the  Cape  Fear  Captain  Reed  had,  through 
a  successful  ruse,  passed  through  the  blockading  fleet  by  hoist- 
ing the  United  States  ensign  and  pretending  to  be  one  of  the 
fleet.  The  blockaders  did  not  discover  his  true  character  until 
he  was  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  consequently  they 
were  very  eager  to  capture  him  on  his  voyage  outward. 

"At  that  time  of  the  tide  it  was  impossible  to  take  over  the 
Rip  Shoal  or  across  either  of  the  bars  a  ship  drawing  more  than 


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Blockade  Running  399 

eleven  feet.  The  Sumter  drew  eleven  feet  of  water  and 
grounded  repeatedly  in  attempting  to  go  out.  Captain  Eeed  of- 
fered me  $1,000  in  gold  if  I  would  take  the  ship  out  successfully 
and  reach  Bermuda,  where  he  would  discharge  me  and  proceed 
to  England  with  his  cargo. 

"I  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  get  the  Sumter  out- 
side, but,  owing  to  the  lack  of  water  and  the  vigilance  of  the 
blockading  fleet,  we  were  baffled  repeatedly.  At  last  I  took  her 
out  successfully  over  the  bar  at  New  Inlet,  the  fleet  in  the 
meantime  having  concentrated  at  the  Western  Bar,  expecting 
to  capture  her  there,  and  Captain  Beed  subsequently  told  me 
that  he  proceeded  to  Bermuda  and  to  England  without  sighting 
a  single  hostile  vessel  during  the  whole  voyage. 

"A  short  time  after  that  I  piloted  in  the  Steamship  Orion 
over  New  Inlet  Bar  successfully,  the  vessel  having  arrived  off 
the  bar  without  a  pilot  and,  very  luckily  for  the  ship  as  well 
as  for  me,  hailed  me  while  I  was  setting  some  lights  for  an- 
other vessel,  the  Comvbia,  ready  to  go  out  in  charge  of  Pilot 
C.  C.  Morse. 

"Just  as  Morse  was  passing  us,  he  called  out,  'Don't  take 
your  lights  in  too  soon,  because  if  we  run  afoul  of  a  blockader 
outside,  he  may  run  us  in  again,  and  we  want  the  benefit  of  the 
lights.' 

"Sure  enough,  a  few  minutes  after  the  Comuhia  had  faded 
from  our  sight  beyond  the  bar,  we  were  surprised  by  the  sudden 
looming  up  of  another  large  steamer,  which  at  first  we  supposed 
was  a  blockader  chasing  the  Comvhia. 

*We  were  still  more  surprised,  and  really  frightened,  when 
they  lowered  a  boat  and  pulled  close  up  to  us  in  the  semi-dark- 
nees  and  demanded  to  know  who  we  were,  Pilot  Thomas  Newton 
being  with  me.  They  asked  if  we  were,  pilots,  which  we  ad- 
mitted was  the  case.  The  voice,  which  proved  to  be  that  of  the 
chief  officer  of  the  blockade  nmner  Orion,  a  very  fine  ship,  then 
replied,  We  have  been  trying  to  run  into  Charleston,  and  failed 
to  do  so.  We  are  groping  around  for  the  New  Inlet  Bar.  Will 
you  take  us  in  V  We  at  once  agreed,  and  proceeded  to  the  ship 
and  brought  her  in  over  the  bar  and  anchored  her  in  safety 
under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher. 

"Strangely  enough,  the  captain  of  the  Orion,  who  claimed  to 
be  a  Baltimorean,  recognized  me,  and  reminded  me  that  I  had 
taken  him  over  the  bar  before  the  war,  when  he  commanded  a 
schooner  from  Baltimore. 


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400  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"Some  months  afterwards  a  very  fine  blockade  runner  called 
the  Don,  under  command  of  Captain  Roberts  (whose  real  name 
was  Hobart,  a  son  of  the  Earl  of  Buckinghamshire,  and  a  post 
captain  in  the  British  Navy,  who  had  obtained  leave  of  absence 
in  order  to  try  his  skill  at  blockade  running),  was  brought  suc- 
cessfully to  Wilmington  by  Pilot  St.  George,  who  was  there 
taken  sick,  and  I  was  requested  to  assume  his  place. 

"On  my  return  to  Wilmington  in  the  Don,  I  relinquished 
this  vessel  to  her  former  pilot,  St.  George,  and  made  a  contract 
with  the  agent  in  Wilmington  of  a  firm  which  owned  a  number 
of  blockade  runners — a  notable  one  being  the  Hansa — ^to  pilot 
any  vessels  which  he  might  designate  and  be  subject  to  his 
orders  at  any  moment,  the  term  of  engagement  being  three 
months. 

"Immediately  afterwards,  I  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Nassau 
in  the  blockade  runner  Fanny  (formerly  the  Orion),  and  report 
to  Captain  Watters,  of  the  blockade  runner  Annie,  for  duty  on 
that  ship. 

"I  remember  that  we  left  in  the  Fanny  on  Saturday  night 
and  arrived  in  Nassau  before  daylight  on  Tuesday  morning, 
where  I  found  the  Annie,  fully  loaded  and  ready  for  sea,  wait- 
ing for  me.  We  accordingly  left  about  4  o'clock  that  afternoon 
and  arrived  without  incident  inside  the  Cape  Fear  Bar  on 
the  Friday  night  following. 

"I  made  a  second  voyage  through  the  blockade  in  the  Annie, 
passing  within  a  cable-length  of  two  of  the  Federal  fleet  that 
failed  to  observe  us. 

"We  again  loaded  the  Annie  in  Nassau  and  cleared  for 
Wilmington,  but  fell  in  with  a  hurricane  shortly  afterwards, 
and  were  obliged  to  heave  to  for  about  forty  hours,  and  so  lost 
our  reckoning.  Failing  to  get  observations  for  three  days,  we 
waited  until  the  gale  subsided,  and  then  anchored  the  ship  in 
smooth  water,  by  a  kedge,  imtil  the  captain  succeeded  in  getting 
an  observation  of  the  North  Star,  by  which  he  worked  out  his 
position.  We  then  shaped  our  course  straight  for  the  blockade 
fleet  off  Fort  Fisher. 

"At  that  time,  and  subsequently,  it  was  the  custom  for  the 
flagship  of  the  blockading  squadron  to  carry  a  large  light,  and 
this,  being  the  only  one  visible,  often  served  the  purpose  of 
guiding  the  blockade  runners  until  they  could  get  the  bearings 
of  the  Moimd  Light.  On  this  particular  night  of  May  6,  1864, 
we  came  very  near  running  afoul  of  the  Confederate  iron-<5lad 


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Blockade  Running  401 

ram  Raleigh  outside  of  the  bar,  but,  supposing  her  to  be  one  of 
the  blockaders,  got  out  of  her  way  as  quickly  as  possible, 

"My  term  of  three  months'  service  having  expired,  I  was 
proceeding  in  my  skiff  from  Craig's  Landing  to  Wilmington 
when  I  was  overtaken  by  a  very  swift  blockade  runner,  with 
two  rakish  fimnels,  a  perfect  model  of  its  kind,  called  the 
Lynx,  and,  having  been  given  a  towline,  climbed  aboard  and 
found,  to  my  great  surprise  and  delight,  that  the  ship  was  com- 
manded by  my  old  friend.  Captain  Reed,  who  immediately  re- 
quested that  I  would  arrange  to  go  with  him,  as  his  engagement 
of  a  pilot  was  only  for  the  voyage  inward. 

"To  this  I  consented  on  condition  that  General  Whiting 
would  approve  it,  and  I  received  a  few  days  afterwards  a  tele- 
gram to  go  on  board  the  Lynx  at  Fort  Fisher.  I  was  in  a 
hurricane  on  this  ship  in  which  she  fared  badly,  her  paddle- 
boxes,  sponsons,  and  bridge-deck  being  partly  washed  away; 
but  we  at  last  limped  into  Bermuda  and,  after  repairing  dam- 
ages, proceeded  again  to  Wilmington. 

"The  longest  chase  of  which  I  was  a  witness  during  the  war 
occurred  while  I  was  on  the  Lynx,  which  was  chased  for  fifteen 
hours  by  that  very  fast  cruiser.  Fort  Jackson.  The  Fort  Jack- 
son's log  and  official  report  subsequently  showed  that  she  was 
making  sixteen  knots  an  hour,  which  at  that  time  was  considered 
phenomenal  speed  (the  average  blockade  runner  seldom  ex- 
ceeding fourteen  knots  an  hour),  and  on  this  occasion  I  remem- 
ber that  the  safety-valves  of  the  Lynx  were  weighted  down  by 
the  iron  tops  of  the  coal  bunkers,  which  of  course  imperiled  the 
life  of  every  one  on  board,  but  increased  the  speed  of  the  Lynx 
to  more  than  sixteen  knots  an  hour  and  enabled  her  ultimately 
to  escape. 

"After  making  two  round  passages  in  the  Lynx  and  running 
the  blockade  four  times  in  this  vessel,  several  times  under  fire, 
I  joined  at  Wilmington  the  Confederate  steamer  Lilian  imder 
the  following  peculiar  circumstances : 

"Quite  a  number  of  the  Wilmington  pilots  had  been  cap- 
tured by  the  enemy,  and  the  force  available  for  ships  belonging 
to  the  Confederate  Government  waiting  in  Bermuda  and  Nas- 
sau was  in  consequence  greatly  reduced.  The  regular  pilot  of 
the  Lilian  was  Thomas  Grissom,  and  I  was  one  of  four  extra 
pilots  (the  three  others  being  Joseph  Thompson,  James  Bell, 
and  Charles  Craig),  who  were  ordered  by  General  Whiting  to 
proceed  to  Bermuda  and  take  charge  of  certain  ships  to  be 

26 


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402  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

designated  by  Maj.  Norman  S.  Walker,  the  Confederate  agent 
at  that  port 

"Trouble  began  before  we  got  outside.  An  armed  barge  from 
the  fleet  had  come  close  inside  the  Western  Bar  and  lay  in  our 
track  in  the  channel,  and  immediately  upon  our  approach,  sent 
up  a  rocket  and  fired  a  gun,  which  was  instantly  answered  by 
the  whole  fleet  outside,  and  I  remember  that  we  crossed  the 
bar  in  a  bright  flash  of  Drummond  lights  and  rockets  which 
made  the  night  as  bright  as  day.  Every  one  of  the  blockaders 
was  firing  at  us  or  over  us  as  we  headed  out  to  sea,  and  when 
the  next  morning,  Sunday,  dawned,  we  had  just  succeeded  in 
dropping  the  last  of  the  cruisers,  which  had  chased  us  all  night 

"We  were  congratulating  ourselves  after  breakfast  that  morn- 
ing that  we  would  have  a  clear  sea  towards  Bermuda — ^and,  by 
the  way,  the  sea  was  as  smooth  as  glass — ^when  the  lookout  in 
the  crowds  nest  reported  a  vessel  of  war  ahead,  shortly  after- 
wards another  on  the  starboard  bow,  and  a  little  later  a  third 
on  our  port  bow,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  fourth  on  our  beam. 
We  had  unfortunately  run  into  the  second  line  of  blockaders, 
called  the  Gulf  Squadron,  and  it  was  not  more  than  two  hours 
before  they  were  all  in  range  and  pelting  us  with  bombshells. 

"The  chase  lasted  imtil  half-past  one  in  the  afternoon,  when 
a  shell  from  the  cruiser  on  our  starboard  beam,  called  the 
Gettysburg,  formerly  the  blockade  runner  Margaret  and  Jessie, 
struck  us  below  the  water  line,  making  a  large  hole  through 
which  the  water  rushed  like  a  mill-stream. 

"All  our  efforts  to  stop  the  leak  with  blankets  were  unavail- 
ing. We  had  previously  thrown  over  our  deck-load  of  cotton, 
but  it  was  impossible  to  reach  the  aperture  from  the  inside,  as 
the  hold  was  jam  full  of  cotton;  and  in  a  short  time  the  vessel 
began  to  steer  badly  and  gradually  sank  almost  to  the  level  of 
the  deck.  Finding  further  efforts  to  escape  utterly  fruitless, 
the  captain  stopped  the  ship  and  surrendered  to  the  boats  which 
immediately  surrounded  us. 

"I  remember  that  when  the  ship  was  hove  to  and  the  Federal 
officers  came  on  board,  our  sullen  and  dejected  commander  was 
standing  on  the  starboard  paddle-box,  with  his  arms  folded  and 
his  back  turned  to  the  approaching  Federals.  One  of  them, 
with  a  drawn  sword,  approached  and  asked  if  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  ship.  Captain  Martin  responded  with  an  oath: 
T.  was  in  command,  but  I  suppose  you  are  captain  now.' 

"Although  every  effort  had  been  made  to  escape,  those  of  us 


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Blockade  Running  403 

who  knew  Captain  Maffitt,  the  former  commander  of  the  Lilian, 
regretted  very  much  his  absence  on  this  occasion,  as  he  would 
most  likely  have  been  more  fortimate  in  getting  away. 

"Knowing  how  eager  the  Federals  were  to  identify  the  pilot 
of  the  ship,  they  being  in  blissful  ignorance  that  there  were  no 
fewer  than  five  Wilmington  pilots  on  board,  we  all  agreed  to 
personate  firemen  or  members  of  the  crew,  and  succeeded  in 
passing  ourselves  off  as  such.  Subsequently  all  of  us  escaped 
except  the  ship's  pilot,  who  was  detained  at  Point  Lookout  until 
the  end  of  the  war. 

"Our  ship's  company  numbered  forty-eight  men,  and  now, 
after  a  lapse  of  forty-eight  years,  we  two,  James  Sprunt,  purser, 
and  J.  W.  Craig,  pilot,  are  the  only  survivors  of  them  all.^ 

"After  our  escape  from  prison,  we  made  our  way  to  Halifax, 
Nova  Scotia,  through  the  medium  of  some  gold  coins,  which  I 
fortunately  kept  next  to  my  body  in  a  waistband  and  which 
paid  the  passage  of  four  of  my  companions,  including  Mr. 
Sprunt.  I  joined  the  steamer  Bat  at  Halifax,  and  proceeded 
as  her  pilot  to  Wilmington.  When  off  the  bar,  and  in  the  midst 
of  the  blockading  fleet,  which  was  firing  heavily  upon  us,  the 
captain  lost  his  nerve  and,  notwithstanding  my  expostulations, 
persisted  in  stopping  the  Bat.  The  cause  of  the  captain's  ex- 
citement was  due  to  this  remarkable  incident :  One  of  our  sail- 
ors was  a  survivor  of  the  desperate  battle  between  the  Alabama 
and  the  Kearsarge  off  Cherbourg  some  months  before,  serving  on 
the  Alabama;  but,  instead  of  proving  to  be,  as  might  be  expected, 
a  very  brave  man,  under  the  fire  of  the  blockading  fleet  he 
became  terrified  and  hid  himself  as  far  forward  under  the 
turtleback  in  the  eyes  of  our  ship  as  he  could  squeeze  himself. 
During  the  firing  of  the  fleet  a  shot  struck  the  exact  spot  where 
this  poor  fellow  was  hiding  and  cut  off  his  leg,  causing  him  to 
utter  such  shrieks  as  to  demoralize  the  captain,  who  ignobly 
stopped  and  anchored  his  ship  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  when 
he  might  just  as  well  have  gone  on,  with  less  risk  of  destruction. 
The  ship  that  took  us  that  night  wa3  the  United  States  steamer 
Montgomery. 

"For  the  second  time  I  was  made  a  prisoner  of  war  and  under 
the  following  circumstances,  which  I  have  never  mentioned  but 
once  before. 

'^Before  I  became  engaged  in  the  blockade-running  service, 
I  was  acting  as  mate  on  the  Confederate  steamer  Flora  Mac- 

iMr.  Craig  has  since  died. 


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404  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

donald,  a  transport  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  and  when  the 
Confederate  privateer  Retribution  sent  into  Wilmington  a  prize 
schooner,  which  she  had  captured  at  sea,  in  charge  of  one  of 
the  Retribution's  officers  named  Jordan,  who  had  shipped  with 
Capt.  Joseph  Price  in  Wihnington,  I  assisted  in  towing  that 
vessel  from  the  bar  to  Wilmington,  and  of  course  saw  much  of 
Jordan. 

When  T  v;as  captured  by  the  Montgomery,  I  was  taken  to 
Portsmouth  Navy  Yard,  where  we  were  boarded  by  a  Federal 
officer  in  a  captain's  uniform,  who  proved  to  be  none  other  than 
my  quondam  Confederate  friend  Jordan,  who  had  gone  over  to 
the  enemy,  and  who  immediately  recognized  me  and  informed 
against  me. 

"I  was  then  put  in  irons  and  sent  on  board  the  XJ.  S.  man-of- 
war  Sabine,  where  I  was  most  kindly  treated  by  its  commander, 
Captain  Loring,  and  while  a  prisoner  on  his  ship  I  was  repeat- 
edly approached  by  the  Federal  officers,  who  offered  to  pay  any 
sum  I  would  name  if  I  would  join  their  fleet  off  Fort  Fisher 
and  take  part  as  a  pilot  in  their  attack  against  my  home.  I 
told  them  that  the  United  States  Government  did  not  have 
enough  money  to  induce  me  to  accept  such  a  proposition,  and  I 
accordingly  remained  a  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout  until  after 
the  war  was  over. 

"I  may  add  that  while  I  was  a  prisoner  on  the  Sabine,  two 
of  the  Cape  Fear  pilots,  C.  C.  Morse  and  John  Savage,  were 
brought  on  board  as  prisoners,  under  suspicion  of  being  pilots, 
and,  although  they  were  intimate  friends  of  mine,  I  took  par- 
ticular pains  to  treat  them  as  total  strangers  and  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  them,  lest  it  might  get  them  into  further  trouble.  They 
were  much  relieved  when  they  discovered  my  purpose.  Savage 
was  subsequently  released,  but  Morse,  having  been  identified 
later  by  some  other  means,  was  made  a  prisoner  with  me  until 
the  end  of  the  war. 

"The  monotony  of  prison  life  affords  so  few  incidents  that 
my  experience  is  hardly  worth  recalling,  and  yet  I  remember 
some  diversions,  which  gave  us  much  merriment  at  the  time. 

"While  our  friends  of  the  Lilian  were  confined  for  several 
weeks  in  a  casemate  of  Fort  Macon,  that  garrison  consisted  of 
what  the  Yankees  called  the  First  Regiment  of  North  Carolina 
Volunteers.  These  men  were  known  to  us,  however,  as  TBuffa- 
loes,'  and  they  were  a  mean  lot,  as  can  be  imagined  from  their 
having  turned  against  their  native  State  in  time  of  great  stress 


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Blockade  Running  405 

of  war.  Every  day  an  officer  and  a  guard  took  us  outside  our 
gloomy  casemate  and  permitted  us  to  stretch  our  legs  along  the 
beach,  while  we  gazed  with  longing  eyes  across  the  intervening 
sound  to  Dixie  Land.  The  marsh  grass  was  full  of  sand  fid- 
dlers, which  scuttled  away  at  our  approach.  I  pretended  to  be 
surprised  and  asked  the  guard  what  these  things  were,  saying 
that  they  would  be  called  lobsters  in  my  country  if  they  were 
much  larger.  The  old  renegade  looked  at  me  with  a  most  con- 
temptuous expression  and  replied :  'You  know  what  they  are ; 
you've  got  millions  of  them  at  Smithville,  whar  you  come  from.' 

"Another  daily  experience  was  the  persistent,  though  unsuc- 
cessful, effort  of  the  officer  of  the  day  to  tease  out  of  our  young 
purser,  James  Spnmt,  whom  he  thought  an  easy  mark  on 
account  of  his  youth  (17  years),  betrayal  of  our  pilot,  little 
dreaming  that  we  were  five  Wilmington  pilots. 

"A  warm  attachment  began  in  that  prison  life  between  Mr. 
Sprunt  and  myself,  which  has  been  true  and  steadfast  through 
all  these  intervening  years.  We  little  thought  then  that  our 
lives  would  be  so  long  united  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  fellow- 
ship and  comimercial  enterprise. 

"During  my  subsequent  confinement  on  the  Sabine  as  a  pris- 
oner of  war,  a  large  number  of  blockade  nmners  who  had  been 
captured  at  sea  were  brought  to  that  school-ship  for  confinement, 
and  Captain  Loring  tried  in  every  way  to  surprise  those  sus- 
pected of  being  pilots  into  an  admission  of  the  fact.  One  fine 
day,  while  the  prisoners  were  lying  on  the  deck,  he,  looking  like 
an  old  sea  dog,  bluff  and  hearty,  paced  up  and  down  among 
them,  and  suddenly  turning  on  his  heel  called  out:  'AH  you 
North  Carolinians  stand  up  quick!'  I  cast  my  eyes  over  a 
number  of  our  pilots,  fearing  they  would  be  taken  by  this 
surprise  and  betray  themselves,  but  not  a  man  stirred,  and  old 
Loring,  who  was  really  a  good  fellow  and  kind  to  us,  went  on 
his  way. 

"I  hope  it  may  not  be  amiss,  in  the  conclusion  of  these 
reminiscences,  to  allude  to  the  fact  that,  although  I  have  been 
all  these  years  engaged  as  a  Cape  Fear  pilot,  in  the  duties  of 
my  vocation,  it  has  pleased  God  to  call  me  also  to  the  higher 
duty  of  preaching  His  gospel,  as  a  Methodist  minister,  and  to 
make  me  the  humble  instrument,  in  His  hands,  of  guiding  some 
of  my  fellow-men  to  their  eternal  rest,  as  I  have  guided  the 
ships  to  their  haven. 

"There  was  a  moral  lesson,  to  those  who  heeded,  in  the 


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406  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

devious  path  of  our  hunted  fugitives  of  the  sea  in  war  time, 
for  the  Christian  warfare  is  a  running  fight  with  many  adver- 
saries of  the  soul,  and  if  we  will  but  follow  the  lead  of  the 
Great  Pilot,  He  will  bring  us  safe  at  last  to  'an  anchor  within 
the  vail,  whither  our  Forerunner  is  already  entered/ 

"There  is  a  beautiful  figure  in  this  Scripture  which  few 
landsmen  recognize.  The  approach  by  sailing  vessels  in  the 
olden  time  to  the  inlets  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea  was  often 
baffled  by  adverse  winds,  or  calms;  a  little  boat  was  then 
lowered,  which  carried  into  the  harbor  a  kedge  anchor  that  was 
dropped  overboard.  To  this  small  anchor  was  attached  a  line 
by  which  the  vessel  was  warped  by  the  windlass  into  the  haven. 
The  man  who  carried  the  anchor  in  was  the  forerunner,  and, 
in  the  figure,  he  is  Christ,  the  Captain  of  our  Salvation;  the 
line  is  the  line  of  faith,  and  the  man  at  the  windlass  is  a  human 
soul  who  trusts  in  God." 

Captain  Daniel  W.  Lbb. 

A  few  weeks  ago  I  spent  a  pleasant  day  with  Capt  Daniel 
W.  Lee,  in  Virginia,  the  sailor  nephew  of  the  illustrious  leader 
of  the  Lost  Cause,  who  served  as  an  officer  on  board  the  Con- 
federate States  cruiser  Chickamauga,  which,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  John  Wilkinson,  spread  consternation  up  and 
down  the  Northern  coast  during  the  last  ninety  days  of  the 
war. 

Across  the  historic  Rappahannock  lay  the  famous  town  of 
Fredericksburg,  the  home  of  Washington  and  Mercer,  the 
cradle  of  American  independence,  so  often  swept  by  fire  and 
sword  in  the  scourge  of  war.  Beyond  this,  like  two  great 
armies,  were  the  serried  ranks  of  30,000  to  40,000  Confederate 
and  Federal  dead,  waiting  for  the  trumpet  call;  and  farther 
still,  the  ancient  house  of  Brompton  on  Marye's  Heights,  around 
which  the  iron  hail  and  storm  of  battle  swept,  leaving  many 
thousand  bullet-scars  which  time  has  not  effaced. 

From  these  familiar  scenes  which  fill  the  contemplative  mind 
with  sad  emotions,  Captain  Lee  turned  with  kindling  eyes  to 
the  recital  of  his  daring  runs  through  the  Cape  Fear  blockade, 
and  courteously  inquired  for  the  welfare  of  his  old  shipmates 
at  Wilmington  and  Southport,  nearly  all  of  whom  have  gone 
out  on  their  last  voyage.  With  characteristic  modesty  he  de- 
clined to  write  a  narrative  of  his  war-time  experience;  but  as 


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he  was  a  subordinate  under  Captain  Wilkinson,  the  latter's 
narration  of  cruises  in  which  they  were  engaged  will  serve  to 
connect  the  sea  life  of  this  distinguished  gentleman  with  a 
unique  epoch  in  Cape  Fear  history. 

Pilot  Buebusb. 

A  familiar  face  and  figure  in  the  strenuous  days  of  1861  to 
1866  was  Pilot  Ned  Burruss,  of  Smithville.  He  was  reckoned 
one  of  the  coolest  and  bravest  of  men  under  fire  and  also  a 
pilot  of  great  ability.  I  recall  a  characteristic  story  of  Burruss. 
When  Captain  Keed,  of  the  Sumter,  aroused  him  from  a  deep 
sleep  with  the  exclamation,  "Ned,  we  are  surrounded  by  the 
Yankees  and  can  not  escape;  we  must  either  be  sunk  or  run 
ashore,"  Burruss  rubbed  his  eyes  and  remarked  in  a  matter-of- 
fact  tone,  "Well,  I  guess  I'd  better  put  on  a  clean  shirt."  For 
years  after  the  war  he  held  a  steady  engagement  as  pilot  on  the 
Clyde  steamers,  and  when  he  gave  it  up  his  employers  parted 
with  him  regretfully,  because  they  regarded  him  as  a  most 
trustworthy  and  capable  man.  Mr.  Burruss  always  inspired  his 
shipmates  with  confidence.  His  quiet,  kindly  disposition  and 
his  well-known  skill  made  many  friends.  His  death  recently 
was  greatly  deplored. 

Captain  Steele. 

I  recall  an  instance  of  extraordinary  nerve  on  the  part  of 
Captain  Steele,  of  the  blockade  runner  Banshee,  who  found 
himself  at  daylight  close  alongside  a  Federal  cruiser.  The 
captain  of  the  warship  Nyphon  simply  had  the  Banshee  in  the 
hollow  of  his  hand,  and  desiring  to  capture  this  valuable  prize 
without  the  risk  of  sinking  her  and  thereby  losing  the  prize 
money,  he  commanded  Steele  to  heave  to  immediately  or  he 
would  sink  him.  Steele,  standing  on  the  paddle-box,  presented 
a  ludicrous  spectacle  as  he  coolly  shouted  back  that  he  didn't 
have  time  to  stop,  because  he  was  in  a  hurry.  Thereupon  issued 
a  cross  fire  of  vituperation,  while  Steele's  engineers  were  piling 
on  steam  in  a  desperate  effort  to  escape.  The  Federal  com- 
mander, still  unwilling  to  destroy  his  prize  and  lose  its  value, 
continued  to  threaten,  until  he  saw  the  Banshee  gradually  draw- 
ing away  from  him,  when  he  shot  away  one  of  her  masts  and 
raked  the  little  ship  from  stem  to  stem  with  grapeshot,  while 


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408  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Steele's  men  were  lying  flat  on  the  deck  for  shelter.  The  quar- 
termaster abandoned  the  wheel  and  the  little  ship  ran  into  the 
breakers,  but  was  brought  safely  through  by  her  intrepid  pilot, 
Tom  Burruss,  a  brother  of  Ned  Burruss. 

John  William   Anderson. 

John  William  Anderson  was  a  Smithville  mariner,  engaged, 
as  all  of  them  were,  in  running  the  blockade.  His  name  will 
live  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  people, 
because  his  last  voyage  splendidly  illustrated  tlie  heroism  and 
fidelity  to  duty  of  a  Cape  Fear  pilot.  Although  I  remember 
the  incident  in  all  its  details,  I  prefer  to  relate  it  in  the  words 
of  the  late  Alfred  Moore  Waddell,  the  gifted  writer  of  Wil- 
mington, whose  spirit  has  also  taken  its  "flight  to  the  undis- 
covered country" : 

"Among  these  blockade  runners  in  1863  was  a  steamer  called 
the  Mary  Celeste.  Her  pilot  was  John  William  Anderson,  of 
Smithville,  and  he,  like  all  the  best  pilots,  was  as  familiar  with 
the  channels  over  the  bars,  both  at  New  Inlet  (where  Fort 
Fisher  stood,  and  which  is  now  closed)  and  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  as  a  farmer  is  with  the  roads  over  his  land.  One 
night,  in  the  month  of  August,  1863,  Anderson  took  the  Mary 
Celeste  out  over  New  Inlet  Bar,  and,  gliding  past  the  blockading 
fleet,  which  was  always  watching  for  such  valuable  prizes,  es- 
caped under  cover  of  darkness  and  reached  Nassau  in  safety. 
He  only  escaped  one  danger  to  run  into  another  more  fearful. 
Yellow  fever  was  raging  there,  and  the  victims  of  that  scourge 
were  most  numerous  among  the  sailors  and  other  non-residents. 
Anderson  was  stricken  with  the  fever  just  before  the  Mary 
Celeste  weighed  anchor  for  her  return  voyage,  and  by  the  time 
she  neared  the  North  Carolina  coast  it  was  evident  he  must  die. 

"An  entrance  through  the  blockading  fleet  could,  of  course, 
only  be  made  between  sunset  and  sunrise  and,  as  Anderson  was 
the  only  Cape  Fear  pilot  on  board,  great  anxiety  prevailed  as  to 
the  safety  of  the  ship.  At  last  the  critical  hour  arrived,  when, 
in  the  uncertain  light  of  the  dawn,  they  found  that  they  had 
run  near  a  blockader  and  had  been  seen  by  her.  The  blockader 
opened  fire  on  the  Mary  Celeste  and  pursued  her.  Like  a  scared 
greyhound  she  made  straight  for  New  Inlet  Bar,  then  visible 
several  miles  away,  and  after  her  steamed  the  blockader,  from 
whose  bow  gim  every  few  minutes  would  leap  a  flame  followed 


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by  a  shell  which  would  pass  over  or  through  her  rigging  and 
burst  in  the  air,  or,  striking  the  sea,  would  flash  a  great  column 
of  spray  towards  the  sky.  By  this  time  poor  Anderson  was 
dying  in  his  berth,  and  the  officers  of  the  ship  began  to  realize 
the  terrible  situation  in  which  they  found  themselves,  with  the 
enemy  in  pursuit  and  before  them  a  bar  over  which  it  was  al- 
most certain  destruction  for  any  one  aboard  except  Anderson 
to  attempt  to  steer  the  Mary  Celeste.  Anderson  heard  the  firing 
and  knew  what  it  meant  before  they  told  him.  He  knew,  too, 
that  he  was  dying  and  had  no  further  interest  in  this  world's 
affairs ;  but  the  sense  of  duty  asserted  itself  even  in  the  presence 
of  death. 

"He  was  too  weak  to  go  up,  but  he  demanded  to  be  taken  on 
deck  and  carried  to  the  man  at  the  wheel.  Two  strong  sailors 
lifted  him  and  carried  him  up  to  the  wheelhouse.  They  stood 
him  on  his  feet  and  supported  him  on  either  side.  His  face 
was  as  yellow  as  gold,  and  his  eyes  shone  like  stars.  He  fixed 
his  unearthly  gaze  upon  the  long  line  of  breakers  ahead,  then 
upon  the  dim  line  of  pines  that  stood  higher  than  the  surround- 
ing forest,  then  at  the  compass  for  a  moment,  and  said  calmly, 
'Hard  starboard.'  Quickly  revolved  the  wheel  under  the  hands 
of  the  helmsman ;  slowly  veered  the  stem  of  the  rushing  steamer, 
and  a  shell  hurtled  over  the  pilot-house  and  went  singing 
towards  the  beach. 

"Anderson  kept  his  gaze  fixed  on  the  breakers,  and  in  the  same 
calm  tone  said,  'Steady.'  On  ploughed  the  steamer  straight 
for  her  goal,  while  the  group  of  men  in  the  pilot-house  stood  in 
profound  silence  but  fairly  quivering  with  suppressed  excite- 
ment. The  blockader,  finally  seeing  that  it  was  impossible  to 
overtake  her  and  not  desiring  to  come  within  range  of  the  big 
guns  of  Fort  Fisher,  abandoned  the  chase  with  a  farewell  shot, 
and  the  Mary  Celeste,  now  nearly  on  the  bar,  slackened  her  pace 
a  little,  and  nothing  but  the  swash  of  the  sea  and  the  trembling 
thud  of  the  ship  under  the  force  of  the  engine  could  be  heard. 
The  dying  pilot,  though  failing  fast,  continued  in  the  same  calm 
tone  to  give  his  directions.  They  were  now  crossing  the  bar, 
but  had  passed  the  most  dangerous  point,  when  he  bent  his  head 
as  if  to  cough,  and  the  horrified  men  saw  the  last  fatal  symptom 
which  immediately  precedes  dissolution — black  vomit — and 
knew  that  the  end  was  very  near.  He  knew  it,  too,  but  gave  no 
sign  of  fear  and  continued  at  his  post.  His  earthly  home  was 
now  visible  to  his  natural  eye — ^he  was  almost  there,  where  loved 


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410  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ones  waited  his  coming — ^but  nearer  still  to  his  spiritual  vision 
was  the  'house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.^ 
At  last  the  bar  was  safely  crossed,  smooth  water  was  reached, 
the  engine  slowed  down,  the  Mary  Celeste  glided  silently  into 
the  harbor,  stopped  her  headway  gradually,  lay  still,  loosed  her 
anchor  chains,  dropped  her  anchor,  and  as  the  last  loud  rattle 
of  her  cable  ceased,  the  soul  of  John  William  Anderson  took  its 
'flight  to  the  undiscovered  country.'  " 


NAERA.TIVES  OF  DISTINGUISHED  BLOCKADE 

RUNNERS. 

Capt.  John  Wilkinson,  C.  S.  N. 

One  of  the  most  intelligent  and  successful  commanders  in  the 
blockade-running  fleet  was  Capt.  John  Wilkinson,  who  entered 
the  United  States  Navy  as  a  midshipman  in  1837,  and,  after  an 
honorable  and  distinguished  career,  tendered  his  services  to  the 
Confederacy  upon  the  secession  of  his  native  State,  Virginia. 

Having  received  a  commission  in  the  Confederate  States 
Navy,  he  served  in  various  responsible  positions,  and  eventually 
was  ordered  upon  special  service  in  command  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States  steamer  R.  E.  Lee. 

In  his  interesting  book  entitled  Narrative  of  a  Blockade 
Runner,  with  reference  to  the  citizens  of  Virginia  who  resigned 
their  commissions  in  the  old  service,  he  says :  "They  were  com- 
pelled to  choose  whether  they  would  aid  in  subjugating  their 
State,  or  in  defending  it  against  invasion;  for  it  was  already 
evident  that  coercion  would  be  used  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment, and  that  war  was  inevitable.  In  reply  to  the  accusation 
of  perjury  in  breaking  their  oath  of  allegiance,  since  brought 
against  the  ofiicers  of  the  army  and  navy  who  resigned  their 
commissions  to  render  aid  to  the  South,  it  need  only  be  stated 
that,  in  their  belief,  the  resignation  of  their  commissions  ab- 
solved them  from  any  special  obligation.  They  then  occupied 
the  same  position  towards  the  government  as  other  classes  of 
citizens.  But  this  charge  was  never  brought  against  them  until 
the  war  was  ended.  The  resignation  of  their  commissions  was 
accepted  when  their  purpose  was  well  known.  As  to  the  charge 
of  ingratitude,  they  reply  their  respective  States  had  contrib- 
uted their  full  share  towards  the  expenses  of  the  General  Gov- 
ernment, acting  as  their  disbursing  agent;  and,  when  these 


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Blockade  Running  411 

States  withdrew  from  the  Union,  their  citizens  belonging  to  the 
two  branches  of  the  public  service  did  not,  and  do  not,  consider 
themselves  amenable  to  this  charge  for  abandoning  their  official 
positions  to  cast  their  lot  with  their  kindred  and  friends.  But, 
yielding  as  they  did  to  necessity,  it  was  nevertheless  a  painful 
act  to  separate  themselves  from  companions  with  whom  they  had 
been  long  and  intimately  associated,  and  from  the  flag  under 
which  they  had  been  proud  to  serve/' 

With  reference  to  his  experience  in  blockade  running  at  Wil- 
mington, Captain  Wilkinson  writes : 

"The  natural  advantages  of  Wilmington  for  blockade  run- 
ning were  very  great,  owing  chiefly  to  the  fact  that  there  were 
two  separate  and  distinct  approaches  to  Cape  Fear  River,  i.  e., 
either  by  New  Inlet  to  the  north  of  Smith's  Island,  or  by  the 
Western  Bar  to  the  south  of  it.  This  island  is  ten  or  eleven 
miles  in  length;  but  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals  extend  ten  or 
twelve  miles  farther  south,  making  the  distance  by  sea  between 
the  two  bars  thirty  miles  or  more,  although  the  direct  distance 
between  them  is  only  six  or  seven  miles.  From  Smithville,  a 
little  village  about  equidistant  from  the  two  bars,  both  block- 
ading fleets  could  be  distinctly  seen;  and  the  outward-bound 
blockade  runners  could  take  their  choice  through  which  to  nm 
the  gauntlet.  The  inward-bound  blockade  runners,  too,  were 
guided  by  circumstances  of  wind  and  weather,  selecting  that  bar 
over  which  they  would  cross  after  they  had  passed  the  Gulf 
Stream,  and  shaping  their  course  accordingly.  The  approaches 
to  both  bars  were  clear  of  danger,  with  the  single  exception  of 
the  *Lump'  before  mentioned ;  and  so  regular  are  the  soundings 
that  the  shore  can  be  coasted  for  miles  within  a  stone's  throw  of 
the  breakers. 

"These  facts  explain  why  the  United  States  fleets  were  unable 
wholly  to  stop  blockade  running.  It  was,  indeed,  impossible  to 
do  so.  The  result  to  the  very  close  of  the  war  proves  this  asser- 
tion; for,  in  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  the  fleet,  many  blockade 
runners  were  afloat  when  Fort  Fisher  was  captured.  In  fact, 
the  passage  through  the  fleet  was  little  dreaded;  for,  although 
the  blockade  nmner  might  receive  a  shot  or  two,  she  was  rarely 
disabled;  and,  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  the  fleet,  the 
greater  we  knew  would  be  the  danger  of  its  vessels  firing  into 
each  other.  As  the  boys  before  the  deluge  used  to  say,  they 
would  be  very  apt  to  'miss  the  cow  and  kill  the  calf.'  The  chief 
danger  was  upon  the  open  sea,  many  of  the  light  cruisers  having 


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412  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

great  speed.  As  soon  as  one  of  them  discovered  a  blockade 
mnner  during  daylight,  she  would  attract  other  cruisers  in  the 
vicinity  by  sending  up  a  dense  column  of  smoke,  visible  for 
many  miles  in  clear  weather.  A  cordon  of  fast  steamers  sta- 
tioned ten  or  fifteen  miles  apart,  inside  the  Gulf  Stream,  and 
in  the  course  from  Nassau  and  Bermuda  to  Wilmington  and 
Charleston,  would  have  been  more  effective  in  stopping  block- 
ade nmning  than  the  whole  United  States  Navy  concentrated 
off  these  ports.  It  was  unaccountable  to  us  why  such  a  plan  did 
not  occur  to  good  Mr.  Welles,  but  it  was  not  our  business  to 
suggest.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  fraternity  to  which 
I  then  belonged  would  imanimously  have  voted  thanks  and  a 
service  of  plate  to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Navy  for  this  oversight. 

"I  say  inside  the  Gulf  Stream;  because  every  experienced 
captain  of  a  blockade  runner  made  it  a  point  to  cross  the  Stream 
early  enough  in  the  afternoon  if  possible  to  establish  the  ship's 
position  by  chronometer,  so  as  to  escape  the  influence  of  that 
current  upon  his  dead  reckoning.  The  lead  always  gave  indica- 
tion of  our  distance  from  the  land,  but  not,  of  course,  of  our 
position;  and  the  numerous  salt  works  along  the  coast,  where 
evaporation  was  produced  by  fire,  and  which  were  at  work  night 
and  day,  were  visible  long  before  the  coast  could  be  seen.  Occa- 
sionally, the  whole  inward  voyage  would  be  made  under  adverse 
conditions.  Cloudy,  thick  weather  and  heavy  gales  would  pre- 
vail so  as  to  prevent  any  solar  or  limar  observations,  and  reduce 
the  dead  reckoning  to  mere  guesswork.  In  these  cases,  the 
nautical  knowledge  and  judgment  of  the  captain  would  be  taxed 
to  the  utmost.  The  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream  varies  in  veloc- 
ity and,  within  certain  limits,  in  direction;  and  the  Stream 
itself,  almost  as  well  defined  as  a  river  within  its  banks  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  is  impelled  by  a  strong  gale  towards 
the  direction  in  which  the  wind  is  blowing,  overflowing  its 
banks,  as  it  were.  The  coimter  current,  too,  inside  of  the  Gulf 
Stream  is  much  influenced  by  the  prevailing  winds. 

"Upon  one  occasion,  while  in  command  of  the  R.  E.  Lee, 
formerly  the  Clyde  built  iron  steamer  Giraffe,  we  had  experi- 
enced very  heavy  and  thick  weather,  and  had  crossed  the  Stream 
and  struck  soundings  about  midday.  The  weather  then  clear- 
ing, so  that  we  could  obtain  an  altitude  near  meridian,  we  found 
ourselves  at  least  forty  miles  north  of  our  supposed  position,  and 
near  the  shoals  which  extend  in  a  southerly  direction  off  Cape 


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ff.AMaf^in0».  J^ 


BY  PERMISSION  AND  THROUGH  THE  COURTESY  OF  HON.  JOSEPHU8  DANIELS. 
THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY 


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Blockade  Running  413 

Lookout.  It  would  be  more  perilous  to  run  out  to  sea  than  to 
continue  on  our  course,  for  we  had  passed  through  the  off-shore 
line  of  blockaders,  and  the  sky  had  become  perfectly  clear.  I 
determined  to  personate  a  transport  bound  to  Beaufort,  a  port 
which  was  in  possession  of  the  United  States  forces  and  the  coal- 
ing station  of  the  fleet  blockading  Wilmington.  The  risk  of 
detection  was  not  very  great,  for  many  of  the  captured  blockade 
runners  were  used  as  transports  and  dispatch  vessels.  Shaping 
our  course  for  Beaufort,  and  slowing  down,  as  if  we  were  in  no 
haste  to  get  there,  we  passed  several  vessels,  showing  United 
States  colors  to  them  all.  Just  as  we  were  crossing  the  ripple 
of  shallow  water  off  the  'tail'  of  the  shoals,  we  dipped  our  colors 
to  a  sloop-of-war  which  passed  three  or  four  miles  to  the  south 
of  us.  The  courtesy  met  prompt  response ;  but  I  have  no  doubt 
her  captain  thought  me  a  lubberly  and  careless  seaman  to  shave 
the  shoals  so  closely.  We  stopped  the  engines  when  no  vessels 
were  in  sight;  and  I  was  relieved  from  a  heavy  burden  of 
anxiety  as  the  sun  sank  below  the  horizon,  and  our  course  was 
shaped  at  full  speed  for  Masonboro  Inlet. 

"The  staid  old  town  of  Wilmington  was  turned  'topsy-turvy^ 
during  the  war.  Here  resorted  speculators  from  all  parts  of 
the  South  to  attend  the  weekly  auctions  of  imported  cargoes; 
and  the  town  was  infested  with  rogues  and  desperadoes,  who 
made  a  livelihood  by  robbery  and  murder.  It  was  unsafe  to 
venture  into  the  suburbs  at  night,  and  even  in  daylight  there 
were  frequent  conflicts  in  the  public  streets  between  the  crews 
of  steamers  in  port  and  the  soldiers  stationed  in  the  town,  in 
which  knives  and  pistols  would  be  freely  used;  and  not  infre- 
quently a  dead  body  with  marks  of  violence  upon  it  would  rise 
to  the  surface  of  the  water  in  one  of  the  docks.  The  civil  au- 
thorities were  powerless  to  prevent  crime.  'Inter  arma  silent 
leges'!  The  agents  and  employees  of  different  blockade-running 
companies  lived  in  magnificent  style,  paying  a  king's  ransom  (in 
Confederate  money)  for  their  household  expenses,  and  nearly 
monopolizing  the  supplies  in  the  country  market.  Towards  the 
end  of  the  war,  indeed,  fresh  provisions  were  almost  beyond  the 
reach  of  every  one.  Our  family  servant,  newly  arrived  from 
the  country  in  Virginia,  would  sometimes  return  from  market 
with  an  empty  basket,  having  flatly  refused  to  pay  what  he 
called  'such  nonsense  prices'  for  a  bit  of  fresh  beef  or  a  handful 
of  vegetables.  A  quarter  of  lamb^  at  the  time  of  which  I  now 
write,  sold  for  $100;  a  pound  of  tea,  for  $500.     Confederate 


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414  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

money  which  in  September,  1861,  was  nearly  equal  to  specie 
in  value,  had  decline4  in  September,  1862,  to  225 ;  in  the  same 
month,  1863,  to  400,  and  before  September,  1864,  to  2,000. 

"Many  of  the  permanent  residents  of  the  town  had  gone  into 
the  country,  letting  their  houses  at  enormous  prices ;  those  who 
were  compelled  to  remain  kept  themselves  much  secluded,  the 
ladies  rarely  being  seen  upon  the  more  public  streets.  Many  of 
the  fast  young  oflScers  belonging  to  the  army  would  get  an  occa- 
sional leave  to  come  to  Wilmington,  and  would  live  at  free 
quarters  on  board  the  blockade  runners  or  at  one  of  the  numer- 
ous bachelor  halls  ashore. 

"The  convalescent  soldiers  from  the  Virginia  hospitals  were 
sent  by  the  route  through  Wilmington  to  their  homes  in  the 
South.  The  ladies  of  the  town  were  organized  by  Mrs.  DeRosset 
into  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  ministering  to  the  wants  of 
these  poor  sufferers,  the  trains  which  carried  them  stopping  an 
hour  or  two  at  the  station  that  their  wounds  might  be  dressed 
and  food  and  medicine  supplied  to  them.  These  self-sacrificing, 
heroic  women  patiently  and  faithfully  performed  the  offices  of 
hospital  nurses. 

"Liberal  contributions  to  this  society  were  made  by  both  com- 
panies and  individuals,  and  the  long  tables  at  the  station  were 
spread  with  delicacies  for  the  sick  to  be  found  nowhere  else  in 
the  Confederacy.  The  remains  of  the  meals  were  carried  by 
the  ladies  to  a  camp  of  mere  boys— ^home  guards — outside  of 
the  town.  Some  of  these  children  were  scarcely  able  to  carry  a 
musket,  and  were  altogether  unable  to  endure  the  exposure  and 
fatigue  of  field  service;  and  they  suffered  fearfully  from 
measles  and  typhoid  fever.  General  Grant  used  a  strong  figure 
of  speech  when  he  asserted  that  'the  cradle  and  the  grave  were 
robbed  to  recruit  the  Confederate  armies.'  The  fact  of  a  fearful 
drain  upon  the  population  was  not  exaggerated.  Both  shared 
the  hardships  and  dangers  of  war  with  equal  self-devotion  to 
the  cause.  It  is  true  that  a  class  of  heartless  speculators  in- 
fested the  country,  who  profited  by  the  scarcity  of  all  sorts  of 
supplies ;  but  this  fact  makes  the  self-sacrifice  of  the  mass  of  the 
Southern  people  more  conspicuous;  and  no  State  made  more 
liberal  voluntary  contributions  to  the  armies,  or  furnished  better 
soldiers,  than  North  Carolina. 

"On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  Wilmington,  on  a 
low,  marshy  flat,  were  erected  the  steam  cotton  presses,  and 
there  the  blockade  runners  took  in  their  cargoes.    Sentries  were 


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Blockade  Running  415 

posted  on  the  wharves,  day  and  night,  to  prevent  deserters  from 
getting  on  board  and  stowing  themselves  away;  and  the  addi- 
tional precaution  of  fumigating  the  outward-bound  steamers  at 
Smithville  was  adopted;  but,  in  spite  of  this  vigilance,  many 
persons  succeeded  in  getting  a  free  passage  abroad.  These  de- 
serters, or  'stowaways,'  were,  in  most  instances,  sheltered  by  one 
or  more  of  the  crew;  in  which  event  they  kept  their  places  of 
concealment  until  the  steamer  had  arrived  at  her  port  of  desti- 
nation, when  they  would  profit  by  the  first  opportimity  to  leave 
the  vessel  undiscovered.  A  small  bribe  would  tempt  the  average 
blockade-running  sailor  to  connive  at  this  means  of  escape.  The 
impecunious'  deserter  fared  worse,  and  would  usually  be  forced 
by  hunger  and  thirst  to  emerge  from  his  hiding  place  while  the 
steamer  was  on  the  outward  voyage.  A  cruel  device  employed 
by  one  of  the  captains  effectually  put  a  stop,  I  believe — certainly 
a  check — ^to  this  class  of  'stowaways.'  He  turned  three  or  four 
of  them  adrift  in  the  Gulf  Stream,  in  an  open  boat,  with  a  pair 
of  oars,  and  a  few  days'  allowance  of  bread  and  water." 

Captain  M.  P.  XJbina. 

During  my  intercourse  with  officers  of  celebrated  blockade- 
running  ships  in  the  year^  1863  and  1864,  I  met  a  mariner 
named  M.  P.  Usina,  from  Chftrlooton/  familiarly  known  as  Mike 
XJsina,  whose  skill  and  daring  made  him  famous  in  !N^assau  and 
Bermuda  and  in  all  of  the  Atlantic  States.  The  American  con- 
sul at  Nassau,  Mr.  Whiting,  eager  for  his  capture  by  the  cruisers 
which  hovered  near  the  British  islands,  bought  Usina's  portraits 
from  a  local  photographer,  and  sent  them  broadcast  among  the 
Federal  commanders  in  order  to  identify  him  when  captured,  as 
many  Southerners  escaped  long  confinement  by  claiming  to  be 
Englishmen.  Captain  Usina  seemed  to  have  a  charmed  life, 
but  he  was  in  reality  so  cool  under  fire  and  so  resourceful  in  a 
tight  place  or  situation,  that  he  slipped  through  their  fingers 
frequently  when  his  capture  seemed  certain. 

I  remember  some  of  the  incidents  connected  with  his  blockade 
experience  which  stirred  my  blood  long  years  ago  and  which  I 
still  recall  with  something  of  the  old-time  enthusiasm.  In  a 
speech  before  the  Confederate  Veterans'  Association  of  Savan- 
nah, July  4,  1893,  which  I  have  carefully  preserved.  Captain 
Usina  told  a  number  of  thrilling  stories  of  his  career  which 
deserve  honorable  mention  in  the  history  of  the  strenuous  times 
which  he  most  graphically  described.    On  that  occasion  he  said : 


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416  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"The  men  who  ran  the  blockade  had  to  be  men  who  could 
stand  fire  without  returning  it.  It  was  a  business  in  which 
every  man  took  his  life  in  his  hands,  and  he  so  understood  it. 
An  ordinarily  brave  man  had  no  business  on  a  blockade  runner. 
He  who  made  a  success  of  it  was  obliged  to  have  the  cunning  of 
a  fox,  the  patience  of  a  Job,  and  the  bravery  of  a  Spartan 
warrior.  The  United  States  Government  wanted  at  first  to 
treat  them  as  pirates,  and  was  never  satisfied  to  consider  them 
contrabandists.  The  nmners  must  not  be  armed  and  must  not 
resist ;  they  must  simply  be  cool  and  quick  and  watchful  and, 
for  the  rest,  trust  to  God  and  their  good  ship  to  deliver  them 
safely  to  their  friends. 

"The  United  States  blockade  squadron  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
consisted  of  about  300  vessels  of  all  kinds — sailing  vessels,  three- 
deckers,  monitors,  iron-clads,  and  swift  cruisers — most  of  them 
employed  to  prevent  the  blockade  runners  from  entering  Charles- 
ton and  Wilmington,  these  being  the  ports  where  most  of  the 
blockade  running  was  done.  At  each  of  these  ports  there  were 
tliree  lines  of  ships  anchored  in  a  semicircle,  so  that  our  vessels 
had  to  run  the  gaimtlet  through  these  three  lines  before  they 
had  the  enemy  astern  and  their  haven  ahead.  Besides  these, 
the  ocean  between  the  Confederate  ports  and  the  Bermudas  and 
the  West  Indies  was  policed  by  many  of  the  fastest  ships  that 
money  could  buy  or  build,  so  that  we  had  practically  to  run 
two  blockades  to  reach  a  Southern  port.  The  swiftest  of  the 
captured  blockade  runners  were  put  into  this  service,  and  I  have 
more  than  once  been  chased  by  ships  of  which  I  had  myself 
been  an  oiSScer. 

"A  few  instances  will  suffice  to  illustrate  the  fact  that  the 
risks  to  be  taken  by  the  blockade  runners  were  not  confined  to 
our  own  coast,  and  they  will  also  illustrate  the  impunity  with 
which  the  Federal  blockaders  practically  blockaded  friendly 
ports  in  violation  of  the  neutrality  laws  governing  nations  at 
peace  with  each  other. 

"English  steamers,  with  an  English  crew  and  without  cargo, 
bound  from  one  English  port  to  another,  were  taken  as  prizes 
simply  because  they  were  suspected  of  being  brought  to  the 
islands  to  be  used  as  blockade  runners. 

^TDuring  iMk  afternoon  of  March  3,  1863,  while  going  from 
Nassau  to  H«^ana  in  the  steamer  Stonewall  Jackson,  we  were 
sighted  by  the  R.  R.  Cuyler,  which  chased  us  for  thirteen  hours 
along  the  Cuban  coast  until  early  the  next  morning,  when  we 


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Blockade  Running  417 

passed  Morro  Castle  flying  the  Confederate  flag,  with  the  Cuyler 
a  short  half-mile  astern  of  us  flying  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

"In  1864,  the  Margaret  and  Jessie,  bound  from  Charleston 
to  Nassau,  was  chased  and  fired  into  while  running  along  the 
coast  of  Eleutheria,  within  the  neutral  distance — an  English 
league — the  shot  and  shell  passing  over  her  falling  into  the 
pineapple  fields  of  the  island.  She  was  finally  run  ashore  by 
her  captain  to  prevent  her  sinking  from  the  effects  of  the 
enemy's  shot. 

"On  one  occasion  I  was  awakened  by  the  sound  of  cannon  in 
the  early  morning  at  Nassau,  and  imagine  my  surprise  to  see  a 
Confederate  ship  being  fired  at  by  a  Federal  man-of-war.  The 
Confederate  proved  to  be  the  Antonica,  Captain  Coxetter,  who 
arrived  off  the  port  during  the  night  and,  waiting  for  a  pilot 
and  daylight,  found  when  daylight  did  appear  that  an  enemy's 
ship  was  between  him  and  the  bar.  There  was  nothing  left  for 
him  to  do  but  run  the  gauntlet  and  take  his  fire,  which  he  did 
in  good  shape,  some  of  the  shot  actually  falling  into  the  harbor. 
The  Federal  ship  was  commanded  by  Conmiodore  Wilkes,  who 
became  widely  known  from  taking  Mason  and  Slidell  prisoners. 
After  the  chase  was  over  Wilkes  anchored  his  ship,  and  when 
the  Governor  sent  to  tell  him  that  he  must  not  remain  at  anchor 
there,  he  said:  'Tell  the  Governor,  etc.,  etc.,  he  would  anchor 
where  he  pleased.'  The  military  authorities  sent  their  artillery 
across  to  Hog  Island,  near  where  he  was  anchored,  and  we 
Confederates  thought  the  fun  was  about  to  begin.  But  Wilkes 
remained  just  long  enough  to  communicate  with  the  consul  and 
get  what  information  he  wanted,  and  left. 

"All  this  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  Yankees  made  the  trip  a 
very  hazardous  one,  and  the  man  who  failed  to  keep  the  sharpest 
kind  of  a  lookout  was  more  apt  to  bring  up  in  a  Northern  prison 
than  in  a  Confederate  port.  Then,  too,  the  Yankee  cruisers 
managed  to  keep  pretty  well  posted  as  to  our  movements  through 
the  American  consuls  stationed  at  the  different  ports  frequented 
by  our  vessels. 

"Having  occasion  to  go  from  Nassau  to  Bermuda,  and  there 
being  no  regular  line  between  the  islands,  I  chartered  a  schooner 
to  take  me  and  part  of  my  crew  there,  and  we  had  sailed  within 
about  sixty  miles  of  our  destination  when,  at  daylb^ht,  we  were 
spoken  by  the  United  States  man-of-war  Shenakdoah.  Her 
officer  asked:  'What  schooner  is  that,  where  from  and  where 
bound  to?'     Our  captain  was  below  and   I  answered  him: 

27 


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418  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

^Schooner  Royal,  bound  from  iN'assau  to  Bermuda.'  He  or- 
dered: 'Lower  your  boat  and  come  alongside.'  I  said:  TL'll 
see  you,'  etc.,  etc.,  and  then,  'I  won't.'  Nothing  further  was 
said,  but  in  about  twenty  minutes  they  sent  an  armed  boat  along- 
side. 

''In  the  meantime  I  had  our  captain  called  and  the  English 
ensign  hoisted.  Upon  coming  on  deck  the  officer,  quite  a  young 
lieutenant,  was  shown  below,  and  after  examining  the  vessel's 
papers,  which  he  found  O.  K.,  he  was  about  to  return  to  his 
ship  when  I  invited  him  to  have  a  glass  of  wine  with  me.  I 
have  never  forgotten  his  answer:  'I  hadn't  oughter,  but  I 
reckon  I  will.'  After  a  little  wine  he  grew  talkative.  He  asked 
if  I  had  not  answered  their  hail,  and  when  I  replied  TTes,'  said 
'I  thought  so,  it  sounded  like  you.'  ^Why,  what  do  you  know 
about  me?'  I  asked.  'Oh,  I  know  enough  to  surprise  you.' 
'That  is  something  no  one  has  ever  done  yet.'  'Would  you  be 
surprised  if  I  told  you  that  your  name  is  Usina?'  'Oh,  no, 
my  name  is  Marion  Robinson.'  'How  about  the  man  who  sat  on 
the  rail  near  you  when  I  came  on  board?  He  is  your  man 
Irvin.'  'You  have  it  bad  this  morning,'  said  I;  'Does  wine 
usually  affect  you  that  way?'  'You  know  that  I  am  giving  it 
to  you  straight,'  said  he.  'Oh,  no,  you're  badly  mixed.'  'Will 
you  think  I'm  mixed  when  I  tell  you  that  that  little  Frenchman 
is  John  Sassard,  your  chief  engineer;  that  red-headed  fellow 
over  there  is  Nelson,  your  chief  officer ;  these  are  all  your  men, 
and  you  are  going  to  Bermuda  to  take  charge  of  a  new  ship  ?' 
'Well,'  said  I,  'you  certainly  have  it  bad,  you  had  better  not 
take  any  more  wine.'  'Will  you  acknowledge  I  am  right  now  ?' 
said  he,  and  produced  my  photograph  with  my  history  written 
on  the  back  of  it.  I  had  to  acknowledge  it  then;  but  I  was 
under  the  protection  of  Her  Most  Gracious  Majesty,  and  he 
had  to  admit  his  inability  to  take  me  now,  though  he  promised 
to  capture  me  before  long  and  boasted  that  he  had  come  very 
near  me  often  before.  But  'close'  didn't  count  any  more  then 
than  it  does  now,  and  he  promised  to  treat  me  well  if  he  should 
ever  have  the  chance,  and  so  we  parted  good  friends. 

"I  afterwards  found  out  that  his  ship  had  called  at  Nassau 
shortly  after  our  leaving  there,  and  the  consul  had  given  him 
my  picture  and  the  information  which  he  sprung  on  me.  I 
learned  then  that  the  photographers  there  had  been  making 
quite  a  nice  thing  selling  the  pictures  of  blockade  runners  to 
the  United  States  authorities,  together  with  what  information 


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Blockade  Running  419 

they  could  gather  about  the  originals;  and  the  result  was  that, 
witii  but  one  exception  (Captain  Coxetter,  who  was  too  wise  to 
have  his  picture  taken),  the  Yankees  had  all  our  pictures,  which 
did  then,  and  perhaps  do  still,  adorn  the  rogues'  gallery  in 
Ludlow  Street  Jail,  New  York  City.  Thus  many  a  poor  fellow 
who  thought  he  was  successfully  passing  himself  off  as  an  Eng- 
lishman was  identified  and  sent  to  Lafayette  or  Warren,  two 
winter  resorts  that  are  not  too  pleasantly  remembered  by  some 
of  my  old  shipmates. 

"The  enemy's  ships  were  provided  with  powerful  calcium 
searchlights,  which,  if  a  blockade  runner  was  in  reach,  would 
light  her  up  about  as  well  as  an  electric  light  would  at  the 
present  time,  and  make  her  a  perfect  target  for  the  enemy's  fire. 
I  have  several  times  been  just  far  enough  to  be  out  of  reach  of 
the  light  and  by  circling  around  it  dodged  them  in  the  darkness. 
Another  plan  they  adopted  was  to  throw  rockets  over  the  ship 
occasionally,  showing  to  all  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  the  course 
taken  by  the  fugitive.  I  think  one  of  the  worst  frights  I  had 
during  the  war  was  the  landing  of  a  rocket  on  deck  close  to 
where  I  was  standing.  While  we  could  not  circumvent  their 
searchlights,  I  succeeded  in  making  the  rocket  scheme  useless 
by  providing  myself  with  a  quantity  of  them,  firing  back  at 
them  whenever  they  fired  at  us,  or  firing  them  in  every  direction, 
making  it  impossible  to  tell  in  which  direction  the  chased  ship 
was  going. 

"Among  the  vessels  blockading  Wilmington  in  1864  was  the 
little  side-wheel  steamer  Nansemond,  after  the  war  a  revenue 
cutter,  and  stationed  at  this  place.  She  had  a  rifle  gun  mounted 
at  each  end,  and  being  quite  fast  made  several  valuable  captures. 
I  remember  that  among  the  craft  captured  by  her  was  the 
steamer  Hope,  Capt.  William  Hammer,  of  Charleston,  with 
1,800  bales  of  cotton  and  more  men  on  board  the  Hope  than 
there  were  on  board  the  Nansemond,  but,  unfortunately,  while 
the  Hope  was  a  stronger  and  larger  ship  and  had  more  men,  she 
was  not  allowed  to  defend  herself  and  had  to  submit  to  the 
inevitable. 

"One  afternoon,  while  in  command  of  the  Atalanta  and  ap- 
proaching Wilmington,  I  was  sighted  by  the  Nansemond  and 
was  being  chased  away  from  my  port.  Although  I  had  the 
faster  vessel,  I  realized  that  if  the  chase  continued  much  longer 
I  would  be  driven  so  far  from  my  destination  that  I  would  not 
be  able  to  get  back  that  night,  and  so  determined  that,  although 


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420  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

I  had  no  guns  to  fight  with,  I  might  try  a  game  of  bluff.  Hoist- 
ing the  Confederate  flag,  I  changed  my  course  directly  for  him, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  tables  were  turned  and  the  chaser  was 
being  chased,  the  Nansemond  seeking  with  all  possible  speed 
the  protection  of  the  ships  stationed  off  the  bar,  and  that  night 
the  Atalanta  was  safe  once  more  in  Dixie. 

"Several  years  afterwards  I  was  a  passenger  on  board  the 
little  revenue  cutter  Endeavor,  better  known  as  the  Hunkey 
Dory,  bound  from  Tybee  to  Savannah,  and  a  stranger  to  every 
one  on  board.  The  conversation  drifted  into  war  reminis- 
cences. Mr.  Hapold,  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Hunkey  Dory, 
had  been  an  engineer  on  board  the  Nansemond  when  stationed 
on  the  blockade  off  Wilmington,  and  while  giving  his  experi- 
ence, among  other  incidents,  he  told  of  the  narrow  escape  they 
had  when  the  Nansemond  was  decoyed  away  from  the  fleet  by 
a  cruiser,  under  the  guise  of  a  blockade  rimner,  that,  when  she 
thought  the  Nansemond  was  far  enough  away  from  her  friends, 
ran  up  the  Confederate  flag  and  attempted  to  make  a  prize  of 
her.  'But,'  said  he,  Hhe  little  Nansemond's  speed  saved  her.' 
You  can  imagine  their  surprise  when  I  informed  them  that  I 
was  in  charge  of  the  Confederate  vessel,  which  was  an  unarmed 
ship  chasing  one  that  was  armed — a  clear  case  of  'Run,  Big 
Traid,  Little  'Fraid'U  catch  you!' 

"As  a  rule,  the  blockade  runners  were  ships  very  slightly 
built,  of  light  draft  and  totally  unfit  to  brave  the  storms  of  the 
Atlantic.  Yet  the  worse  the  weather  the  better  it  was  liked, 
since  a  rough  sea  greatly  reduced  the  danger  from  the  enemy's 
guns.  In  most  of  the  ships  the  boilers  and  engines  were  very 
much  exposed,  and  a  single  shot  to  strike  the  boiler  meant  the 
death  of  every  one  on  board.  We  had  no  lighthouses  or  marks 
of  any  kind  to  guide  us,  except  the  enemy's  fleet,  and  had  to 
depend  upon  our  observations  and  surroundings  on  approaching 
the  coast.  Our  ships  were  painted  gray,  to  match  the  horizon 
at  night ;  some  were  provided  with  telescopic  f imnels,  and  masts 
hinged,  so  that  they  could  be  lowered,  and  others  had  the  masts 
taken  out  altogether.  A  great  source  of  danger,  and  one  which 
was  unavoidable,  was  the  black  smoke  caused  from  our  fires,  and 
for  this  sign  the  blockaders  were  always  on  the  lookout.  The 
United  States  Government  having  forbidden  the  exportation  of 
anthracite  coal,  there  was  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  use  bitumin- 
ous and  take  all  precautions  possible  to  prevent  the  issuing  of 
black  smoke  from  our  funnels. 


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Blockade  Running  421 

"On  dark  nights  it  was  very  difficult  to  discern  their  low 
hulls,  and  moonlight  nights,  as  a  rule,  were  nights  of  rest,  few 
ships  venturing  to  run  the  gauntlet  when  the  moon  was  bright. 
No  lights  were  used  at  sea.  Everything  was  in  total  silence  and 
darkness.  To  speak  above  a  whisper  or  to  strike  a  match  would 
subject  the  offender  to  immediate  punishment.  Orders  were 
passed  along  the  deck  in  whispers,  canvas  curtains  were  dropped 
to  the  water's  edge  around  the  paddles  to  deaden  the  noise,  and 
men  exposed  to  view  on  deck  were  dressed  in  sheets,  moving 
about  like  so  many  phantoms  on  a  phantom  ship. 

"The  impression  always  prevailed,  and  still  prevails  to  a 
great  extent,  that  the  South  has  no  sailors,  but  the  record  of  the 
Southern  sailors  during  the  war  is  second  to  none  that  the  world 
has  ever  produced,  and  should  the  emergency  arise  again,  the 
descendants  of  the  same  men  will  emulate  the  example  set  by 
their  fathers.  I  do  not  think  their  services  have  ever  been 
understood  or  appreciated,  from  the  fact  that  so  little  of  their 
authentic  history  has  ever  found  its  way  into  the  hands  of  the 
reading  public. 

"Most  of  them  had  all  their  relatives  and  friends  in  the 
Southern  service,  suffering  untold  hardships  and  exposing  their 
lives  daily,  and  they  felt  it  their  duty  to  risk  their  ships  and 
their  lives  to  bring  food  to  our  starving  countrymen,  determined 
if  their  ship  was  stopped  that  it  must  be  by  the  enemy  and  not 
by  their  own  order. 

^TDuring  the  first  two  years  of  the  war  the  blockade  runners 
were  almost  exclusively  officered  by  English  and  Scotch,  but 
during  the  last  two  years  the  danger  was  very  much  increased, 
and  while  there  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  bravery  of  the 
British  sailor,  it  required  the  additional  incentive  of  patriotism 
to  induce  men  to  venture  into  the  service.  It  is  noticeable  that 
nearly  all  the  officers  during  the  last  two  years  were  Confeder- 
ates. 

"The  first  steamship  to  which  I  was  attached  was  the  side- 
wheel  steamer  Leopard.  She  was  officered  entirely  by  Southern 
men:  Captain  Black  of  Savannah,  commander;  Capt.  Eobert 
Lockwood,  of  Charleston,  pilot,  and  as  gallant  a  man  as  the  war 
produced.  Cool,  quiet,  and  never  losing  his  wits,  he  was  an 
ideal  blockade  pilot.  In  the  engine  room  were  Peck,  Barbot, 
Sassard,  and  Miller,  four  splendid  mechanics  and  gallant  fel- 
lows all.  The  deck  officers  were  Bradford,  Horsey,  and  myself, 
three  boys,  twenty-four,  twenty-three  and  twenty-two  years  of 


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422  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

age,  respectively,  but  each  had  received  his  baptism  of  fire  in 
Virginia — ^Bradford,  with  a  Virginia  artillery  company;  Hor- 
sey, with  the  Washington  Artillery,  of  Charleston ;  and  I,  with 
the  Oglethorpe  Light  Infantry,  of  Savannah.  Yet,  though  long  in 
the  service,  not  one  of  us  three  ever  saw  the  inside  of  a  Federal 
prison.  Such  were  the  men  who  supplied  the  munitions  of  war, 
clothing,  and  food  for  our  armies  up  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
while  the  United  States  Government,  with  an  immense  fleet  of 
ships  and  the  whole  world  to  draw  upon,  was  powerless  to 
prevent  it. 

'^When  I  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  Mary  Celeste, 
I  was  fortunate  to  have  associated  with  me  as  brave  and  faith- 
ful a  set  of  officers  as  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  any  man;  and  I 
needed  them,  for  I  was  the  boy  captain,  the  youngest  man  to 
command  a  blockade  runner.  My  chief  engineer  was  John 
Sassard,  of  Charleston,  and  I  have  never  known  a  better  engi- 
neer nor  a  more  conscientious  Christian  gentleman.  I  never 
knew  him  to  take  a  drink,  and  I  never  heard  an  oath  issue  from 
his  lips.  Shrinking  from  anything  like  notoriety,  he  was  a  true 
Confederate  and  as  brave  as  brave  could  be.  I  think  one  of 
the  best  illustrations  of  his  nerve  was  an  incident  that  occurred 
on  my  first  voyage  in  command.  We  had  succeeded  in  getting 
through  the  blockade  off  Wilmington  and  shaped  a  course  for 
Bermuda.  Daylight  found  us  in  the  GhiM  Stream,  the  weather 
dirty,  raining,  and  a  heavy  sea,  our  ship  small  and  heavily 
loaded.  The  rain  clearing  away,  there  was  disclosed  to  our  view 
a  large  brig-rigged  steamer  within  easy  gunshot,  with  all  her 
canvas  set,  bearing  down  upon  us.  I  found  out  afterwards  that 
she  was  the  steamship  Fulton,  a  very  fast  ship  built  for  the 
passenger  trade  between  New  York  and  Havre,  France. 

^^e  altered  our  course  head  to  wind  and  sea,  causing  the 
chasing  steamer  to  do  the  same  and  to  take  in  her  sails,  which 
gave  us  a  little  advantage;  but  she  was  a  large,  able  ship,  and 
made  good  weather,  while  our  little  craft  would  bury  herself 
clean  out  of  sight,  taking  the  green  seas  in  over  the  forecastle. 
Calling  Mr.  Sassard,  I  said :  ^ John,  this  will  never  do.  That 
ship  will  soon  sink  us  or  catch  us  unless  we  do  better.'  He 
answered  in  his  quiet  manner:  ^Captain,  I  am  doing  all  that 
a  sane  man  dare  do.'  'Then,'  said  I,  'you  must  be  insane,  and 
that  quick,  for  it  is  destruction  or  Fort  Lafayette  for  us,  and  I 
would  rather  go  to  the  former.  I  am  going  to  lighten  her  for- 
ward, so  that  she  will  go  into  the  sea  easier,  and  you  must  get 


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Blockade  Running  423 

more  revolutions  out  of  the  engines.'  He  went  below,  and  I  took 
forty-five  bales  of  cotton  from  forward,  rolled  them  abaft  the 
paddles,  cut  them  open,  so  that  the  enemy  could  make  no  use 
of  them,  and  threw  them  overboard.  The  loose  cotton  floating 
in  our  wake  caused  him  to  deviate  from  his  course  occasionally, 
which  helped  us  some.  About  this  time  Sassard  sent  for  me  to 
come  down  to  the  engine-room,  where  he  said :  'Captain,  I  am 
getting  all  the  revolutions  possible  out  of  the  engines.  I  am 
following  steam  full  stroke;  this  is  a  new  ship,  first  voyage; 
these  boilers  are,  I  hope,  good  English  iron.  All  there  is  now 
between  us  and  eternity  are  these  boilers.  How  much  steam 
there  is  on  them  I  don't  know.'  He  had  a  kedge  anchor  made 
fast  to  the  safety  valve.  In  my  opinion  it  takes  a  mighty  brave 
man  to  do  that.  I  went  on  deck,  threw  the  log  and  found  the 
ship  to  be  making  seventeen  miles  an  hour,  into  a  heavy  head 
sea.  'All  right,'  I  said,  'keep  that  up  a  little  while,  and  there 
is  no  ship  in  the  United  States  Navy  that  can  catch  her.'  We 
were  soon  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  guns  and  enabled  to 
reduce  the  pressure  on  the  boilers.  Sassard  and  I  never  sepa- 
rated imtil  after  the  surrender.  My  first  assistant  engineer, 
Middleton,  was  chief  of  the  ill-fated  Lelia,  and  lost  his  life 
when  she  went  down  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mersey  with  very 
nearly  all  hands.  My  second  assistant  engineer  was  the  heroic 
McKay,  who  afterwards  drove  the  Armstrong  for  seven  hours, 
while  three  ships  were  raining  shot  and  shell  at  her.  My  pilot, 
Thomas  M.  Thompson,  of  Wilmington,  was  another  officer  who 
knew  no  fear. 

"To  illustrate  more  fully  the  kind  of  men  with  whom  I  was 
associated,  I  will  relate  a  few  incidents  that  occurred  on  board 
the  Atalanta  on  her  last  run  into  Wilmington,  when  she  was 
turned  over  to  the  naval  authorities  and  converted  into  the 
cruiser  Tallahassee. 

"Just  before  leaving  Bermuda  for  Wilmington,  several  of 
our  fastest  ships  returned  after  unsuccessful  attempts  to  get 
into  the  Confederacy  and  reported  that  the  ocean  and  coast  were 
alive  with  the  enemy's  ships  and  that  it  was  impossible  to  get 
through.  We  were  ready  for  sea,  however,  and  I  determined 
to  make  the  trial.  We  approached  the  entrance  to  Wilmington 
Harbor  on  a  beautiful  moonlight  night  in  July,  only  one  day 
before  the  full  moon.  Before  approaching  the  blockaders  the 
officers  and  men  were  notified  that  the  attempt  was  about  to  be 
made,  with  the  chances  very  much  against  us.     (There  were 


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424  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

thirty-five  blockaders  anchored  there  the  afternoon  before, 
counted  from  Fort  Caswell.)  But,  I  said  that  we  had  four 
hundred  tons  of  meat  for  starving  soldiers  and  I  intended  to 
make  a  run  for  it,  and  if  any  of  them  were  unwilling  to  take 
the  risk,  they  were  at  liberty  to  take  the  small  boats  and  try  to 
reach  the  beach.  To  their  credit,  be  it  said,  not  one  man  availed 
himself  of  the  privilege.  When  I  said  to  Mr.  Thompson,  our 
fearless  pilot,  'Tom,  I  am  going  to  make  the  attempt,  what  do 
you  think  of  it?'  his  answer  was,  *I  am  ready,  sir,  whenever 
you  are';  and  not  another  word  was  said  except  the  necessary 
orders  for  the  management  of  the  ship. 

"Slowly  approaching  the  vessel  I  supposed  to  be  the  flagship, 
which  we  used  as  a  point  of  departure  to  find  the  inlet,  there  be- 
ing no  lights  or  other  marks  to  find  the  entrance,  I  was  notified 
by  the  engineer  that  he  could  not  hold  his  steam,  and  that  we 
must  either  go  faster  or  he  would  be  obliged  to  open  his  safety 
valve,  something  never  allowed  when  the  enemy  was  within 
hearing.  I  told  him  to  hold  on  a  few  moments  and  he  would 
have  a  chance  to  work  his  steam  off.  We  could  distinctly  see 
the  ships  in  the  beautiful  moonlight,  and  they  were  so  many 
that  we  had  to  steer  directly  for  and  through  them.  As  we 
neared  the  big  flagship  she  fired  a  blank  cartridge  and  then  a 
solid  shot  across  our  bows;  and  when  near  enough  to  hail  us, 
her  officer  ordered  us  in  very  emphatic  language  to  stop  that 
ship  or  he'd  blow  us  out  of  the  water. 

"  *Hold  on,'  I  said,  'until  I  speak  to  the  engineer,'  which  I 
did  through  the  speaking  tube;  but  instead  of  stopping  the 
engines,  he  threw  her  wide  open  and  she  almost  flew  from  under 
our  feet.  Our  neighbors  soon  found  that  we  were  not  doing 
very  much  stopping  and  attempted  to  do  the  stopping  them- 
selves ;  but,  f ortimately  for  us,  they  failed  to  do  so. 

"My  chief  officer,  a  Virginian  named  Charles  Nelson  (and 
well  named),  was  ordered  by  me  to  ascertain  the  depth  of  the 
water,  as  our  ship  was  approaching  shoal  water  very  rapidly. 
In  his  deliberate  manner  he  went  to  the  leadsman,  found  out, 
and  reported  so  slowly  that  I  reproached  him  for  it.  Said  I, 
'Can  not  even  a  shell  make  you  move  faster?'  (Two  of  them 
had  exploded  between  us  in  the  meantime.)  His  answer  was, 
'What  is  the  use,  sir?  I  might  go  just  fast  enough  to  get  in 
the  way  of  one  of  them.'  This  man  was  afterwards  in  com- 
mand of  the  Armstrong,  bound  from  Wilmington  to  Bermuda, 
about  the  middle  of  November,  1864,  when,  after  successfully 


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Blockade  Running  425 

eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  blockaders  around  the  inlet,  she 
was  sighted  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  then  began — in  my 
opinion — the  most  memorable  chase  in  the  war.  She  was  first 
seen  by  the  R.  R.  Cuyler,  which  was  soon  joined  by  two  other 
ships ;  and  the  Armstrong  was  soon  in  the  position  of  the  little 
hare  and  three  large  hounds  in  pursuit.  The  Cuyler  was  a 
large  screw  steamer  built  for  the  passenger  trade  between  Sa- 
vannah and  New  York.  She  was  named  after  a  former  president 
of  the  Central  Railroad,  and  before  the  war  was  considered  the 
fastest  steamer  out  of  New  York.  At  10  a.  m.,  the  first  shot 
was  fired  from  the  Cuyler,  and  for  seven  long  hours  Nelson 
walked  the  bridge,  cool  and  collected,  not  more  excited,  in  fact, 
than  if  the  Armstrong  were  moored  to  a  dock  in  a  safe  harbor. 
The  Cuyler  alone  fired  195  shot  and  shell.  The  top  of  the 
paddle-box  was  shot  away ;  Nelson,  covered  up  with  the  wreck, 
shook  himself  clear.  An  exploding  shell  set  fire  to  the  cabin; 
the  hose  was  let  down,  the  pimips  turned  on,  and  the  fire  put 
out  with  less  excitement  than  would  be  seen  at  a  fire  in  any 
city  in  time  of  peace.  The  anchors  and  chains  were  thrown 
overboard,  and  the  masts  were  cut  away.  More  than  400  bales 
of  cotton  were  dumped  into  the  sea,  and  everything  possible  was 
done  to  lighten  the  ship  and  increase  her  speed ;  but  of  no  avail, 
the  sea  was  too  rough  for  the  little  fugitive  to  compete  with  the 
large  ships  that  were  chasing  her. 

"At  5  p.  m.  the  captain  of  the  Cuyler  hailed  Nelson  and 
ordered  him  to  stop  the  ship  or  he  would  blow  them  out  of  the 
water,  which  seemed  to  be  a  favorite  way  the  blockaders  had  of 
expressing  themselves.  Just  about  that  time  the  Armstrong's 
engine-frame  broke  in  two  and  she  was  a  prize. 

"The  first  boat  that  boarded  her  had  in  it  a  lieutenant  and  a 
surgeon;  the  latter,  before  leaving  his  boat  to  go  on  board  the 
Armstrong,  asked:  'How  many  killed  and  wounded?'  and, 
strange  to  say,  not  a  man  was  scratched.  It  seemed  miraculous 
when  we  consider  that  all  hands,  about  forty  men,  were  on  deck 
engaged  in  throwing  the  cargo  overboard.  One  of  her  crew 
afterwards  told  me  that  he  could  have  filled  a  peck  measure  with 
the  grapeshot  that  were  gathered  up  about  the  decks,  and  that 
the  pieces  of  shell  were  shoveled  overboard.  An  officer  of  the 
Cuyler  said  to  one  of  the  prisoners,  'We  have  captured  twenty- 
two  blockade  runners,  and  I  think  I  know  whereof  I  speak  when 
I  say  your  captain  is  the  bravest  man  that  runs  the  blockade.' 
The  Armstrong  made  a  trip  to  Savannah  from  New  York  after 
the  war  and  was  called  the  Savannah. 


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426  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"The  leadsman  on  board  a  blockade  runner  occupied  a  very 
responsible  position;  he  had  to  have  great  physical  endurance 
and  courage.  When  shoal  water  was  reached,  the  safety  of  the 
ship  and  the  lives  of  all  on  board  depended  upon  his  skill  and 
faithfulness.  Were  he  disposed  to  be  treacherous,  he  could,  by 
false  soundings,  put  the  ship  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  or  run 
her  in  the  breakers  and  endanger  the  lives  of  all. 

"My  leadsman  was  a  slave  owned  by  myself.  On  the  last 
trip  of  the  Atalanta,  while  under  fire,  the  ship  going  very  fast 
toward  shoal  water,  I  thought  possibly  he  might  get  rattled, 
and  to  test  him  I  said :  'Irwin,  you  can't  get  correct  soundings, 
the  ship  is  going  too  fast,  I'll  slow  her  down  for  you.'  He 
answered :  'This  is  no  time  to  slow  down,  sir,  you  let  her  go,  I'll 
give  you  the  bottom' ;  and  he  did,  he  being  a  leadsman  without 
a  peer.  I  have  had  him  in  the  chains  for  hours  in  cold  winter 
weather,  with  the  spray  flying  over  him  cold  enough  to  freeze 
the  marrow  in  his  bones,  the  ship  often  in  very  shoal  water, 
frequently  but  a  foot  to  spare  under  her,  and  sometimes  not  that. 
Yet  I  never  knew  him  to  make  a  mistake  or  give  an  incorrect 
cast  of  the  lead.  He  is  the  man  to  whom,  when  pointing  to  the 
island  of  New  Providence,  I  said :  'Every  man  on  that  island  is 
as  free  as  I  am,  so  will  you  be  when  we  get  there.'  He  an- 
swered :  'I  did  not  want  to  come  here  to  be  free,  I  could  have 
gone  to  the  Yankees  long  ago  if  I  had  wished.'  And  after- 
wards, when  the  war  was  over,  I  said  to  him:  'I  am  going  to 
England,  perhaps  never  to  see  Savannah  again,  you  had  better 
go  home.'  His  answer  was :  'I  can  not  go  without  you' ;  and  he 
did  not.  The  feeling  that  existed  between  us  can  only  be  under- 
stood by  Southern  men ;  by  a  Northern  man,  never. 

"My  brave  old  quartermaster,  William  Cuthbert,  who  had 
been  with  me  in  the  chances  and  changes  of  blockade  running, 
always  took  his  place  at  the  wheel  on  trying  occasions.  He  had 
the  courage  necessary  to  steer  a  ship  without  flinching  through 
the  whole  United  States  fleet.  He  was  a  sailor,  every  inch  of 
him.  He  it  was  who,  when  I  heard  a  crash  and  asked  him  if  he 
was  hurt,  answered :  'We  are  all  right,  sir,  but  I  do  not  know 
how  much  wheel  there  is  left,  and  the  compass  is  gone ;  give  me 
a  star  to  steer  by.'  A  shot  fired  by  a  ship  astern  of  us  had  passed 
the  two  men  at  the  wheel,  taken  out  two  spokes,  destroyed  the 
compass,  and  buried  itself  in  the  deck.  He  was  steering  the 
ship  as  though  nothing  unusual  had  happened. 

"While  in  command  of  the  Armstrong,  a  very  poorly  built, 


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Blockade  Running  427 

light  draft,  side-wheel  ship,  on  a  trip  from  Nassau  to  Wilming- 
ton, having  experienced  very  heavy  weather,  our  steam-pipe  was 
injured  to  such  an  extent  tiat  we  found  it  impossible  to  make 
more  than  three  miles  an  hour.  At  that  rate  of  speed  we  could 
not  reach  the  entrance  to  Wilmington  before  daylight,  and  to 
remain  at  sea  would  place  us  at  the  mercy  of  the  cruisers,  then 
as  thick  as  bees.  So  we  shaped  our  course  to  make  the  land  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Georgetown,  S.  C. 

'^When  daylight  broke,  the  weather  bitterly  cold,  we  found 
ourselves  among  three  of  the  enemy's  ships  lying  at  anchor  near 
the  entrance  to  Georgetown,  the  farthest  not  more  than  two 
miles  from  us.  We,  of  course,  ran  away  from  them  as  fast  as 
our  crippled  condition  would  allow,  expecting  to  be  chased  and 
captured  in  short  order;  but,  to  our  surprise  and  delight,  they 
remained  quietly  at  anchor,  and  we  continued  on  our  course  and, 
when  far  enough  to  feel  safe,  circled  around  them  and  came  to 
anchor  ourselves  under  the  beach  near  Little  Kiver  Inlet,  about 
twenty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear.  This  remark- 
able luck  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  the  extreme  cold,  which 
must  have  prevented  the  Yankee  ships  from  keeping  a  proper 
lookout. 

"After  making  all  preparations  for  setting  fire  to  the  ship 
and  landing  the  people  if  we  should  be  discovered  by  the  Fed- 
erals, we  blew  off  our  steam  and  proceeded  to  make  temporary 
repairs  to  the  steam-pipe. 

"Before  coming  to  anchor  my  attention  was  attracted  to  a 
party  of  six  men  on  shore  making  signals  to  us.  I  sent  a  boat 
and  brought  off  the  men,  who  proved  to  be  Federal  prisoners 
escaped  from  Florence,  S.  C,  and  who,  after  many  days  of 
suffering  in  a  strange  country,  had  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
coast,  only  to  find  themselves  prisoners  on  board  a  blockade 
runner  instead  of  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  gunboats,  which  they 
fondly  imagined  us  to  be.  One  poor  fellow  remarked:  T  be- 
lieve the  dogs  would  catch  a  fellow  in  this  country ;  this  is  the 
third  time  I  have  escaped,  only  to  be  recaptured  each  time.' 

^1  had  on  board  at  this  time  seven  Confederates  who  had 
escaped  from  Johnson's  Island,  and  whom  it  was  my  good  for- 
tune to  come  across  in  Halifax,  N.  S.  Having  been  on  board 
ship  some  time,  they  were  anxious  to  get  on  shore,  so  I  landed 
and  found  that  we  had  anchored  in  the  neighborhood  of  some 
salt  works,  which  were  quite  nimierous  on  this  coast,  and  whose 
fires  at  night  frequently  served  us  in  lieu  of  lighthouses. 


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428  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"While  ashore  I  secured  transportation  by  wagons,  and  sent 
my  prisoners  in  charge  of  the  seven  Confederates  across  to  the 
railroad  and  to  Wilmington,  where  they  met  me  the  next  day. 
While  lying  at  anchor  with  no  steam  and  perfectly  helpless, 
three  of  the  enemy's  ships  passed  us  almost  close  enough  to  see 
the  men  on  deck,  but  took  no  notice  of  us,  evidently  mistaking 
us  for  one  of  their  own  ships.  At  dark,  having  completed  the 
necessary  repairs  to  the  steam-pipe,  we  weighed  our  anchor  and 
at  11  p.  m.  were  safely  anchored  imder  the  guns  of  Fort  CaswelL 

"At  one  time  I  was  one  of  a  party  of  four  who  were  waiting 
at  the  island  of  Bermuda  for  a  new  ship.  We  became  tired  of 
the  poor  hotel,  kept  by  a  Northern  man  of  whom  we  were  not 
very  fond,  but  whose  hostelry  was  the  only  one  there.  Having 
an  opportunity  to  do  so,  we  rented  a  furnished  cottage,  and  for 
a  little  while  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  a  bachelors'  hall.  Among 
our  visitors  were  the  officers  of  the  British  Army  and  Navy 
stationed  there,  and  we  became  very  good  friends  with  most  of 
them.  They  professed  to  be  warm  Southern  sympathizers  while 
under  our  spirittuU  infliLence,  and  it  was  not  long  before  I  had 
an  opportimity  to  test  the  good  will  of  one  of  them. 

"Some  time  in  October,  1864,  I  was  anchored  a  few  miles 
from  Nassau,  taking  in  a  lot  of  arms  and  ammunition  from  a 
schooner  alongside.  We  were  all  ready  to  sail,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  this  lighter  load,  and  had  our  fires  banked,  ready  to  get 
steam  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  American  consul  found  out 
and  notified  the  British  authorities  that  we  were  taking  in 
contraband  of  war,  and  an  officer  was  sent  from  the  British 
frigate  then  in  port  to  investigate.  As  soon  as  the  unwelcome 
visitor  was  seen  approaching,  the  engineer  was  ordered  to  pull 
down  his  fires,  and  to  be  prepared  to  leave  at  once.  Anxiously 
watching  the  approaching  boat,  I  recognized  the  officer  to  be  an 
old  Bermuda  acquaintance.  Lieutenant  Wilson,  who  had  par- 
taken of  our  hospitality  at  our  bachelors'  cottage.  As  he  came 
alongside  I  said:  'Hello,  Wilson!  What  brought  you  here?' 
He  answered :  'It  is  reported  that  you  are  taking  in  contraband 
of  war,  and  I  am  sent  to  look  after  you.' 

"As  he  came  over  the  side  a  case  of  rifles  was  being  hoisted  in 
from  the  other  side.  'What  have  you  there  V  he  asked.  'Hard- 
ware,' I  said.  'Would  you  like  to  examine  that  case  now,  or 
will  you  come  below  and  have  a  glass  of  wine  first  V 

"He  decided  to  take  the  wine  first,  and  spent  quite  a  while 
sampling  some  excellent  'green  seal'  and  indulging  in  reminis- 


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Blockade  Running  429 

cences  of  the  pleasant  days  spent  together  at  Bermuda,  and  when 
it  was  time  to  return  to  his  ship  he  had  forgotten  to  examine  the 
cases  of  hardware,  which  were  being  hurried  over  the  side  in 
the  meantime.  Returning  to  his  boat,  not  without  some  assist- 
ance, as  he  did  not  seem  to  have  his  sea-legs  aboard,  he  bade  me 
farewell,  saying,  TTsina,  take  good  care  of  that  hardware — ^that 
hardware,  you  know/ 

"Before  he  reached  his  ship  and  another  boat  could  be  sent, 
the  hardware  was  all  on  board,  and  the  Armstrong  was  steaming 
for  Dixie,  where  the  hardware  was  soon  in  the  hands  of  men 
who  knew  something  about  that  kind  of  hardware. 

"While  blockade  runners  dreaded  moonlight,  and  gladly 
availed  themselves  of  dark  nights  and  stormy  weather  to  run 
into  the  Confederate  ports  or  out  of  them,  yet  on  several  occa- 
sions the  gauntlet  was  run  successfully  in  the  daytime. 

"On  one  occasion  we  reached  the  neighborhood  of  the  block- 
aders  off  Wilmington  in  a  gale  of  wind.  The  sea  was  so  heavy 
that  if  we  should  get  ashore  it  meant  the  destruction  of  the  ship 
and  the  loss  of  all  hands,  so  we  determined,  if  we  could  live 
the  night  through  (of  which  there  was  considerable  doubt),  to 
make  a  dash  for  it  at  daylight. 

"Just  as  the  day  dawned  we  found  ourselves  alongside  the 
United  States  steamship  HuntsvUle  (an  old  Savannah  trader), 
which  immediately  gave  chase  and  commenced  firing  at  us.  The 
noise  of  the  guns  attracted  the  attention  of  the  other  vessels,  and 
we  soon  found  ourselves  in  a  hornet's  nest.  In  consequence  of 
the  rough  sea,  however,  their  firing  was  very  inaccurate,  and  the 
batteries  near  Fort  Caswell  soon  began  firing  over  us  at  them 
as  fast  as  they  came  within  range,  causing  them  to  keep  at  a 
respectful  distance,  to  cease  firing  at  us,  and  to  haul  off  as  we 
neared  the  fort,  so  that  it  was  not  very  long  before  we  were  in  a 
position  to  receive  the  congratulations  of  our  friends  over  our 
lucky  escape. 

"On  another  occasion  I  made  the  land  between  Georgetown 
and  Wilmington  in  the  afternoon,  and  as  the  night  would  soon 
be  upon  us  I  thought  I  would  get  a  look  at  the  enemy  before 
dark.  Accordingly,  I  steamed  slowly  towards  them,  keeping  a 
bright  lookout. 

"As  we  approached  Lockwood's  Folly  Inlet,  twelve  miles  from 
Fort  Caswell,  it  became  apparent  that  the  ship  stationed  there 
to  guard  that  point  was  absent  from  her  post,  and  if  we  could 
reach  there  without  being  seen  by  the  other  ships,  there  was  a 


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430  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

chance  that  we  could  gain  the  protection  of  our  batteries  before 
they  could  head  us  off,  and  we  determined  to  try  it.  As  we 
rounded  the  point  of  shoals  off  Lockwood's  Folly,  we  came  in 
full  view  of  all  their  ships;  it  seemed  to  me  that  there  were 
hundreds  of  them.  They  at  once  recognized  our  character  and 
purpose,  and  then  began  a  most  exciting  race  for  a  given  point, 
our  ship  going  for  all  she  was  worth,  hugging  the  shore  and 
depending  upon  the  leadsman  to  keep  her  afloat;  the  enemy's 
ships  were  coming  in  to  head  us  off  and  the  booming  of  their 
guns  reminded  me  of  the  music  of  a  pack  of  hounds  in  full 
chase,  but  on  this  particular  occasion  I  failed  to  appreciate  the 
music.  The  signal  station,  located  between  Lockwood's  Folly 
and  Fort  Caswell,  signaling  the  fort,  the  conmianding  officer 
rushed  a  couple  of  Whitworth  guns  down  the  beach  in  our  direc- 
tion, and  in  a  little  while  we  heard  the  welcome  sound  of  their 
shots  going  over  our  heads,  and  we  were  safe.  From  the  time 
we  were  seen  by  the  enemy  until  we  were  under  the  protection 
of  our  guns  did  not  occupy  more  than  forty-five  minutes,  but  to 
us  it  seemed  an  age. 

"One  of  the  most  valuable  cargoes  ever  brought  into  the  Con- 
federacy was  brought  in  by  the  old  cruiser  Sumter,  converted 
into  a  blockade  runner  and  conunanded  by  E.  C.  Eeed.  Her 
cargo  consisted  of  arms,  ammimition,  clothing,  cloth,  medicines, 
and  not  the  least  important  articles  were  the  two  big  Blakely 
guns,  which  some  of  you  now  present  may  have  seen  mounted 
at  Charleston.  They  were  so  large  and  unwieldly  that  they 
were  loaded  with  their  muzzles  sticking  out  of  the  hatches. 

"The  Sumter  was  a  slow  ship,  and  could  not  make  more  than 
nine  miles  an  hour.  Unable  to  get  in  during  the  night.  Reed 
found  himself  near  the  enemy's  ships  at  daylight.  To  attempt 
to  go  off  shore  with  so  slow  a  ship  meant  a  chase  and  certain 
capture.  So  he  determined  to  try  a  game  of  bluff.  Hoisting 
the  American  ensign,  he  steamed  in  amongst  them,  paying  not 
the  least  attention  to  their  signals  or  mqvements,  and  when  they 
awoke  to  the  fact  that  the  Sumter  was  not  one  of  themselves,  she 
had  the  inside  track  and  was  soon  welcomed  by  the  guns  of 
Fort  Fisher. 

"The  devotion  of  the  women  of  the  Confederacy,  and  their 
heroic  conduct  during  our  struggle  for  existence,  will  always  be 
held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the  veterans  of  the  Lost  Cause. 
In  my  career  as  a  blockade  runner  I  chanced  to  see  several 
instances  of  nerve  displayed  by  them,  which  would  do  honor  to 


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Blockade  Running  431 

an  old  soldier.  On  one  of  our  trips  from  Bermuda  to  Wilming- 
ton I  had  with  me  as  a  passenger  a  lady  from  Kichmond.  On 
nearing  the  blockaders  I  sent  her  down  to  the  cabin,  which  was 
below  the  water  line  and  comparatively  safe  while  we  were 
imder  fire.  A  little  later,  during  the  hot  chase  and  fire  which 
we  had  to  take,  I  heard  a  voice  at  my  elbow  and,  turning,  saw 
her  at  my  side.  I  said :  1  told  you  to  go  below  and  stay  there' ; 
but  she  answered:  ^I  could  not  remain  there  in  the  darkness, 
hearing  the  guns;  if  you  will  let  me  stay  here  I'll  give  you 
no  trouble.'  'Well,  you  may  remain,'  I  told  her,  T}ut  you  must 
not  speak  to  any  one.'  She  never  left  the  bridge  imtil  we  were 
safely  anchored  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Caswell,  and  I  think 
was  the  coolest  person  on  board  the  ship. 

"Upon  another  occasion  the  steamer  Lynx,  Capt.  E.  C.  Reed, 
while  attempting  to  get  into  Wilmington,  was  completely  rid- 
dled by  the  enemy's  ships,  and,  finding  her  in  a  sinking  condi- 
tion, she  was  run  ashore  near  Fort  Fisher,  to  prevent  her  sink- 
ing in  deep  water,  the  crew  escaping  to  the  beach  in  small  boats. 
A  lady  passenger,  a  resident  of  Wilmington,  was  sent  below 
when  the  firing  began,  where  she  remained  until  the  boats  were 
ready  to  land  on  the  beach ;  she  was  found  standing  knee-deep 
in  the  water,  obeying  orders  'to  remain  until  sent  for.' 

"One  more  incident  and  I  am  done  with  the  ladies.  During 
the  bombardment  of  Sumter  our  ship  was  selected,  on  account 
of  her  speed,  to  take  important  dispatches  from  the  Confederacy 
to  Europe,  and  we  had  on  board  as  passengers  a  bridal  couple. 
We  had  to  pass  out  through  a  terrible  cross-fire  from  the  bat- 
teries on  Morris  Island  and  James  Island  and  the  ironclads 
anchored  in  Morris  Island  Channel,  which  was  returned  by 
Sumter,  Moultrie,  Ripley,  Castle  Pinckney,  and  the  Confeder- 
ate vessels.  After  passing  through  the  fireworks  display  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Sumter,  the  vessels  outside  the  bar  made  it 
lively  for  us,  but  daylight  found  us  well  to  sea  with  no  enemy 
in  sight.  At  the  beginning  of  the  firing,  my  attention  was  at- 
tracted to  the  bridal  couple.  The  groom  had  himself  spread  out 
upon  the  deck-load  of  cotton,  while  the  bride  was  standing 
quietly  near  by.  I  said  to  her :  'Are  you  not  frightened,  Mrs. 
B.  ?'  Tes,  I  am  frightened,'  she  said ;  'this  is  terrible,  but  we 
are  in  the  hands  of  the  Almighty.'  You  can  imagine  the  respect 
I  entertained  ever  after  for  the  gentleman  who,  with  such  an 
example  before  him,  displayed  such  arrant  cowardice. 

"Sailors  have  always  been  charged  with  being  superstitious; 


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432  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

but  while  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  superstition  in  my  compo- 
sition, yet  I  think  blockade  running  was  a  business  well  calcu- 
lated to  develop  it,  as  is  indicated,  for  instance,  in  the  names  of 
some  of  the  ships,  the  Phantom,  Will-o'-the-Wisp,  Banshee, 
Whisper,  Dream,  Owl,  Bat,  and  others  of  like  character,  the 
usual  objection  to  sailing  on  Friday,  the  carrying  of  a  corpse, 
etc.  One  of  the  funniest  notions  that  came  under  my  observa- 
tion was  that  if  passage  could  be  obtained  for  freight  shipped 
with  a  certain  cross-eyed  Captain  K.,  it  would  be  a  success. 

"While,  as  I  said,  I  do  not  think  I  am  given  to  superstition, 
yet  I  had  with  me  a  mascot  that,  I  believe,  was  at  that  time  one 
of  the  most  widely  known  dogs  that  ever  existed.  I  was  known 
as  the  man  that  owned  the  dog !  He  was  photographed  at  Ber- 
muda, and  the  artist  realized  quite  a  neat  sum  from  the  sale  of 
his  pictures.  He  was  left  with  me  by  a  shipmate  who  died  at 
sea,  and  when  dying  frequently  called  for  'Tinker.'  I  cher- 
ished him  for  his  master's  sake,  and  afterwards  became  warmly 
attached  to  him  for  his  own.  He  was  a  terrier,  a  great  ratter, 
and  fond  of  the  water.  He  was  my  constant  companion.  He 
seemed  to  know  when  we  were  approaching  the  enemy  and  to 
be  on  the  alert,  and  when  imder  fire  would  follow  me  step  by 
step. 

"It  was  our  custom,  in  anticipation  of  capture  or  destruction 
of  the  ship,  to  prepare  the  boats  for  leaving  the  ship  the  after- 
noon before  running  through  the  fleet.  Tinker  seemed  to  in- 
spect the  work  and  to  devote  most  particular  attention  to  the 
captain's  boat.  The  sailors  wondered  how  he  knew  one  boat 
from  another,  but  he  certainly  did. 

"When  I  placed  my  chief  officer.  Nelson,  in  command  of  the 
Armstrong,  I  induced  some  of  my  men  whom  I  knew  could  be 
depended  upon  to  go  with  him,  as  I  was  more  than  anxious  to 
have  him  succeed.  Among  those  that  I  approached  was  my  old 
stand-by,  William  Cuthbert.  His  answer  was,  T  do  not  like  to 
refuse  you,  but  I  am  too  old  a  man  now  to  go  to  Fort  Lafayette 
in  the  wintertime;  and  if  you  leave  the  ship  and  take  Tinker 
with  you  I  know  we  will  be  captured.'  I  said  to  him,  'I  am 
surprised  to  hear  a  man  of  your  intelligence  express  yourself 
in  that  way.  What  has  the  dog  to  do  with  the  safety  of  the 
ship  ?  I  am  ashamed  of  you.'  'Well,  sir,'  he  replied,  'you  may 
call  it  superstition,  or  anything  you  please,  but  as  sure  as  you 
leave  the  ship  and  take  Tinker  with  you  we  will  be  captured.' 
After  considerable  persuasion  he  consented,  very  imwillingly, 


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Blockade  Running  433 

to  go,  saying,  Til  go  in  the  ship  to  please  you,  sir,  but,  I  know 
how  it  will  be.'  The  ship  was  captured;  and  when  we  met 
again  his  first  words  were :   T.  told  you  so,  sir/ 

"I  had  with  me  as  chief  officer  an  Englishman,  who  was  a 
very  intelligent  shipmaster.  He  was  promoted  to  conmiand,  and 
when  about  to  try  his  luck,  came  to  me,  saying,  'Captain,  let  me 
have  Tinker  just  for  one  trip  and  here  is  five  hundred  dollars  in 
gold.'  I  said,  'Green,  two  fools,  you  and  I' ;  but  I  did  not  let 
him  have  the  dog.  I  could  relate  a  great  number  of  incidents 
to  illustrate  the  value  placed  upon  Tinker  by  blockade  runners, 
but  I'll  inflict  only  one  more  upon  you. 

"I  sailed  for  Wilmington  from  Bermuda  in  the  steamship 
Rattlesnake  about  the  20th  of  January,  1865.  Eight  hours 
after  I  left  Bermuda,  Captain  Maffitt,  in  command  of  the  Owl, 
arrived  at  Nassau  with  the  news  that  the  forts  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Cape  Fear  River  had  fallen.  My  friends  at  the  island 
thought  I  was  sure  to  be  captured.  Col.  James  Crenshaw,  who 
before  the  war  was  a  criminal  lawyer,  practicing  in  Richmond, 
and  at  this  time  was  part  owner  and  agent  of  our  ships  at  the 
islands,  had  been  a  sailor  in  his  yoimg  days,  and  certainly  not 
an  ignorant  one.  When  told  of  the  great  danger  of  capture  to 
which  we  were  exposed,  he  told  my  wife  to  make  herself  easy; 
as  I  had  Tinker  with  me,  I  was  all  right.  Upon  approaching 
Nassau  a  few  days  afterwards,  pointing  to  my  flag,  he  said: 
'There  is  the  Rattlesnake;  didn't  I  tell  you  so  ?'  I  was  lying  at 
anchor  in  the  harbor.  I  think  this  was  the  last  attempt  made 
to  get  into  Wilmington,  and  an  accoimt  of  it  may  interest  you. 

''We  reached  the  coast  early  in  the  night,  in  fact  before  it 
was  yet  dark,  but  quite  hazy ;  so  much  so  that  we  could  not  see 
a  ship  any  distance,  when  suddenly  I  foimd  myself  surrounded 
by  a  great  number  of  lights.  When  you  remember  that  the 
ships  of  the  blockade  squadrons  were  always  in  darkness,  with 
no  lights  set,  you  can  imagine  my  surprise.  Proceeding  toward 
the  entrance,  we  foimd  our  passage  almost  obstructed  by  the 
enemy's  ships,  they  were  so  many,  and,  stranger  than  all,  not  a  • 
shot  fired  at  us,  and  no  one  demanding  that  we  either  'stop  that 
ship,  or  he'd  blow  us  out  of  the  water.'  We  approached  Fort 
Fisher  near  enough  to  call  the  signal  officer,  who  responded  in- 
stantly. I  remarked  to  my  signal  officer :  'There  is  something 
up,  I  never  had  so  prompt  an  answer  before;  they  are  on  the 
alert  tonight.' 

"We  reported:   'Steamship  Rattlesnake,  bound  in,  set  range 


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434  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

lights.'  An  answer  came  as  quick  as  thought:  'All  right,  the 
lights  will  be  set.'  We  signaled  our  respects  to  Colonel  Lamb, 
and  asked  about  his  health.  The  answer  was :  The  colonel  is 
quite  well.  (He  was  then  lying  dangerously  woimded.)  How 
are  all  on  board,  and  what  is  the  news  from  Bermuda  V  I  in- 
structed the  officer  to  amuse  himself  talking  to  them,  that  I 
was  going  aloft,  which  I  did,  and  as  I  reached  the  masthead 
and  could  look  over  the  low  sandhills  which  line  the  North  Caro- 
lina coast,  I  could  see  the  camp  fires  of  the  armies,  and  decided 
that  either  there  had  been  an  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  or  there 
soon  would  be  one.  Upon  reaching  the  deck  I  said  to  the  pilot : 
The  tide  is  falling,  and  I  think  we  will  not  take  the  risk  on  a 
falling  tide.  I  will  wait  until  the  flood  tide  makes,  and  go  in 
just  before  daylight.  I  remained  among  the  fleet  the  best  part 
of  the  night.  I  counted  seven  monitors;  we  came  very  near 
colliding  with  three  of  them,  and  not  a  word  was  said  and  not 
a  shot  was  fired.  I  concluded  that  we  had  met  with  a  very  cool 
reception,  and  it  was  not  a  healthy  place  for  us  just  then ;  so,  at 
2  a.  m.,  I  shaped  our  course  for  Nassau.  When,  upon  arrival 
there,  I  asked  the  pilot  what  was  the  news  from  Wilmington,  he 
answered :  'Wilmington  has  gone  up  the  spout,  sir.'  I  learned 
afterwards  that  several  ships  had  gone  in  and  congratulated 
themselves  upon  getting  in  so  easily ;  but  to  their  dismay,  when 
the  boarding  officer  came  on  board,  he  wore  the  blue  instead  of 
the  gray.  At  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  our  signal-book  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  all  that  was  necessary  was  to  draw 
the  ships  in  and  take  possession,  which  accoimted  for  our  not 
being  shot  at. 

"After  the  surrender,  on  my  way  to  England,  I  buried  my 
faithful  Tinker  among  the  icebergs  of  the  North  Atlantic,  and 
every  man  on  board  stood  with  imcovered  head  when  he  was 
consigned  to  his  watery  grave.  When  blockade  running  ceased, 
his  spirits  drooped,  his  occupation  gone,  and  he  soon  sickened 
and  died. 

"His  master  felt  much  the  same  way,  but  survived.  It  was 
one  of  the  saddest  moments  of  my  life — the  Confederacy,  of 
whose  success  I  had  never  lost  hope,  no  longer  in  existence; 
leaving  my  native  land,  as  I  then  thought  never  more  to  return. 
I  felt  that  all  the  ties  that  I  had  formed  during  my  childhood 
and  youth  were  become  mere  memories ;  that  all  the  fast  friends 
I  had  made  during  our  bitter  fight  were  to  be  only  as  some 
much-beloved  hero  of  a  favorite  novel,  with  whom  we  become 


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very  familiar  until  the  tale  is  all  told,  and  who  then  passes  out 
of  mind  and  is  never  heard  of  more.  But  it  was  ordained  other- 
wise, and  I  am  happy  now  to  be  in  my  old  home,  meeting  every- 
where men  whose  sympathies  in  that  grand  struggle  were  the 
same  as  my  own,  and  who  feel  as  I  do,  that  though  our  fighting 
days  are  over,  the  memory  of  our  dead  comrades  is  strong 
enough  to  bind  us  to  each  other  until  we  all  shall  be  called  away 
to  join  them  in  the  land  of  eternal  peace." 

Thomas  E.  Tayxob. 

Several  large  and  important  shipping  firms  in  Liverpool  were 
interested  in  blockade  running  at  Wilmington,  and  each  of 
these  houses  owned  and  operated  from  five  to  ten  of  the  most 
successful  boats. 

A  young  gentleman,  Thomas  E.  Taylor,  scarcely  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  was  sent  out  from  England  to  represent  a  firm 
which  ultimately  designed  and  ran  some  of  the  finest  ships 
engaged  in  this  perilous,  though  profitable,  business ;  but  it  may 
be  doubted  if  the  company  with  whom  he  was  associated  or  any 
other  owners  realized,  in  the  end,  large  profits  on  their  ventures, 
because,  while  the  returns  were  very  large  imder  favorable  con- 
ditions, the  frequent  losses  by  capture  and  the  final  fall  of  the 
Confederacy,  which  left  them  with  ships  unsalable  for  ordinary 
trade,  so  reduced  their  earnings  that  the  game  was  scarcely 
worth  the  candle. 

In  1896  Mr.  Taylor  published  a  most  readable  book  entitled 
Running  the  Blockade,  in  which  he  tells  most  graphically  some 
of  his  extraordinary  experiences.  He  was  much  liked  by  all 
who  were  fortunate  enough  to  know  him,  and  I  well  remember 
his  genial,  happy  spirits  and  his  masterful  leadership  into 
danger  when  duty  called  him  in  the  interest  of  his  employers. 
I  quote  from  his  narrative  an  exciting  incident  which  made  a 
sensation  in  blockade-running  circles  at  the  time : 

"The  reason  for  my  leaving  the  Banshee  was  the  arrival  at 
Nassau  of  a  new  steamer,  which  my  firm  had  sent  out  to  me. 
This  was  the  WUl-o'-the-Wisp,  and  great  things  were  expected 
from  her.  She  was  built  on  the  Clyde  and  was  a  much  larger 
and  faster  boat  than  the  Banshee,  but  shamefully  put  together 
and  most  fragile.  My  first  introduction  to  her  was  seeing  her 
appear  off  Nassau,  and  receiving  a  message  by  the  pilot-boat 
from  Capper,  the  captain,  to  say  that  the  vessel  was  leaking 


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436  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

badly  and  he  dare  not  stop  his  engines,  as  they  had  to  be  kept 
going  in  order  to  work  the  pumps.  We  brought  her  into  the 
harbor,  and  having  beached  her  and  afterwards  made  all  neces- 
sary repairs  on  the  slipway,  I  decided  to  take  a  trip  in  her. 

"As  soon  as  the  nights  were  sufficiently  dark  we  made  a  start 
for  Wilmington,  unfortunately  meeting  very  bad  weather  and 
strong  head  winds,  which  delayed  us ;  the  result  was  that  instead 
of  making  out  the  blockading  fleet  about  midnight,  as  we  had 
intended,  when  dawn  was  breaking  there  were  still  no  signs  of 
them.  Capper,  the  chief  engineer,  and  I  then  held  a  hurried 
consultation  as  to  what  we  had  better  do.  Capper  was  for  going 
to  sea  again,  and  if  necessary  returning  to  Nassau ;  the  weather 
was  stiU  threatening,  our  coal  supply  running  short,  and,  with 
a  leaky  ship  beneath  us,  the  engineer  and  I  decided  that  the 
lesser  risk  would  be  to  make  a  dash  for  it.  'All  right,'  said 
Capper,  ^e'U  go  on,  but  you'U  get  d — d  well  peppered  I' 

"We  steamed  cautiously  on,  making  as  little  smoke  as  possi- 
ble, whilst  I  went  to  the  masthead  to  take  a  look  around ;  no  land 
was  in  sight,  but  I  could  make  out  in  the  dull  morning  light  the 
heavy  spars  of  the  blockading  flagship  right  ahead  of  us,  and 
soon  after  several  other  masts  became  visible  on  each  side  of  her. 
Picking  out  what  appeared  to  me  to  be  the  widest  space  between 
these,  I  signaled  to  the  deck  how  to  steer,  and  we  went  steadily 
on,  determined  when  we  foimd  we  were  perceived  to  make  a 
rush  for  it.  No  doubt  our  very  audacity  helped  us  through,  as 
for  some  time  they  took  no  notice,  evidently  thinking  we  were 
one  of  their  own  chasers  returning  from  sea  to  take  up  her 
station  for  the  day. 

"At  last,  to  my  great  relief,  I  saw  Fort  Fisher  just  appearing 
above  the  horizon,  although  we  knew  that  the  perilous  passage 
between  these  blockaders  must  be  made  before  we  could  come 
under  the  friendly  protection  of  its  guns.  Suddenly  we  became 
aware  that  our  enemy  had  found  us  out;  we  saw  two  cruisers 
steaming  towards  one  another  from  either  side  of  us,  so  as  to 
intercept  us  at  a  given  point  before  we  could  get  on  the  land  side 
of  them.  It  now  became  simply  a  question  of  speed  and  im- 
mimity  from  being  sunk  by  shot.  Our  little  vessel  quivered 
under  the  tremendous  pressure  with  which  she  was  being  driven 
through  the  water. 

"An  exciting  time  followed,  as  we  and  our  two  enemies 
rapidly  converged  upon  one  point,  other  ships  in  the  distance 
also  hurrying  up  to  assist  them.    We  were  now  near  enough  to 


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be  within  range,  and  the  cruiser  on  our  port  side  opened  fire; 
his  first  shot  carried  away  our  flagstaff  aft,  on  which  our  ensign 
had  just  been  hoisted;  his  second  tore  through  our  forehold, 
bulging  out  a  plate  on  the  opposite  side.  Bedding  and  blankets 
to  stop  the  leak  were  at  once  requisitioned,  and  we  steamed  on, 
full  speed,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  both  quarters.  Suddenly, 
puffs  of  smoke  from  the  fort  showed  us  that  Colonel  Lamb,  the 
commandant,  was  aware  of  what  was  going  on  and  was  firing  to 
protect  us ;  a  welcome  proof  that  we  were  drawing  within  range 
of  his  guns  and  on  the  landside  of  our  pursuers,  who,  after 
giving  us  a  few  more  parting  shots,  hauled  off  and  steamed 
away  from  within  reach  of  the  shells,  which  we  were  rejoiced 
to  see  falling  thickly  around  them. 

"We  had  passed  through  a  most  thrilling  experience ;  at  one 
time  the  cruiser  on  our  port  side  was  only  a  himdred  yards  away 
from  us,  with  her  consort  a  hundred  and  fifty  on  the  starboard, 
and  it  seemed  a  miracle  that  their  double  fire  did  not  completely 
sink  us.  It  certainly  required  all  one's  nerve  to  stand  upon  the 
paddle-box,  looking  without  flinching  almost  into  the  muzzles  of 
the  guns  which  were  being  fired  at  us ;  and  proud  we  were  of  our 
crew,  not  a  man  of  whom  showed  the  white  feather.  Our  pilot, 
who  showed  no  lack  of  courage  at  the  time,  became,  however, 
terribly  excited  as  we  neared  the  bar,  and,  whether  it  was  that 
the  ship  steered  badly,  owing  to  being  submerged  forward,  or 
from  some  mistake,  he  ran  her  ashore  whilst  going  at  full  speed. 
The  result  was  a  most  frightful  shaking,  which  of  course  mate- 
rially increased  the  leaks,  and  we  feared  the  ship  would  become 
a  total  wreck;  fortunately,  the  tide  was  rising,  and,  through 
lightening  her  by  throwing  some  of  the  cargo  overboard,  we 
succeeded  in  getting  her  off  and  steamed  up  the  river  to  Wil- 
mington, where  we  placed  her  on  the  mud. 

"After  repairing  the  shot  holes  and  other  damage,  we  were 
under  the  impression  that  no  further  harm  from  running  ashore 
had  come  to  her,  as  all  leaks  were  apparently  stopped  and  the 
ship  was  quite  tight.  The  result  proved  us  to  be  sadly  wrong  on 
this  point.  After  loading  our  usual  cargo  we  started  down  the 
river  all  right,  and  waited  for  nightfall  in  order  to  cross  the 
bar  and  run  through  the  fleet.  No  sooner  had  we  crossed  it  and 
foimd  ourselves  surroimded  by  cruisers,  than  the  chief  engineer 
rushed  on  the  bridge,  saying  the  water  was  already  over  the 
stoke-hole  plates,  and  he  feared  that  the  ship  was  sinking.  At 
the  same  moment  a  quantity  of  fiirewood  which  was  stowed 


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438  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

around  one  of  the  funnels  (and  which  was  intended  to  eke  out 
our  somewhat  scanty  coal  supply)  caught  fire,  and  flames  burst 
out. 

"This  placed  us  in  a  pretty  predicament,  as  it  showed  our 
whereabouts  to  the  two  cruisers  which  were  following  us,  one  on 
each  quarter.  They  at  once  opened  a  furious  cannonade  upon 
us ;  however,  although  shells  were  bursting  all  around  and  shot 
flying  over  us,  all  hands  worked  with  a  will,  and  we  soon  extin- 
guished the  flames,  which  were  acting  as  a  treacherous  beacon 
to  our  foes.  Fortunately,  the  night  was  intensely  dark  and 
nothing  could  be  seen  beyond  a  radius  of  thirty  or  forty  yards, 
so,  thanks  to  this,  we  were  soon  enabled,  by  altering  our  helm, 
to  give  our  pursuers  the  slip,  whilst  they  probably  kept  on  their 
course. 

'We  had  still  the  other  enemy  to  deal  with;  but  our  chief 
engineer  and  his  staff  had  meanwhile  been  hard  at  work  and 
had  turned  on  the  T)ilge-injection'  and  'donkey-pumps.'  Still, 
the  leak  was  gaining  upon  us,  and  it  became  evident  that  the 
severe  shaking  which  the  ship  got  when  run  aground  had  started 
the  plates  in  her  bottom.  The  mud  had  been  sucked  up  when 
she  lay  in  the  river  at  Wilmington,  thus  temporarily  repairing 
the  damage ;  but  when  she  got  into  the  seaway  the  action  of  the 
water  opened  them  again.  Even  the  steam  pumps  now  could 
not  prevent  the  water  from  gradually  increasing;  four  of  our 
eight  furnaces  were  extinguished,  and  the  firemen  were  working 
up  to  their  middles  in  water. 

"It  was  a  critical  time  when  daylight  broke,  dull  and  threaten- 
ing. The  captain  was  at  the  wheel  and  I  at  the  masthead  (all 
other  hands  being  employed  at  the  pumps,  and  even  baling), 
when,  not  four  miles  off,  I  sighted  a  cruiser  broadside  on.  She 
turned  around  as  if  preparing  to  give  chase,  and  I  thought  we 
were  done  for,  as  we  could  not  have  got  more  than  three  or  four 
knots  an  hour  out  of  our  crippled  boat.  To  my  great  joy,  how- 
ever, I  found  our  alarm  was  needless,  for  she  evidently  had  not 
seen  us,  and,  instead  of  heading,  turned  her  stem  towards  us 
and  disappeared  into  a  thick  bank  of  clouds. 

"Still  we  were  far  from  being  out  of  danger,  as  the  weather 
became  worse  and  worse  and  the  wind  increased  in  force  until 
it  was  blowing  almost  a  gale.  Things  began  to  look  as  ugly  as 
they  could,  and  even  Capper  lost  hope.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
expression  on  his  face  as  he  came  up  to  me  and  said,  in  his 
gruff  voice,  'I  say,  Mr.  Taylor,  the  beggar's  going,  the  be^ar's 


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Blockade  Running  439 

going/  pointing  vehemently  downwards.  ^What  the  devil  do 
you  mean  !^  I  exclaimed.  *Why,  we  are  going  to  lose  the  ship 
and  our  lives,  too/  was  the  answer.  It  is  not  possible  for  any 
one  unacquainted  with  Capper  to  appreciate  this  scene.  Sturdy, 
thickset,  nearly  as  broad  as  he  was  long,  and  with  the  gruffest 
manner  but  kindest  heart — a  rough  diamond,  and  absolutely 
without  fear.  With  the  exception  of  Steele,  he  was  the  best 
blockade-running  captain  we  had. 

"In  order  to  save  the  steamer  and  our  lives  we  decided  that 
desperate  remedies  must  be  resorted  to,  so  again  the  unlucky 
deck  cargo  had  to  be  sacrificed.  The  good  effect  of  this  was 
soon  visible ;  we  b^an  to  gain  on  the  water,  and  were  able,  by 
degrees,  to  relight  our  extinguished  fires.  But  the  struggle  con- 
tinued to  be  a  most  severe  one,  for  just  when  we  b^an  to  obtain 
a  mastery  over  the  water  the  donkey-engine  broke  down,  and 
before  we  could  repair  it  the  water  increased  sensibly,  nearly 
putting  out  our  fires  again.  So  the  struggle  went  on  for  sixty 
hours,  when  we  were  truly  thankful  to  steam  into  Nassau  Har- 
bor and  beach  the  ship.  It  was  a  very  narrow  escape,  for  within 
twenty  minutes  after  stopping  her  engines  the  vessel  had  sunk 
to  the  level  of  the  water. 

"After  this  I  made  a  trip  in  a  new  boat  that  had  just  been 
sent  out  to  me,  the  Wild  DayrelL  And  a  beauty  she  was,  very 
strong,  a  perfect  sea-boat,  and  remarkably  well  engined. 

"Our  voyage  in  was  somewhat  exciting,  as  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  while  making  for  the  Fort  Caswell  entrance 
(not  Fort  Fisher),  we  were  sighted  by  a  Federal  cruiser,  which 
immediately  gave  chase.  We  soon  foimd,  however,  that  we  had 
the  heels  of  our  friend,  but  it  left  us  the  alternative  of  going  out 
to  sea  or  being  chased  straight  into  the  jaws  of  the  blockaders 
off  the  bar  before  darkness  came  on.  Under  these  circumstances 
what  course  to  take  was  a  delicate  point  to  decide,  but  we  solved 
the  problem  by  slowing  down  just  sufficiently  to  keep  a  few 
miles  ahead  of  our  chaser,  hoping  that  darkness  would  come  on 
before  we  made  the  fleet  or  they  discovered  us.  Just  as  twilight 
was  drawing  in  we  made  them  out ;  cautiously  we  crept  on,  feel- 
ing certain  that  our  friend  astern  was  rapidly  closing  up  on  us. 
Every  moment  we  expected  to  hear  the  shot  whistling  around 
us.  So  plainly  could  we  see  the  sleepy  blockaders  that  it  seemed 
almost  impossible  we  should  escape  their  notice.  Whether  they 
did  not  expect  a  runner  to  make  an  attempt  so  early  in  the 
evening,  or  whether  it  was  sheer  good  luck  on  our  part,  I  know 


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440  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

not,  but  we  ran  through  the  lot  without  being  oeen  or  without 
having  a  shot  fired  at  us. 

"Our  anxieties,  however,  were  not  yet  over,  as  our  pilot  (a 
new  hand)  lost  his  reckoning  and  put  us  ashore  on  the  bar. 
Fortunately,  the  flood  tide  was  rising  fast,  and  we  refloated, 
bumping  over  stem  first  in  a  most  inglorious  fashion,  and 
anchored  off  Fort  Caswell  before  7  p.  m. — a  record  performance. 

"Soon  after  anchoring  and  while  enjoying  the  usual  cocktail, 
we  saw  a  great  conunotion  among  the  blockaders,  who  were 
throwing  up  rockets  and  flashing  lights,  evidently  in  answer  to 
signals  from  the  cruiser  which  had  so  nearly  chased  us  into 
their  midst. 

"When  we  came  out  we  met  with  equally  good  luck,  as  the 
night  was  pitch  dark  and  the  weather  very  squally.  No  sooner 
did  we  clear  the  bar  than  we  put  our  helm  aport,  ran  down  the 
coast,  and  then  stood  boldly  straight  out  to  sea  without  inter- 
ference; and  it  was  perhaps  as  well  we  had  such  good  fortime, 
as  before  this  I  had  discovered  that  our  pilot  was  of  a  very 
indifferent  calibre,  and  that  courage  was  not  our  captain's  most 
prominent  characteristic.  The  poor  Wild  Dayrell  deserved  a 
better  commander,  and  consequently  a  better  fate  than  befeU 
her.  She  was  lost  on  her  second  trip,  entirely  through  the  want 
of  pluck  on  the  part  of  her  captain,  who  ran  her  ashore  some 
miles  to  the  north  of  Fort  Fisher;  he  said  in  order  to  avoid 
capture — ^to  my  mind  a  fatal  excuse  for  any  blockade-running 
captain  to  make.  'Twere  far  better  to  be  sunk  by  shot,  and 
escape  in  the  boats  if  possible.  I  am  quite  certain  that  if  Steele 
had  commanded  her  on  that  trip  she  would  never  have  been  put 
ashore,  and  the  chances  were  that  she  would  have  come  through 
all  right. 

'T.  never  forgave  myself  for  not  unshipping  the  captain  on 
my  return  to  Nassau;  my  only  excuse  was  that  there  was  no 
good  man  available  to  replace  him,  and  he  was  a  particular 
protege  of  my  chief.  But  such  considerations  should  not  have 
weighed,  and  if  I  had  had  the  courage  of  my  convictions  it  is 
probable  the  WHd  Dayrell  would  have  proved  as  successful  as 
any  of  our  steamers. 

"About  this  time  I  had  two  other  new  boats  sent  out,  the 
Stormy  Petrel  and  the  Wild  Rover,  both  good  boats,  very  fast, 
and  distinct  improvements  on  the  Banshee  No.  1  and  the  WiU- 
o^'the-Wisp.  The  Stormy  Petrel  had,  however,  very  bad  luck, 
as,  after  getting  safely  in  and  anchoring  behind  Fort  Fisher, 


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Blockade  Running  441 

she  settled,  as  the  tide  went  down,  on  a  submerged  anchor,  the 
fluke  of  which  went  through  her  bottom,  and  despite  all  efforts 
she  became  a  total  wreck ;  this  was  one  of  the  most  serious  and 
unlucky  losses  I  had.  The  Wild  Rover  was  more  successful,  as 
she  made  five  round  trips,  on  one  of  which  I  went  in  her.  She 
survived  the  war,  and  I  eventually  sent  her  to  South  America, 
where  she  was  sold  for  a  good  sum. 

"We  had  in  the  early  part  of  the  war  a  depot  at  Bermuda 
as  well  as  at  Nassau,  and  Frank  Hurst  was  at  that  time  my 
brother  agent  there.  I  went  there  twice,  once  in  the  first  Ban- 
shee, and  once  from  Halifax,  after  a  trip  to  Canada  in  order 
to  recruit  from  a  bad  attack  of  yellow  fever ;  but  I  never  liked 
Bermuda,  and  later  on  we  transferred  Hurst  and  his  agency  to 
Nassau,  which  was  more  convenient  in  many  ways  and  nearer 
Wilmington.  Moreover,  I  had  to  face  the  contingency,  which 
afterwards  occurred,  of  the  Atlantic  ports  being  closed  and  our 
being  driven  to  the  Ghilf.  The  Bermudians,  however,  were  a 
kind,  hospitable  lot  and  made  a  great  deal  of  us,  and  there  was 
a  much  larger  naval  and  military  society  stationed  there  than 
in  Nassau.  They  had  suffered  from  a  severe  outbreak  of  yellow 
fever,  and  the  Third  Buffs,  who  were  in  garrison  at  the  time, 
had  been  almost  decimated  by  it. 

"It  was  on  my  second  trip  to  the  island  that  one  of  the  finest 
boats  we  ever  possessed,  the  Night  Hawk,  came  out,  and  I  con- 
cluded to  run  in  with  her.  She  was  a  new  side-wheel  steamer 
of  some  600  tons  gross,  rigged  as  a  fore-and-aft  schooner,  with 
two  funnels,  220  feet  long,  21%  feet  beam,  and  11  feet  in 
depth ;  a  capital  boat  for  the  work,  fast,  strong,  of  light  draught, 
and  a  splendid  sea-boat — a  great  merit  in  a  blockade  runner  that 
sometimes  has  to  be  forced  in  all  weathers.  The  Night  Hawk's 
career  was  a  very  eventful  one,  and  she  passed  an  unusually 
lively  night  off  Fort  Fisher  on  her  first  attempt  at  blockade 
running. 

"Soon  after  getting  under  way  our  trouble  began.  We  ran 
ashore  outside  Hamilton,  one  of  the  harbors  of  Bermuda,  and 
hung  on  a  coral  reef  for  a  couple  of  hours.  There  loomed  before 
us  the  dismal  prospect  of  delay  for  repairs,  or,  still  worse,  the 
chance  of  springing  a  leak  and  experiencing  such  difficulties  and 
dangers  as  we  had  imdergone  on  the  Will-o'-the-Wisp,  but  for- 
tunately we  came  off  without  damage  and  were  able  to  proceed 
on  our  voyage. 

"Another  anxiety  now  engrossed  my  mind:  the  captain  was 


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442  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

an  entirely  new  hand  and  nearly  all  the  crew  were  green  at  the 
work;  moreover,  the  Wilmington  pilot  was  quite  unknown  to 
me,  and  I  could  see  from  the  outset  that  he  was  very  nervous 
and  wanting  in  confidence.  What  would  I  not  have  given  for 
our  trusty  pilot,  Tom  Burruss !  However,  we  had  to  make  the 
best  of  it,  as,  owing  to  the  demand,  the  supply  of  competent 
pilots  was  not  nearly  sufficient,  and  towards  the  close  of  the 
blockade  the  so-called  pilots  were  no  more  than  boatmen  or  men 
who  had  been  trading  in  and  out  of  Wilmington  or  Charleston 
in  coasters.  Notwithstanding  my  fears,  all  went  well  on  the 
way  across,  and  the  Night  Hawk  proved  to  be  everything  that 
could  be  desired  in  speed  and  seaworthiness. 

"We  had  sighted  unusually  few  craft,  and  nothing  eventful 
occurred  until  the  third  night.  Soon  after  midnight  we  found 
ourselves  uncomfortably  near  a  large  vessel.  It  was  evident  that 
we  had  been  seen,  as  we  heard  them  beating  to  quarters,  and  we 
were  hailed.  We  promptly  sheered  off  and  went  full  speed 
ahead,  greeted  by  a  broadside  which  went  across  our  stem. 

^When  we  arrived  within  striking  distance  of  Wilmington 
Bar,  the  pilot  was  anxious  to  go  in  by  Smith's  Inlet,  but  as  he 
acknowledged  that  he  knew  very  little  about  it,  I  concluded  it 
was  better  to  keep  to  the  New  Inlet  passage,  where,  at  all  events, 
we  should  have  the  advantage  of  our  good  friend  Lamb  to  pro- 
tect us ;  and  I  felt  that  as  I  myself  knew  the  place  so  well,  this 
was  the  safest  course  to  pursue.  We  were  comparatively  well 
through  the  fleet,  although  heavily  fired  at,  and  arrived  near  to 
the  bar,  passing  close  by  two  Northern  launches,  which  were 
lying  almost  upon  it.  Unfortunately,  it  was  dead  low  water, 
and  although  I  pressed  our  pilot  to  give  our  boat  a  turn  around, 
keeping  imder  way,  and  to  wait  a  while  until  the  tide  made,  he 
was  so  demoralized  by  the  firing  we  had  gone  through  and  the 
nearness  of  the  launches,  which  were  constantly  throwing  up 
rockets,  that  he  insisted  upon  putting  her  at  the  bar  and,  as  I 
feared,  we  grounded  on  it  forward,  and  vnth  the  strong  flood 
tide  quickly  broached-to,  broadside  on  to  the  northern  breakers. 
We  kept  our  engines  going  for  some  time,  but  to  no  purpose,  as 
we  found  we  were  only  being  forced  by  the  tide  more  on  to  the 
breakers.  Therefore,  we  stopped,  and  all  at  once  found  our 
friends,  the  two  launches,  close  aboard ;  they  had  discovered  we 
were  ashore,  and  had  made  up  their  minds  to  attack  us. 

"At  once  all  was  in  confusion ;  the  pilot  and  signalman  rushed 
to  the  dinghy,  lowered  it,  and  made  good  their  escape;  the 


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Blockade  Running  443 

captain  lost  his  head  and  disappeared;  and  the  crews  of  the 
launches,  after  firing  several  volleys,  one  of  which  slightly 
wounded  me,  rowed  in  to  board  us  on  each  sponson.  Just  at 
this  moment,  I  suddenly  recollected  that  our  private  dispatches, 
which  ought  to  have  been  thrown  overboard,  were  still  in  the 
starboard  lifeboat.  I  rushed  to  it,  but  found  the  lanyard  to 
which  the  sinking  weight  was  attached  was  foul  of  one  of  the 
thwarts ;  I  tugged  and  tugged,  but  to  no  purpose,  so  I  simg  out 
for  a  knife,  which  was  handed  to  me  by  a  fireman,  and  I  cut  the 
line  and  pitched  it  overboard  as  the  Northerners  jumped  on 
board.  Eighteen  months  afterwards  that  fireman  accosted  me 
in  the  Liverpool  streets,  saying,  *Mr.  Taylor,  do  you  remember 
my  lending  you  a  knife  V  'Of  course  I  do,'  I  replied,  giving 
him  a  tip,  at  which  he  was  mightily  pleased.  Poor  fellow  I  he 
had  been  thirteen  months  in  a  Northern  prison. 

"When  the  Northerners  jumped  on  board  they  were  terribly 
excited.  I  don't  know  whether  they  expected  resistance  or  not, 
but  they  acted  more  like  maniacs  than  sane  men,  firing  their 
revolvers  and  cutting  right  and  left  with  their  cutlasses.  I 
stood  in  front  of  the  men  on  the  poop  and  said  that  we  surren- 
dered, but  all  the  reply  I  received  from  the  lieutenant  command- 
ing was,  'Oh,  you  surrender,  do  you  ?  *  *  *  '  accompanied 
by  a  string  of  the  choicest  Yankee  oaths  and  sundry  reflections 
upon  my  parentage ;  whereupon  he  fired  his  revolver  twice  point- 
blank  at  me  not  two  yards  distant.  It  was  a  miracle  he  did  not 
kill  me,  as  I  heard  the  bullets  whiz  past  my  head.  This  aroused 
my  wrath,  and  I  expostulated  in  the  strongest  terms  upon  his 
firing  upon  imarmed  men.  He  then  cooled  down,  giving  me 
into  the  charge  of  two  of  his  men,  one  of  whom  speedily  pos- 
sessed himself  of  my  binoculars.  Fortimately,  as  I  had  no 
guard  to  my  watch,  they  didn't  discover  it,  and  I  have  it  still. 

"Finding  they  could  not  get  the  ship  off,  and  afraid,  I  pre- 
sume, of  Lamb  and  his  men  coming  to  our  rescue,  the  Federals 
commenced  putting  the  captain  (who  had  been  discovered  be- 
hind a  boat  I)  and  the  crew  into  the  boats ;  they  then  set  the  ship 
on  fire  fore  and  aft,  and  she  soon  began  to  blaze  merrily.  At 
this  moment  one  of  our  firemen,  an  Irishmen,  sang  out,  TBe- 
gorra,  we  shall  all  be  in  the  air  in  a  minute,  the  ship  is  full  of 
gunpowder !'  No  sooner  did  the  Northern  sailors  hear  this  than 
a  panic  seized  them,  and  they  rushed  to  their  boats,  threatening 
to  leave  their  officers  behind  if  they  did  not  come  along.  The 
men  who  were  holding  me  dropped  me  like  a  hot  potato,  and  to 


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444  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

my  great  delight  jumped  into  their  boat,  and  away  they  rowed 
as  fast  as  they  could,  taking  all  our  crew,  with  exception  of  the 
second  oflScer,  one  of  the  engineers,  four  seamen,  and  myself, 
as  prisoners. 

"We  chuckled  at  our  lucky  escape,  but  we  were  not  out  of  the 
woods  yet,  as  we  had  only  a  boat  half  stove  in  with  which  to 
reach  the  shore  through  some  300  yards  of  surf,  and  we  were 
afraid  at  any  moment  that  our  enemies,  finding  there  was  no 
gunpowder  on  board,  might  return.  We  made  a  feeble  effort 
to  put  the  fire  out,  but  it  had  gained  tpo  much  headway,  and 
although  I  offered  the  men  with  me  £50  apiece  to  stand  by  me 
and  persevere,  they  were  too  demoralized  and  began  to  lower  the 
shattered  boat,  swearing  that  they  would  leave  me  behind  if  I 
didn't  come  with  them.  There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  go,  yet 
the  passage  through  the  boiling  surf  seemed  more  dangerous  to 
my  mind  than  remaining  on  the  burning  ship.  The  blockaders 
immediately  opened  fire  when  they  knew  their  own  men  had  left 
the  Night  Hawk,  and  that  she  was  burning;  and  Lamb's  great 
shells  hurtling  over  our  heads  and  those  from  the  blockading 
fleet  bursting  all  around  us  formed  a  weird  picture.  In  spite  of 
the  hail  of  shot  and  shell  and  the  danger  of  the  boiling  surf,  we 
reached  the  shore  in  safety,  wet  through,  and  glad  I  was  in  my 
state  of  exhaustion  from  fatigue  and  loss  of  blood  to  be  wel- 
comed by  Lamb's  orderly  oflScer. 

"The  poor  Night  Hawh  was  now  a  sheet  of  flame,  and  I 
thought  it  was  all  up  with  her ;  and  indeed  it  would  have  been 
had  it  not  been  for  Lamb,  who,  calling  for  volunteers  from  his 
garrison,  sent  out  two  or  three  boatloads  of  men  to  her,  and 
when  I  came  down  to  the  beach,  after  having  my  wound  dressed 
and  after  a  short  rest,  I  was  delighted  to  find  the  fire  had  sensi- 
bly decreased,  I  went  on  board,  and  after  some  hours  of  hard 
work  the  fire  was  extinguished.    But  what  a  wreck  she  was  I 

"Luckily,  with  the  rising  tide  she  had  bumped  over  the  bank, 
and  was  now  lying  on  the  main  beach  much  piore  accessible  and 
sheltered.  Still,  it  seemed  an  almost  hopeless  task  to  save  her ; 
but  we  were  not  going  to  be  beaten  without  a  try,  so,  after  hav- 
ing ascertained  how  she  lay  and  the  condition  she  was  in,  I 
resolved  to  make  an  attempt  to  get  her  dry,  and  telegraphed  to 
Wilmington  for  assistance. 

"Our  agent  sent  me  down  about  300  negroes  to  assist  in 
bailing  and  pumping,  and  I  set  them  to  work  at  once.  As  good 
luck  would  have  it,  my  finest  steamer.  Banshee  No.  2,  which  had 


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Blockade  Running  445 

just  been  sent  out,  ran  in  the  next  night.  She  was  a  great  im- 
provement on  the  first  Banshee,  having  a  sea  speed  of  15^^ 
knots,  which  was  considered  very  fast  in  those  days ;  her  length 
was  252  feet,  beam  31  feet,  depth  11  feet,  her  registered  ton- 
nage 439  tons,  and  her  crew  consisted  of  fifty-three  men  in  all. 
I  at  once  requisitioned  her  for  aid  in  the  shape  of  engineers 
and  men,  so  that  now  I  had  everything  I  could  want  in  the 
way  of  hands.  Our  great  difficulty  was  that  the  Night  Hawk's 
anchors  would  not  hold  for  us  to  get  a  fair  haul  at  her. 

'T3ut  here  again  I  was  to  be  in  luck.  For  the  very  next  night 
the  Condor,  commanded  by  poor  Hewitt,  in  attempting  to  nm 
in  stuck  fast  upon  the  bank  over  which  we  had  bumped,  not 
one  hundred  yards  to  windward  of  us,  and  broke  in  two.  It 
is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody  good,  and  Hewitt's  mischance 
proved  the  saving  of  our  ship.  Now  we  had  a  hold  for  our 
chain  cables  by  making  them  fast  to  the  wreck,  and  were  able 
gradually  to  haul  her  off  by  them  a  little  during  each  tide,  until 
on  the  seventh  day  we  had  her  afloat  in  a  gut  between  the  bank 
and  the  shore,  and  at  high  water  we  steamed  imder  our  own 
steam  gaily  up  the  river  to  Wilmington. 

"Considering  the  appliances  we  had  and  the  circumstances 
imder  which  we  were  working,  the  saving  of  that  steamer  was 
certainly  a  wonderful  performance,  as  we  were  under  fire 
almost  the  whole  time.  The  Northerners,  irritated,  no  doubt, 
by  their  failure  to  destroy  the  ship,  used  to  shell  us  by  day  and 
send  in  boats  by  night ;  Lamb,  however,  put  a  stop  to  the  latter 
annoyance  by  lending  us  a  couple  of  companies  to  defend  us, 
and  one  night  when  our  enemies  rowed  close  up  with  the  inten- 
tion of  boarding  us,  they  were  glad  to  sheer  off  with  the  loss  of 
a  lieutenant  and  several  men.  In  spite  of  all  the  shot  and  shell 
by  day  and  the  repeated  attacks  at  night,  we  triumphed  in  the 
end,  and,  after  having  the  Night  Hawk  repaired  at  heavy  cost 
and  getting  together  a  crew,  I  gave  May,  a  friend  of  mine,  com- 
mand of  her,  and  he  ran  out  successfully  with  a  valuable  cargo 
which  made  her  pay,  notwithstanding  all  her  bad  luck  and  the 
amount  spent  upon  her.  Poor  May!  he  was  afterwards  gover- 
nor of  Perth  gaol,  and  is  dead  now — a  high-toned,  sensitive 
gentleman,  mighty  proud  of  his  ship,  lame  duck  as  she  was. 

"When  she  was  burning,  our  utmost  efforts  were  of  course 
directed  towards  keeping  her  engine-room  and  boilers  amidships 
intact,  and  confining  the  flames  to  both  ends;  in  this  we  were 
successful,  mainly  owing  to  the  fact  of  her  having  bunkers 


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446  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ath wart-ship ;  but  as  regards  the  rest  of  the  steamer  she  was  a 
complete  wreck;  her  sides  were  all  corrugated  with  the  heat, 
and  her  stem  so  twisted  that  her  starboard  quarter  was  some 
two  feet  higher  than  her  port  quarter,  and  not  a  particle  of 
woodwork  was  left  unconsumed.  Owing  to  the  limited  resources 
of  Wilmington  as  regards  repairs,  I  f oimd  it  impossible  to  have 
all  of  this  put  right,  so  her  sides  were  left  as  they  were,  and 
the  new  deck  put  on  with  the  slope  I  have  described,  and 
caulked  with  cotton,  as  no  oakum  was  procurable.  When  com- 
pleted she  certainly  was  a  queer-looking  craft,  but  as  ti^t  as 
a  bottle,  and  as  seaworthy  as  ever,  although  I  doubt  if  any 
Lloyd's  surveyor  would  have  passed  her.  But  as  a  matter  of 
fact  she  came  across  the  Atlantic,  deeply  immersed  with  her 
coal  supply,  through  some  very  bad  weather,  without  damage, 
and  was  sold  for  a  mere  song,  to  be  repaired  and  made  into  a 
passenger  boat  for  service  on  the  East  Coast,  where  she  ran 
for  many  years  with  success. 

"It  had  been  a  hard  week  for  me,  as  I  had  no  clothes  except 
what  I  had  on  when  we  were  boarded — ^my  servant  very  cleverly, 
as  he  imagined,  having  thrown  my  portmanteau  into  the  man- 
of-war's  boat  when  he  thought  I  was  going  to  be  captured — and 
all  I  had  in  the  world  was  the  old  serge  suit  in  which  I  stood. 
Being  without  a  change  and  wet  through  every  day  and  night 
for  six  days  consecutively,  it  is  little  wonder  that  I  caught  fever 
and  ague,  of  which  I  nearly  died  in  Richmond,  and  which  dis- 
tressing complaint  stuck  to  me  for  more  than  eighteen  months. 
I  shall  never  forget,  on  going  to  a  store  in  Wilmington  for  a 
new  rig-out  (which,  by  the  way,  cost  $1,200),  the  look  of 
horror  on  the  storekeeper's  face  when  I  told  him  the  coat  I  had 
purchased  would  do  if  he  cut  a  foot  off  it;  he  thought  it  such 
a  waste  of  expensive  material. 

"The  Tristram  Shandy  had  a  very  short  and  unfortimate 
career ;  after  being  reloaded  subsequent  to  a  compulsory  return, 
she  started  on  her  second  attempt  and  steamed  safely  in.  But 
in  coming  out,  her  funnels,  owing  to  the  peculiar  construction  of 
her  boilers,  flamed  very  much,  and  it  appears  that  a  gunboat 
followed  her  by  this  flame  all  night,  and  when  morning  broke 
was  seen  to  be  about  three  miles  astern.  The  captain  at  once 
ordered  extra  steam  to  be  put  on,  but  owing  to  this  having  been 
done  too  suddenly,  one  of  her  valve  spindles  was  wrenched  off, 
and  she  lay  helpless  at  the  mercy  of  the  chaser,  who  speedily 
came  up  and  took  possession. 


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Blockade  Running  447 

"She  had  on  board  a  very  valuable  cargo  of  cotton,  and  in 
addition  $60,000  in  specie  belonging  to  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernment; this,  according  to  agreement  with  the  government, 
Doering,  the  purser,  proceeded  to  throw  overboard,  but  some 
of  the  crew,  determined  to  have  a  finger  in  the  spoil,  rushed  aft 
and  broke  open  the  kegs.  In  the  melee  a  quantity  of  gold  pieces 
were  strewn  among  the  cotton  bales  on  deck,  and  when  the 
Northerners  came  on  board  they  were  very  irate  to  think  they 
had  lost  a  considerable  portion  of  their  prize  money.  The 
steamer  was  taken  into  Philadelphia  and  condemned,  and  the 
crew  were  kept  prisoners  in  New  York  for  several  months. 

"In  addition  to  the  worries  and  anxieties  I  have  detailed,  we 
had  to  fight  that  demon,  Yellow  Jack,  which  raged  with  fear- 
ful mortality  both  at  Nassau  and  Wilmington.  In  Nassau  I 
have  counted  seventeen  funerals  pass  my  house  before  break- 
fast, and  in  one  day  I  have  attended  interments  of  three  inti- 
mate friends.  In  Wilmington  it  was  worse ;  in  one  season  alone, 
out  of  a  total  population  of  3,000  remaining  in  the  city,  446 
died.  No  wonder  the  authorities  were  scared  and  imposed 
heavy  penalties  on  us  in  the  shape  of  quarantine.  On  two 
occasions  I  have  been  in  quarantine  for  fifty  days  at  a  time. 
Think  of  that,  you  modem  luxurious  travelers,  who  growl  if 
you  are  detained  three  days ! 

"On  the  first  occasion,  out  of  a  crew  of  thirty-two,  twenty- 
eight  were  laid  low,  and  we  had  seven  deaths ;  only  the  captain, 
chief  engineer,  steward,  and  myself  were  free  from  fever.  On 
the  second,  we  had  no  sickness,  and  only  suffered  from  the  ennui 
consequent  upon  such  close  confinement  and  short  rations,  as 
latterly  we  had  nothing  but  salt  pork  and  sardines  to  eat.  We 
were  saved  from  a  third  dose  of  quarantine  by  almost  a  miracle. 

"It  happened  that  the  Southern  agent  in  Egypt  had  sent  a 
very  valuable  Arabian  horse  to  Nassau,  as  a  present  for  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  Davis.  Heiliger,  the  Confederate  agent  there, 
asked  me  if  I  would  take  it  through  the  blockade.  I  at  once 
consented,  and  it  was  shipped  on  board  the  Banshee.  We  got 
through  all  right,  but  when  the  health  officer  came  on  board 
and  ordered  us  to  quarantine,  I  said :  ^f  we  have  to  go  there, 
the  horse  will  certainly  have  to  be  destroyed,  as  we  have  no 
food  for  it.'  Thereupon  he  telegraphed  to  Richmond,  and  the 
reply  came  back  that  the  Banshee  was  to  proceed  to  the  town, 
land  the  horse,  and  return  to  quarantine.  When  we  were  along- 
side the  wharf,  a  large  nimiber  of  our  crew  jumped  on  shore 


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448  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

and  disappeared.  I  said  to  the  general,  who  was  a  friend  of 
mine,  'There  is  no  use  of  our  going  back  to  quarantine  after 
this,  you  either  have  the  infection  or  not,'  and  I  induced  him 
to  telegraph  to  Richmond  again.  The  answer  came  back, 
^Banshee  must  discharge  and  load  as  quickly  as  possible,  and 
proceed  to  sea;  lend  all  assistance/ 

"The  general  acted  on  these  instructions,  and  upon  the  third 
day  we  were  gaily  proceeding  down  the  river  again  with  an 
outward  cargo  on  board,  passing  quite  a  fleet  of  steamers  at  the 
quarantine  ground,  whose  crews  were  gnashing  their  teeth.  We 
got  safely  out  and  returned,  after  making  another  trip,  to  find 
the  same  boats  in  quarantine,  and,  as  it  was  raised  three  days 
after  our  arrival,  we  steamed  up  the  river  in  company,  much 
to  the  disgust  of  their  crews. 

"Good  old  horse !  he  saved  me  from  a  dreary  confinement  in 
quarantine,  and  made  the  owners  of  the  Banshee  $100,000  to 
$150,000  extra,  but  he  was  nearly  the  cause  of  our  all  being 
put  in  a  TTorthem  prison  and  losing  our  steamer.  On  a  very 
still  night,  as  we  were  running  in  and  creeping  noiselessly 
through  the  hostile  fleet,  he  commenced  neighing  (smelling  the 
land,  I  suppose).  In  an  instant  two  or  three  jackets  were 
thrown  over  his  head,  but  it  was  too  late;  he  had  been  heard 
on  board  a  cruiser  very  close  to  which  we  were  passing,  and  she 
and  two  or  three  of  her  consorts  immediately  opened  fire  upon 
us.  We  had  the  heels  of  them,  however,  and  our  friend.  Colonel 
Lamb,  at  Fort  Fisher,  was  soon  protecting  us,  playing  over  our 
heads  with  shell. 

"On  a  subsequent  occasion,  disaster  might  have  overtaken  the 
Banshee  under  somewhat  similar  circumstances  had  a  cruiser 
happened  to  be  near.  A  game  cock  which  we  kept  on  board  as 
a  pet  suddenly  began  to  crow.  But  this  time  the  disaster  was 
to  the  game  cock  and  not  to  the  Banshee,  for,  pet  as  he  was,  his 
neck  was  promptly  twisted.  Such  experiences  as  these  show 
how  easy  it  was  to  increase  the  risks  of  blockade  running;  ab- 
sence of  all  avoidable  noise  at  night  was  as  essential  as  the 
extinction  of  all  lights  on  board  ship." 

Upon  this  remarkable  incident  so  graphically  described  by 
Mr.  Taylor,  there  hangs  a  local  story  which  proves  the  ready 
wit  of  the  children  of  Israel  under  all  circumstances. 

A  day  or  two  after  the  landing  of  the  Arabian  horse,  which 
was  the  most  docile,  most  beautiful  animal  ever  seen  in  Wil- 


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Blockade  Running  449 

mington,  a  well-known  dry-goods  merchant,  who  had  prospered 
on  Confederate  contracts,  and  who  had  often  tried  unsuccess- 
fully to  obtain  General  Whiting's  permission  to  visit  Nassau, 
sauntered  into  Mr.  John  Dawson's  store  near  the  foot  of  Maiv 
ket  Street,  and  obtained  permission  to  search  the  loft  above  the 
store  for  anything  worth  while  which  might  be  put  to  good  use 
during  the  stress  of  war  and  famina  He  found  nothing  but 
a  soiled  and  greasy  horse  blanket  which  had  been  used  upon 
Mr.  Dawson's  well-known  race  horse,  and  afterwards  thrown 
aside  when  he  parted  with  him  a  year  or  so  before.  It  was 
originally  of  fine  blue  padded  silk,  with  Mr.  Dawson's  mono- 
gram, "J.  D.,"  in  large  letters  tastefully  embroidered  on  it. 
Our  friend  having  been  assured  by  Mayor  Dawson  that  he  was 
quite  welcome  to  the  blanket,  proceeded  with  the  assistance  of 
his  accomplished  wife  to  renovate  and  repair  it  until,  under 
their  skillful  manipulation,  it  was  made  almost  as  good  as  new. 
Having  obtained  through  a  friend  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
Mrs.  Jefferson  Davis,  he  proceeded  to  Richmond  and  was 
ushered  into  the  presence  of  that  distinguished  lady.  With  his 
most  engaging  smiles  he  said  he  was  about  to  depart  on  a  visit 
to  ITassau  and  that  he  hoped  he  might  be  favored  with  an  order 
from  Mrs.  Davis  for  any  articles  of  personal  or  household  use 
which  were  then  unobtainable  in  the  Confederacy.  What  appeal 
to  the  feminine  heart  could  be  more  potent!  While  she  gra- 
ciously responded  to  this  attractive  proposal,  the  President  him- 
self entered  the  room,  to  whom,  in  another  courteous  speech, 
the  Wilmington  merchant  presented,  with  complimentary  allu- 
sions to  the  Arabian  horse,  a  beautiful  silk  blanket  bearing  the 
President's  monogram,  "J.  D.,"  which  was  as  graciously  ac- 
cepted in  token  of  our  friend's  personal  loyalty  and  devotion. 
The  subsequent  details  included  a  pass  to  Nassau  signed  by 
the  highest  authority  in  the  Confederacy,  which  was  brought 
back  to  Wilmington  in  triumph,  and  a  few  days  afterwards  a 
favored  son  of  the  Scattered  Nation  was  a  very  seasick  man 
on  a  voyage  to  Nassau  through  the  Cape  Fear  blockade. 


29 


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450  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


RESCUE  OF  MADAME  DbROSSET. 

In  the  summer  of  1864,  while  the  Lilian  was  imdergomg 
repairs,  we  found  at  the  shipyard  in  Wihnington  the  noted 
blockade  runner  Lynx,  commanded  by  one  of  the  most  daring 
spirits  in  the  service.  Captain  Reed.  This  officer  has  been  de- 
scribed in  a  Northern  magazine  as  a  pirate,  but  he  was  one  of 
the  mildest  mannered  of  gentlemen,  a  capital  seaman,  and  ap- 
parently entirely  devoid  of  fear.  He  had  previously  commanded 
the  Oibraltar,  formerly  the  first  Confederate  cruiser  Sumter; 
and  he  brought  through  the  blockade  in  this  ship  to  Wilmington 
the  two  enormous  guns  which  attracted  so  much  attention  at  that 
time.  One  of  them  exploded,  through  a  fault  in  loading;  the 
other  was  used  for  the  defense  of  Charleston,  and  rendered 
effective  service. 

A  thrilling  incident  occurred  in  the  destruction  of  the  Lynx, 
a  few  weeks  after  we  left  her  at  Wilmington,  which  nearly 
terminated  the  life  of  a  brave  and  charming  lady,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Louis  H.  DeRosset,  and  of  her  infant  child,  who  were 
passengers  for  Nassau.  At  half  past  seven  o'clock  on  the  even- 
ing of  September  26,  1864,  the  Lynx  attempted  to  run  the 
blockade  at  New  Inlet,  but  was  immediately  discovered  in  the 
Swash  Channel  by  the  Federal  cruiser  Niphon,  which  fired 
several  broadsides  into  her  at  short  range,  nearly  every  shot 
striking  her  hull  and  seriously  disabling  her.  Notwithstanding 
this.  Captain  Reed  continued  his  efforts  to  escape,  and  for  a 
short  time  was  slipping  away  from  his  pursuers;  but  he  was 
again  intercepted  by  two  Federal  men-of-war,  the  Howquah 
and  the  Governor  Buckingham. 

Mrs.  DeRosset,  describing  the  scene  a  few  days  afterwards, 
said :  "Immediately  the  sky  was  illuminated  wilii  rockets,  and 
broadside  upon  broadside,  volley  upon  volley,  was  poured  upon 
us.  The  captain  put  me  in  the  wheelhouse  for  safety.  I  had 
scarcely  taken  my  seat  when  a  ball  passed  three  inches  above 
my  head,  wounding  the  man  at  the  wheel  next  to  me;  a  large 
piece  of  the  wheelhouse  knocked  me  violently  on  the  head.  I 
flew  to  the  cabin  and  took  my  baby  in  my  arms,  and  immediately 
another  ball  passed  through  the  cabin.  We  came  so  near  one 
of  the  enemy's  boats  that  they  fired  a  round  of  musketry  and 
demanded  surrender.    We  passed  them  like  lightning;  then  our 


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Blockade  Running  451 

vessel  commenced  sinking  I  Eight  shots  went  through  and 
through  below  the  water  line.  I  stayed  in  the  cabin  until  I 
could  no  longer  keep  the  baby  out  of  the  water." 

The  Howquah  then  engaged  the  Lynx  at  close  quarters,  and 
her  batteries  tore  away  a  large  part  of  the  paddle-boxes  and 
bridge  deck.  The  Buckingham  also  attacked  the  plucky  block- 
ade runner  at  so  short  range  that  her  commander  fired  all  the 
charges  from  his  revolver  at  Captain  Reed  and  his  pilot  on  the 
bridge.  The  continual  flashing  of  the  guns  brightly  illuminated 
the  chase  and,  escape  being  impossible,  Captain  Reed,  much 
concerned  for  the  safety  of  his  passengers,  headed  his  sinking 
ship  for  the  beach.  In  the  meantime  Fort  Fisher  was  firing 
upon  his  pursuers  with  deadly  effect,  killing  and -wounding 
five  men  on  the  Howquah  and  disabling  one  of  the  guns.  The 
sea  was  very  rough  that  night,  and  the  treacherous  breakers 
with  their  deafening  roar  afforded  little  hope  of  landing  a 
woman  and  a  baby  through  the  surf;  nevertheless,  it  was  the 
only  alternative,  and  right  bravely  did  the  heroine  meet  it. 
Through  the  breakers  the  Lynx  was  driven  to  her  destruction, 
the  shock,  as  her  keel  struck  the  bottom,  sending  her  crew  head- 
long on  the  deck.  Boats  were  lowered  with  great  difficulty,  the 
sea  dashing  over  the  bulwarks  and  drenching  the  sailors  to  the 
point  of  strangulation.  Madame  DeRosset,  with  the  utmost 
coolness,  watched  her  chance,  while  the  boat  lurched  and 
pounded  against  the  stranded  ship,  and  jumped  to  her  place; 
the  baby,  wrapped  in  a  blanket,  was  tossed  from  the  deck  to  her 
mother  ten  feet  below,  and  then  the  fight  for  a  landing  began ; 
while  the  whole  crew,  forgetful  of  their  own  danger,  and  in- 
spired with  courage  by  the  brave  lady^s  example,  joined  in 
three  hearty  cheers  as  she  disappeared  in  the  darkness  towards 
the  shore.  Under  the  later  glare  of  the  burning  ship,  which 
was  set  on  fire  when  abandoned,  a  safe  landing  was  effected,  but 
with  great  suffering.  Soaking  wet,  without  food  or  drink,  they 
remained  on  the  beach  until  a  message  could  reach  Colonel 
Lamb  at  Fort  Fisher,  five  miles  distant,  whence  an  ambulance 
was  sent  to  carry  the  passengers  twenty  miles  up  to  Wilming- 
ton. The  baby  blockade  runner,  Gabrielle,  survived  this  peril- 
ous adventure,  and  also  an  exciting  nm  through  the  fleet  in 
the  Confederate  steamer  Owl.  She  is  now  the  widow  of  the 
late  Col.  AMred  Moore  Waddell,  formerly  mayor  of  Wil- 
mington. 


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452  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


IMPROVED  SHIPS  AKD  NOTABLE  COMMANDERS. 

The  last  year  of  the  war  evolved  a  superior  type  of  blockade 
runner  of  great  speed,  many  of  which  were  commanded  by 
celebrated  men  of  nerve  and  experience.  Of  these  may  be 
mentioned  at  random  and  from  memory:  the  Lilian,  Captain 
MaiBtt ;  the  Little  Uaitie,  Captain  Libby ;  the  Florie,  named  for 
Captain  MafRtt's  daughter;  the  Agnes  E,  Fry,  commanded  by 
that  noble  but  unfortunate  naval  oflScer,  Capt.  Joseph  Fry; 
the  Chicora,  stiU  running  in  Canadian  waters ;  the  Let  Her  Rip ; 
the  Let  Her  Be;  also  the  fleet  of  three-funnel  boats,  one  of 
which,  the  Condor,  was  commanded  by  the  famous  Admiral 
Hewitt,  of  the  British  Navy,  who  won  the  Victoria  Cross  in 
the  Crimea,  and  who  was  knighted  by  Queen  Victoria  for  his 
distinguished  services  as  special  envoy  to  King  John  of  Abys- 
sinia. The  Falcon,  another,  was  commanded  for  one  voyage  by 
Hobart  Pasha ;  the  Flamingo,  the  Ptarmigan,  and  the  Vulture, 
were  also  of  the  three-fimnel  type. 

Another  notable  British  officer  who  ran  the  blockade  was  the 
gallant  Burgoyne,  who  was  lost  in  the  iron-clad  Captain  in  the 
Bay  of  Biscay,  which  vessel  he  commanded  on  that  unfortunate 
voyage. 

Captain  Carter  was  a  notable  naval  officer  of  the  Confed- 
eracy; he  commanded  the  blockade  runner  Coquette. 

Capt.  Thomas  Lockwood,  a  North  Carolinian,  was,  per- 
haps, the  most  noted  of  the  commercial  class.  His  last  com- 
mand was  the  celebrated  steamer  Colonel  Lamb,  named  for  the 
defender  of  Fort  Fisher.  This  was  the  largest,  the  finest,  and 
the  fastest  of  all  the  ships  on  either  side  during  the  war.  She 
was  a  paddle-steamer,  built  of  steel,  281  feet  long,  36  feet  beam, 
and  15  feet  depth  of  hold.  Her  tonnage  was  1,788  tons.  At 
the  time  she  was  built,  1864,  she  was  the  fastest  vessel  afloat, 
having  attained  on  her  trial  a  speed  of  sixteen  and  three-fourth 
knots,  or  about  nineteen  miles  an  hour.  Captain  Lockwood 
made  several  successful  runs  in  this  fine  ship,  and  escaped  to 
England  at  the  close  of  the  war.  The  Colonel  Lamb  was  sold  to 
the  Greek  Government,  and  subseqently,  under  another  name, 
was  blown  up  while  in  the  Mersey  loaded  with  war  supplies. 
Other  fast  boats  were  the  Owl,  Bat,  Fox,  Dream,  Stag,  Edith, 
Atalanta,  Virginia,  Charlotte,  Banshee  and  Night  Hawh. 

Another  merchant  commander  of  distinction  was  Captain 


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Blockade  Running  453 

Halpin,  who  was  very  skillful  and  successful.  He  afterwards 
commanded  the  famous  leviathan,  Oreat  Eastern,  while  she  was 
engaged  in  laying  the  Atlantic  cable. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  although  speed  was  regarded 
the  first  essential  to  success,  some  of  the  slowest  vessels  engaged 
in  the  traffic  were  the  most  fortunate.  The  Pet,  for  example, 
was  a  very  slow  steamer,  yet  she  made  the  runs,  over  forty  of 
them,  through  the  blockade  with  the  regularity  of  a  mail  boat. 
I  think  this  was  due  to  the  superior  skill  of  her  commander, 
who  exercised  great  caution  and  never  became  excited  in  a  tight 
place.  The  Antonica  was  another  slow,  lumbering  boat,  but  it 
was  said  of  her  that  when  she  was  fairly  set  on  her  course  be- 
tween Nassau  and  Wilmington  they  could  simply  lash  her  wheel 
and  she  would  go  in  or  out  "by  herself."  The  Scotia,  the  Orey- 
hound,  and  others  were  equally  slow  coaches,  but  had  for  a  time, 
it  seemed,  a  charmed  life. 

The  loss  of  the  Merrimac  was,  like  that  of  the  Bat,  as  related 
by  Pilot  Craig,  a  notable  example  of  cowardice  on  the  part  of 
the  captain.  This  fine,  large  steamer,  which  had  successfully 
run  into  Wilmington,  was  ordered  to  be  sold  in  this  port,  and 
she  was  bought  by  a  number  of  prominent  citizens  and  mer- 
chants, one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Edward  Kidder.  She  was  laden 
with  a  very  valuable  cargo  of  cotton  and  tobacco  and  put  to  sea 
for  Nassau.  On  the  second  day  out  she  was  chased,  as  they 
thought,  by  a  cruiser  which  steadily  gained  on  her,  and  when 
the  stranger  fired  a  small  gun,  the  captain  of  the  Merrimac 
ignominiously  surrendered  to  an  unarmed  passenger  steamer, 
whose  little  popgun,  containing  a  blank  cartridge  used  for  sig- 
nals in  those  days,  would  not  have  harmed  a  fly.  This  incident 
caused  much  merriment  on  board  the  passenger  steamer,  which 
profited  largely  in  the  prize  money. 


THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BLOCKADE  RUNNER 
"ADVANCE.'' 

The  following  communication,  prepared  for  me  by  the  late 
Col.  James  G.  Burr,  of  Wilmington,  will  be  read  with  interest : 

"In  the  month  of  August,  1862,  Zebulon  B.  Vance,  then 
colonel  of  a  North  Carolina  regiment  serving  in  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  and  quite  a  young  man,  was  elected  gover- 
nor of  the  State  by  a  large  majority.     He  did  not  seek  the 


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454  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

office.  In  f act^  he  objected  to  the  use  of  his  name,  for  the  reason 
that  he  preferred  the  position  that  he  then  held  in  the  army, 
and  for  the  further  reason  that  he  thought  he  was  too  young  to 
be  governor.  The  people,  however,  thought  differently  and  he 
was  borne  into  office  by  a  popular  upheaval.  With  what  energy 
and  vigor  he  discharged  his  duties,  how  true  he  was  in  every 
way  to  his  State  and  his  people,  are  matters  of  history  and 
need  not  be  referred  to  here.  He  was  inaugurated  the  ensuing 
September,  and  early  in  his  administration  he  conceived  the 
idea  of  purchasing  for  the  State  a  steamer  to  run  the  blockade 
at  Wilmington,  bringing  in  supplies  for  our  soldiers  in  the 
field  and  for  our  suffering  people  at  home.^ 

"Capt.  Thomas  N.  Crossan,  formerly  of  the  United  States 
Navy,  was  accordingly  sent  to  England  with  Mr.  Hughes,  of 
New  Bern,  where,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  John  White,  the 
agent  of  the  State  in  England  at  the  time,  they  purchased  the 
fine  side-wheel  steamer  Lord  Clyde,  then  running  between  Glas- 
gow and  Dublin,  which  name  before  her  advent  into  Southern 
waters  was  changed  to  that  of  Advance  or  Ad  Vance,  the  latter 
in  compliment  to  the  distinguished  war  governor,  through  whose 
instructions  and  active  influence  the  purchase  had  been  made. 

^T^n  the  spring  of  1863  the  Advance  made  her  first  successful 
trip  through  the  blockaders  and  arrived  safely  in  the  harbor  of 
Wilmington,  bringing  a  large  amount  of  much-needed  supplies. 
The  Governor  was  informed  of  her  arrival  and  came  to  Wil- 
mington immediately,  and  the  next  day,  Sunday,  went  down  on 
one  of  the  river  steamers  with  a  number  of  his  friends  to  the 
ship,  which  was  lying  at  the  quarantine  station  about  fifteen  or 
sixteen  miles  below  the  city.  After  spending  several  hours  on 
board  examining  the  ship  and  partaking  of  the  hospitalities  of 
its  officers,  it  was  determined  to  take  her  up  to  the  city  without 
waiting  for  a  permit  from  the  health  officers,  as  it  was  assumed 
the  Governor's  presence  on  board  would  be  a  justification  for 
the  violation  of  quarantine  regulations.  Accordingly,  steam 
was  raised  and  she  came  up  to  the  city  and  was  made  fast  to 
the  wharf  in  front  of  the  custom  house.  This  was  objected  to 
by  Major  Strong,  aide-de-camp  to  General  Whiting,  as  being  in 


iDurIng  the  Revolution  the  State  made  heavy  Importations  and  had 
vessels  engaged  In  running  the  blockade;  and  early  In  1861  that  prece- 
dent was  again  recommended,  especially  by  Gen.  J.  G.  Martin,  the 
adjutant  general  of  the  State,  and  ample  funds  were  provided.  When 
Vance  came  In  as  governor  the  ttme  was  ripe  for  It,  and  he  wisely 
carried  the  plan  Into  execution. 


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Blockade  Running  455 

violation  of  quarantine  regulations,  and  he  ordered  the  vessel 
to  return  to  her  quarantine  berth.  But  the  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  Navigation  was  sent  for,  and  he 
gave  a  permit  for  the  vessel  to  remain  where  she  was,  and  for 
all  persons  who  wished  to  land  to  do  so. 

"The  Advance  was  a  first-class  ship  in  every  respect  and  had 
engines  of  great  power  and  very  highly  finished,  and  her  speed 
was  good.  With  a  pressure  of  twenty  pounds  to  the  square  inch 
she  easily  averaged  seventeen  knots  to  the  hour,  and  when  it 
was  increased  to  thirty  pounds  she  reeled  off  twenty  knots  with- 
out difficulty.  Her  officers  were  Captain  Crossan,  commander; 
Captain  Wylie,  a  Scotchman,  who  came  over  with  her,  sailing 
master ;  Mr.  Hughes,  of  New  Bern,  purser ;  Capt.  George  Mor- 
rison, chief  engineer.  The  only  objection  to  her  was  her  size 
and  heavy  draught  of  water,  the  latter  rendering  it  difficult  for 
her  to  cross  the  shoals,  which  at  that  time  were  a  great  bar  to 
the  navigation  of  the  river,  and  in  consequence  of  which  she 
could  never  go  out  or  return  with  a  full  cargo  of  cotton  or 
supplies.  . 

"She  ran  the  blockade  successfully  seven  or  eight  trips,  bring- 
ing in  all  kinds  of  supplies  that  were  much  needed  by  our 
troops  and  people,  thanks  to  the  energy  and  wise  foresight  of 
our  patriotic  war  governor.  The  regularity  of  her  trips  was 
remarkable  and  could  be  forecast  almost  to  the  very  day;  in- 
deed, it  was  common  to  hear  upon  the  streets  the  almost  stere- 
otyped remark,  'Tomorrow  the  Advance  will  be  in,'  and  when 
the  morrow  came  she  could  generally  be  seen  gliding  up  to  her 
dock  with  the  rich  freight  of  goods  and  wares  so  greatly  needed 
by  our  people.  In  the  meantime,  however,  she  had  several 
narrow  escapes  from  capture.  Coming  from  Nassau  on  one 
occasion,  the  weather  being  very  stormy  and  a  heavy  fog  pre- 
vailing, she  ran  ashore  opposite  Fort  Caswell  and  remained 
there  for  two  days.  The  sea  was  so  rough  that  the  blockaders 
could  not  approach  near  enough  to  do  her  damage,  and  after 
discharging  part  of  her  cargo  she  was  relieved  from  her  peril- 
ous position  and  got  safely  into  port.  But  the  most  exciting 
trip  was  one  made  in  the  month  of  July,  1864,  from  Bermuda. 
She  had  on  board  as  passengers  a  nimiber  of  prominent  gentle- 
men, among  them  Marshall  Kane,  of  Baltimore,  Rev.  Dr.  Moses 
D.  Hoge,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  others  who  had  come  down 
from  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick,  and  joined  the  ship  at  Ber- 
muda, and  who  were  extremely  anxious  to  reach  the  Confed- 


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456  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

erate  States.  By  some  error  in  calculation,  instead  of  TnAking 
Cape  Fear  Light  at  3  a.  m.,  as  was  intended,  they  made  the 
light  on  Cape  Lookout,  a  long  distance  out  of  their  course. 
What  was  best  to  be  done  was  the  question  to  be  solved,  and  to 
be  solved  at  once,  for  daylight  comes  very  soon  in  July.  The 
ship  had  scarcely  enough  coal  in  her  bunkers  to  take  her  back 
to  the  port  she  had  left  and  almost  certain  capture  stared  them 
in  the  face  should  they  attempt  to  run  in.  It  was  determined, 
however,  to  make  the  attempt  to  get  in.  The  ship  was  headed 
for  New  Inlet  and,  hugging  the  shore  as  closely  as  possible, 
with  all  steam  on,  she  dashed  down  the  coast  with  the  speed 
of  a  thoroughbred  on  a  hotly  contested  race-course.  Fortunately, 
at  that  time  many  persons  were  engaged  in  making  salt  on  the 
coast,  and  the  smoke  rising  from  the  works  created  a  cloud,  or 
mist,  which  concealed  the  ship  from  the  blockaders,  although 
it  was  broad  day ;  but  as  she  neared  the  inlet  she  was  compelled 
to  change  her  course  further  out  to  sea  on  account  of  a  shoal, 
or  spit,  that  makes  out  into  the  ocean  at  that  point,  and  she  was 
immediately  discovered  by  the  blockading  fleet,  that  opened  fire 
upon  her  and  gave  chase  like  a  pack  of  hounds  in  eager  pursuit 
of  a  much  coveted  quarry.  It  was  a  most  trying  situation,  for 
the  ship  was  compelled  to  keep  her  course,  although  it  carried 
her  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  enemy,  until  she  could  round  the 
shoal  and  run  in  towards  the  land,  when  she  would  be  in  com- 
parative safety.  Round  shot  and  shell  were  flying  around  her  in 
every  direction,  but  she  held  steadily  on,  though  rushing,  as  it 
seemed,  to  certain  destruction,  when  suddenly  a  roar  was  heard 
from  the  fort — the  heavy  guns  upon  the  mound  had  opened 
upon  the  pursuers  and  with  such  effect  as  to  check  their  speed 
and  force  them  to  retire;  and  the  gallant  ship,  which  had  been 
so  hard  pressed,  soon  rounded  the  shoal  and  was  safe  beneath 
the  sheltering  guns  of  the  fort. 

"But  the  pitcher  that  goes  often  to  the  fountain  is  broken  at 
last,  and  the  time  came  when  the  career  of  the  Advance,  as  a 
blockade  runner,  was  to  cease  forever.  She  was  captured  on 
her  outward  trip  a  few  miles  from  our  coast,  owing  to  an  in- 
ferior quality  of  coal  she  was  compelled  to  use,  which  was  very 
bituminous  and  emitted  a  black  smoke  that  betrayed  her  to  the 
watchful  eyes  of  the  fleet,  and,  being  surrounded  by  them,  she 
was  obliged  to  surrender  with  her  cargo  of  cotton,  her  officers 
and  crew  becoming  prisoners.  She  was  a  noble  ship,  greatly 
endeared  to  the  people  of  our  State,  and  her  capture  was  felt 
by  all  as  a  personal  calamity. 


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Blockade  Running  457 

"In  1867  she  made  her  reappearance  in  the  waters  of  the 
Cape  Fear  as  the  United  States  man-of-war  Frolic,  sent  to  this 
port  to  prevent  the  Cuban  warship  Cuba  from  leaving  Wilming- 
ton, which  duty  was  successfully  performed.  It  happened  on 
that  occasion  that  Capt.  George  Morrison,  her  former  engineer, 
met  some  of  her  officers  and  was  asked  by  them  her  rate  of 
speed  while  he  had  charge  of  her  engines.  He  replied,  *Seven- 
teen  knots,  easily.'  'Impossible,'  they  said,  'for  we  have  not 
been  able  to  get  more  than  eight  or  nine  out  of  her.'  'Some- 
thing wrong  then,'  said  the  captain,  'and,  unless  you  have  made 
some  alterations  in  her  machinery,  I  will  guarantee  to  drive 
her  to  Smithville  at  a  rate  of  seventeen  knots  an  hour.'  He 
was  cordially  invited  on  board  to  examine,  did  so,  and  found 
that  they  had  placed  a  damper  where  it  ought  not  to  be,  which 
prevented  the  generation  of  steam.  He  removed  it,  and  then 
ran  down  to  Smithville  at  a  rate  of  nineteen  knots  an  hour,  to 
the  great  surprise  of  all  on  board. 

"As  Captain  Morrison  held  such  an  important  position  on  the 
Advance  and  was  so  competent  and  reliable,  it  is  thought  that  a 
brief  sketch  of  his  early  life  will  not  be  out  of  place  in  this 
volume.  He  was  bom  in  Philadelphia,  served  four  years  in  a 
machine  shop,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  service  removed  to 
Baltimore,  where  he  was  appointed  engineer  on  one  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  boats ;  subsequently  he  was  chief  engineer  of  a 
steamer  plying  between  Norfolk,  Old  Point  Comfort,  and  the 
eastern  and  western  shores  of  the  peninsular  counties  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  came  to  Wilmington  about  1840  and  was  appointed 
assistant  engineer  on  the  steamer  Oladiator,  running  between 
Wilmington  and  Charleston.  When  the  boat  was  sold,  he  be- 
came a  conductor  on  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad,  and 
served  with  great  acceptability  for  a  nimiber  of  years.  He 
made  six  trips  on  the  Advan^ce,  but  was  not  on  board  when  she 
was  captured.  For  more  than  fifty  years  he  was  a  citizen  of 
Wilmington  and  enjoyed  in  his  ripe  old  age,  as  in  earlier  years, 
the  general  esteem  of  the  community. 

"Another  engineer  on  the  Advance  was  Capt.  James  Maglenn, 
an  Irishman,  who  on  her  last  trip  was  chief  engineer.  After 
her  capture,  the  Advance  was  carried  into  New  Bern,  where 
Captain  Maglenn  escaped  and  got  to  Baltimore.  There  some 
friends  aided  him  to  escape  to  Canada.  When  he  was  on  the 
train  he  observed  an  officer  and  a  guard  come  into  the  car,  and 
he  was  very  apprehensive.    But  the  officer  engaged  himself  in 


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458  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

aficertaining  how  the  passengers  would  vote,  and  while  many 
voted  for  McClellan,  Maglenn  observed  that  the  officer's  eyes 
brightened  when  any  one  voted  for  Lincoln.  When,  therefore, 
the  officer  stopped  opposite  to  him  and  asked,  looking  at*  him 
very  intently,  'Who  do  you  vote  for  V  in  a  voice  loud  enough  to 
be  heard  throughout  the  car,  he  answered,  *I  cast  my  vote  for 
President  Lincoln.'  The  officer  slapped  him  on  the  shoulder, 
and  said,  *You  are  the  right  sort,  my  friend.'  Several  passen- 
gers then  came  up  and  shook  hands  with  him.  Maglenn  was 
very  happy  when  he  had  got  well  into  Canada. 

"After  the  war  he  was  engineer  on  the  Coast  Line,  master 

mechanic  of  the  Carolina  Central,  and  superintendent  of  motive 

.  power  of  the  Seaboard.    In  all  walks  of  life  and  in  every  asso* 

ciation  with  his  fellow-men  he  was  honest,  true,  and  faithful. 

He  lived  many  years  in  Raleigh,  where  he  recently  died." 


OTHEE  VESSELS  FAMOUS  IN  BLOCKADE 
RUNNING. 

In  the  second  stage  of  blockade  running,  when  steam  was  at 
a  premium,  a  number  of  walking-beam  boats  of  excellent  speed, 
which  had  plied  regularly  between  Southern  ports  and  which 
had  been  laid  up  since  the  proclamation,  were  bought  by  South- 
em  business  men  who  became  prominent  in  blockade  running, 
and,  after  the  removal  of  passenger  cabins  and  conspicuous  top 
hamper,  were  placed  in  this  dangerous  traffic.  Of  these  may 
be  mentioned  the  steamer  Kate,  previously  known  as  the  Caro- 
lina, upon  the  line  between  Charleston  and  Palatka;  the  Cor- 
don, which  was  built  to  run  between  Charleston  and  Savannah ; 
also  the  Nina,  Seabrooh,  Clinch,  and  Cecile,  which  had  plied 
on  the  same  line.  The  Cecile,  loaded  at  Nassau  with  a  cargo 
of  powder,  rifles,  and  stores  for  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston's 
army  at  Shiloh,  struck  a  sunken  rock  off  the  Florida  coast 
and  went  to  the  bottom  in  ten  minutes.  The  officers  and  crew 
escaped. 

Two  steamers  which  formerly  ran  between  New  Orleans  and 
Galveston  became  prominent  as  Cape  Fear  blockade  runners; 
the  Atlantic,  renamed  the  Elizabeth,  and  the  Austin,  which 
became  the  famous  Confederate  steamer  Ella  and  Annie.  In 
the  early  morning  of  November  9,  1863,  the  Ella  and  Annie, 
under  command  of  Capt.  F.  N.  Bonneau,  of  Charleston,  was 


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Blockade  Running  459 

intercepted  oflF  New  Inlet,  near  Masonboro,  by  the  United  States 
steamer  Niphon,  which  attempted  to  press  her  ashore.  Several 
other  cruisers  preventing  the  escape  of  the  Ella  and  Annie, 
Captain  Bonneau  at  once  resolved  upon  the  desperate  expedient 
of  running  the  Niphon  down.  He  accordingly  ran  his  ship  at 
reckless  speed  straight  at  the  war  vessel,  and  struck  it  with 
great  force,  carrying  away  the  bowsprit  and  stem  and  wounding 
three  of  the  men.  The  Niphon,  by  quick  movement,  avoided 
the  full  eflfect  of  the  blow,  and  fired  all  her  starboard  guns  into 
the  Ella  and  Annie,  wounding  four  of  her  men.  As  soon  as  the 
vessels  came  together  the  Niphon  carried  the  Ella  and  Annie, 
by  boarding,  and  made  her  a  prize.  She  afterwards  became 
the  United  States  flagship  Malvern. 

The  Governor  Dudley,  of  the  Wilmington  and  Charleston 
route  before  the  completion  of  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester 
Eailroad,  which,  prior  to  the  war,  had  been  put  on  the  summer 
run  between  Charleston  and  Havana,  made  one  or  two  successful 
voyages  through  the  blockade  to  Nassau. 

A  Nassau  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Times  on  February 
15,  1862,  wrote:  "On  Tuesday  last,  the  11th  of  February, 
1862,  the  old  steamer  Governor  Dudley  arrived  from  Charleston 
with  400  bales  of  cotton.  The  captain,  fearing  the  cotton 
would  go  North  if  sold  here,  refused  to  take  any  price  for  it. 
After  taking  out  a  British  register  and  changing  her  name  to 
the  Nellie,  he  left  for  Havana  with  a  Nassau  pilot  on  board  to 
carry  him  across  the  [Bahama]  Banks.  He  intends  taking  a 
return  cargo  to  Charleston,  and  expects  to  be  back  here  in  about 
a  month  with  more  cotton.  The  Nellie  is  an  old  boat,  nearly 
used  up  both  in  hull  and  machinery.  Her  speed  is  not  over  8 
or  10  knots,  with  a  full  head  of  steam.^'  The  other  boats  for- 
merly comprising  the  Wilmington  and  Charleston  line  were 
probably  too  old  for  blockade-running  service.  The  Wilmington 
was  sold  to  run  on  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  The  Gladiator 
went  to  Philadelphia,  and  the  Vanderbilt,  having  been  sold  to 
New  Orleans,  foundered  in  the  GruK  of  Mexico  while  running 
the  blockade. 

Another  old  friend  of  the  New  York  and  Wilmington  line, 
which  was  managed  here  by  the  late  Edwin  A.  Keith,  the  North 
Carolina,  rendered  an  important  service  to  the  Confederate 
Government  by  carrying  through  the  blockade,  as  a  passenger, 
the  distinguished  Capt.  James  D.  Bulloch,  naval  representative 
of  the  Confederacy  in  Europe  during  the  War  between  the 


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460  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

States.  On  February  5,  1862,  she  completed  the  loading  of  a 
cargo  of  cotton,  rosin,  and  tobacco  at  Wilmington,  under  her 
new  name,  Annie  Childs,  named  for  the  wife  of  Col.  F.  L. 
Childs,  and  proceeded  through  the  blockade  by  Main  Bar,  arriv- 
ing at  Liverpool,  via  Fayal,  Madeira,  and  Queenstown,  Ireland, 
early  in  March.  Her  supply  of  coal  was  quite  exhausted  when 
she  sighted  Queenstown,  and  she  barely  reached  that  port  of 
call  by  burning  part  of  her  rosin  cargo  with  spare  spars  cut  in 
short  lengths.  Captain  Bulloch  said  that  she  was  badly  found 
for  so  long  a  voyage,  but  she  weathered  a  heavy  northwest  gale, 
and  proved  herself  to  be  a  fine  sea  boat.  I  am  informed  that  she 
returned  to  other  successful  ventures  in  blockade  running  under 
the  name  of  Victory. 

The  fleet  of  runners  was  augmented  by  old-fashioned  steamers, 
partly  from  the  Northern  ports,  bought  by  foreigners  and  sent 
via  neutral  ports,  where  they  went  through  the  process  of  "white- 
washing," a  change  of  name,  ownership,  registry,  and  flag.  A 
much  greater  number,  however,  came  from  abroad;  a  few  of 
these  formerly  having  been  fast  mail  boats,  but  the  majority 
freighters  on  short  routes  in  Europe,  bought  at  big  prices  for 
eager  speculators,  who  were  tempted  by  the  enormous  profits  of 
blockade  running. 

A  few  of  those  of  the  better  class  became  famous,  as  the 
North  Carolina  steamer  Advance,  before  known  as  the  Lord 
Clyde;  the  Confederate  steamer  R.  E.  Lee,  formerly  the  Oiraffe; 
and  the  Lady  Davis,  previously  the  Comubia.  Some  of  the 
others  were  the  Alice,  Fanny,  Britannia,  Ella,  Pet,  Sirius, 
Orion,  Antonica,  Hansa,  Calypso,  Duoro,  Thistle,  Scotia,  City 
of  Petersburg,  Old  Dominion,  Index,  Caledonia,  Dolphin,  Geor^ 
giana  McCall,  Modem  Greece,  Hebe,  Dee,  Wave  Queen, 
Granite  City,  Stonewall  Jackson,  Victory,  Flora,  Beauregard, 
Ruby,  Margaret  and  Jessie,  Eagle,  Gertrude,  Charleston,  Banr 
shee,  Minna,  and  Eugenie,  all  of  which  were  more  or  less 
successful. 

The  beach  for  miles  north  and  south  of  Bald  Head  is  marked 
still  by  the  melancholy  wrecks  of  swift  and  graceful  steamers 
which  had  been  employed  in  this  perilous  enterprise.  Some  of 
the  hundred  vessels  engaged  in  this  traffic  ran  between  Wilming- 
ton and  the  West  Indies  with  the  regularity  of  mail  boats,  and 
some,  even  of  the  slowest  speed — the  Pet,  for  instance — eluding 
the  vigilance  of  the  Federal  fleet,  passed  unscathed  twenty, 
thirty,   and  forty  times,   making  millions  for  the  fortunate 


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Blockade  Running  461 

owners.  One  little  beauty,  the  Siren,  a  fast  boat,  numbered 
nearly  fifty  voyages.  The  success  of  these  ships  depended,  of 
course,  in  great  measure  upon  the  skill  and  coolness  of  their 
commanders  and  pilots.  It  is  noteworthy  that  those  in  charge 
of  Confederate  naval  officers  were,  with  but  one  exception,  never 
taken;  but  many  were  captured,  sunk,  and  otherwise  lost, 
through  no  fault  of  the  brave  fellows  who  commanded  them. 
The  Beauregard  and  the  Venu^  lie  stranded  on  Carolina  Beach ; 
the  Modem  Greece,  near  New  Inlet;  the  Antonica,  on  Frying 
Pan  Shoals;  the  Ella,  on  Bald  Head;  the  Spunky  and  the 
Oeorgiana  McCall,  on  Caswell  Beach;  the  Hebe  and  the  Dee, 
between  Wrightsville  and  Masonboro.  Two  others  lie  near 
Lockwood's  Folly  Bar;  and  others,  whose  names  are  forgotten, 
are  half-buried  in  the  sands,  where  they  may  remain  for  cen- 
turies to  come.  After  a  heavy  storm  on  the  coast,  the  suiomer 
residents  at  Carolina  Beach  and  Masonboro  Sound  have  occa- 
sionally picked  up  along  the  shore  some  interesting  relics  of 
blockade  times  which  the  heaving  ocean  has  broken  from  the 
buried  cargoes  of  the  Beauregard,  Venus,  Hebe,  and  Dee.  Tal- 
low candles,  Nassau  bacon,  soldiers'  shoes,  and  other  wreckage 
comprise  in  part  this  flotsam  yielded  up  by  Neptune  after 
nearly  fifty  years'  soaking  in  the  sea. 

The  Venus  was  commanded  by  a  prominent  officer  of  the 
Royal  Navy  on  leave  of  absence.  Captain  Murray-Aynsley, 
known  by  blockade  runners  as  Captain  Murray.  He  is  now 
an  admiral  in  the  British  Navy  on  the  retired  list.  He  was  a 
great  favorite  with  the  prominent  people,  and  especially  with 
Colonel  Lamb,  of  Fort  Fisher,  whose  description  of  the  veteran 
naval  officer  on  the  bridge  of  the  Venus,  running  through  the 
Federal  fleet  in  broad  daylight,  hotly  pursued  by  the  enemy, 
with  coat  sleeves  rolled  up  to  his  armpits,  but  cool  and  defiant, 
is  well  worth  recording. 

The  loss  of  the  Oeorgiana  McCall  is  associated  with  a  hor- 
rible crime — the  murder  of  her  pilot.  When  the  ship  was 
beached  under  the  fire  of  the  blockaders,  Mr.  Thomas  Dyer  did 
not  go  with  the  retreating  crew  who  sought  safety  ashore;  he 
seems  to  have  been  left  behind  in  the  rush.  It  was  known  that 
he  had  a  large  amount  of  money  in  gold  on  board,  and  it  was 
thought  that  he  remained  to  secure  it.  A  boat  returned  for  him, 
but  foimd  his  bloody  corpse  instead.  His  skull  was  crushed  as 
by  a  blow  from  behind;  there  was  no  money  on  his  person. 
Another  man  was  found  on  board,  unhurt,  who  professed  igno- 


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462  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ranee  of  his  fellow.  This  person  was  the  watchman,  and  it 
is  said  he  carried  ashore  a  large  amount  of  money.  He  was 
arrested  on  suspicion,  but  there  was  no  proof.  He  still  lives  on 
the  river,  but  the  cause  of  poor  Dyer's  death  will  probably  never 
be  known  imtil  the  Great  Assize. 

Examples  of  dash  and  daring  on  the  part  of  noted  Cape  Fear 
blockade  runners  in  this  phase  of  their  history  could  be  multi- 
plied, if  the  limited  scope  of  this  paper  would  permit  of  their 
narration — instances  so  thrilling  that  it  still  stirs  one's  blood 
to  recall  them  after  an  interval  of  fifty  years.  I  shall,  however, 
select  from  memory  and  from  published  accounts  of  others, 
whom  I  remember  as  participants,  only  a  few  exploits  of  the 
many  which  might  be  recorded,  and,  finally,  some  iUustrations 
of  the  closing  scenes  when  the  false  lights  of  the  conquerors  of 
Fort  Fisher  decoyed  the  unwary  into  the  snare  of  the  fowler  or 
hastened  the  retreat  of  the  few  that  escaped  to  a  neutral  port 

A  Close  Call. 

The  following  interesting  narrative,  which  is  true  in  all  its 
details,  was  told  to  the  writer  by  the  late  George  C.  McDougal, 
of  Rosindale,  N.  C,  who  by  a  clever  expedient  kept  out  of 
Fort  Lafayette,  and  made  some  forty  voyages  as  chief  engineer 
in  the  little  steamer  Siren  before  his  former  shipmates  were 
released : 

"The  well-known  blockade-running  steamer  Margaret  and 
Jessie  left  Nassau  heavily  laden  for  Wilmington,  and  made  a 
good  run  across  to  the  North  Carolina  coast.  About  12  merid- 
ian she  was  in  the  latitude  of  New  Inlet,  and  she  ran  on  the 
western  edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream  until  sundown,  when  she 
headed  for  the  beach  and  made  land  to  the  northward  of  the 
blockading  fleet  of  the  Cape  Fear.  While  tracking  down  the 
beach,  one  of  the  cruisers  sighted  us  and  sent  up  rockets,  which 
made  it  necessary  for  us  to  run  the  remainder  of  the  distance 
under  fire  from  the  whole  line  of  the  blockaders.  Just  as  we 
got  the  lights  in  range  at  the  inlet  and  were  about  to  head  the 
ship  over  the  bar,  we  distinguished  a  gunboat  anchored  in  the 
channel  under  cover  of  the  wrecked  steamer  Arabian.  We  im- 
mediately put  the  ship  about,  and,  with  the  whole  fleet  trailing 
after  us,  ran  off  shore.  At  daylight  none  of  our  followers  was 
in  sight,  but  away  offshore  to  the  southward  we  sighted  the 
armed  transport  Fulton.  As  we  could  not  cross  her  bow,  Capt. 
Robert  Lockwood,  who  commanded  our  ship,  hauled  to  the 


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Blockade  Running  468 

northward  and  eastward,  unfortunately  driving  us  across  the 
bows  of  all  the  cruisers  which  had  run  offshore  in  chase.  We 
had  to  run  the  fire  of  five  of  these  warships  as  we  crossed  their 
bows  and  dropped  them  astern.  During  all  this  time  the  Fulton 
kept  the  weather  gauge  of  us ;  and  after  a  hard  day's  chase  from 
New  Inlet  to  Hatteras,  we  were  at  last  compelled  to  surrender 
late  in  the  afternoon,  as  the  Fulton  seemed  determined  to  run 
us  down,  there  being  hardly  a  cable's  length  between  us  when 
we  hove  to  and  stopped  the  engines.  Before  doing  this,  how- 
ever, we  were  careful  to  throw  the  mail  bags,  government  dis- 
patches, and  ship's  papers  into  the  furnace  of  the  fireroom, 
where  they  were  quickly  consumed. 

"While  our  ship's  company  was  being  transferred  to  the 
Fulton,  the  United  States  steamer  Keystone  State  and  two  other 
cruisers  came  up,  and  sent  several  boats'  crews  aboard  the 
Margaret  and  Jessie,  who  looted  her  of  all  the  silver,  cutlery, 
glassware,  cabin  furniture,  tablecloths,  and  napkins — doubtless 
everything  they  could  carry  off  in  their  boats.  The  Fulton, 
having  sent  a  prize  crew  on  board,  took  us  in  tow  for  New  York, 
where,  immediately  on  our  arrival,  we  were  confined  in  Ludlow 
Street  Jail.  Two  days  after,  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  block- 
ade runner  Ella  and  Annie  were  brought  in,  she  having  been 
captured  off  Wilmington  after  a  desperate  resistance  by  her 
brave  commander,  Captain  Bonneau.  During  our  incarceration 
we  were  visited  frequently  by  United  States  deputy  marshals, 
who  tried  to  identify  some  of  us  suspected  of  holding  commis- 
sions in  the  Confederate  service  and  of  being  regularly  engaged 
in  blockade  running,  as  distinguished  from  those  less  harmful 
members  of  the  crew  who  would  be  only  too  glad  to  abandon 
further  attempts  on  regaining  their  liberty.  These  officers  were 
immediately  assailed  with  questions  from  all  quarters.  *What 
are  you  going  to  do  with  us  here?'  'Are  you  going  to  let  us 
out  ?'  to  which  they  would  respond,  *We  can  not  tell — the  crew 
lists  have  been  sent  to  Washington  for  inspection ;  you  will  have 
to  wait  until  they  are  returned.' 

"We  were  kept  in  this  state  of  suspense  for  about  three  weeks, 
when  a  squad  of  deputy  marshals  came  to  the  jail  and  mustered 
the  entire  company.  We  soon  ascertained  that  the  crew  lists 
had  come  from  Washington,  and  that  we  were  to  go  down  to 
the  marshal's  office,  where  the  names  of  those  who  were  to  be 
released  were  to  be  called  out,  and  the  imfortunate  ones  remain- 
ing prepared  for  a  long  term  of  imprisonment  at  one  of  the  well- 


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464  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

known  prison-pens  so  dreaded  by  those  who  afterwards  realized 
all  their  horrors.  We  were,  accordingly,  marched  down  to  the 
marshal's  headquarters  in  Burton's  old  theatre,  on  Chambers 
Street,  opposite  City  Hall  Park,  where  we  were  ordered  to  select 
our  baggage  and  prepare  to  be  searched  for  contraband  articles. 
The  entire  office  force  of  clerks  had  been  drawn  by  curiosity 
from  their  desks  to  the  other  end  of  the  large  room,  where  the 
inspection  was  going  on ;  and,  while  my  baggage  was  being  exam- 
ined by  an  officer,  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  who  were  to  be  re- 
leased ;  to  which  he  replied  that  he  did  not  know,  but  that  the 
list  of  those  who  would  be  released  could  be  f  oimd  in  a  large 
book  on  that  desk,  pointing  his  finger  to  the  other  end  of  the 
room.  When  his  inspection  was  completed,  I  asked. if  I  might 
go  and  read  the  names  to  satisfy  my  curiosity.  He  said  there 
could  be  no  harm  in  doing  so,  and  asked  if  I  could  read.  I  said, 
yes,  that  I  thought  I  could  make  out  the  names.  Whereupon, 
I  walked  with  forced  indifference  to  the  desk,  and  f oimd  a  big 
journal  laid  open  upon  it,  containing  the  names  of  the  men 
belonging  to  the  Ella  and  Annie's  crew  who  were  to  be  dis- 
charged. This  did  not  interest  me;  and  looking  further  down 
I  saw,  also,  the  names  of  those  of  my  own  ship  who  were  to  be 
released,  but  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  there  was  no  QeorgQ  C. 
McDougal.  You  may  depend  upon  it,  I  felt  very  sad  as  Fort 
Lafayette  loomed  up  in  all  its  dreariness.  Looking  furtively 
over  my  shoulder,  I  saw  that  the  desk  was  so  placed  that  my 
back  shielded  me  from  the  eyes  of  the  marshals  at  the  moment, 
and  also  that  the  officers  and  clerks  were  very  busy  seeing  what 
they  could  confiscate,  each  man  for  himself,  out  of  the  baggage 
of  the  unfortunate  prisoners;  and,  feeling  that  no  worse  fate 
could  overtake  me,  I  slipped  my  hand  cautiously  along  the  desk, 
took  up  a  pen  and,  imitating  as  closely  as  possible  the  character 
of  the  writing  before  me,  inscribed  my  own  name  at  the  bottom 
of  the  list,  and  immediately  returned  to  the  crowd  at  the  other 
end  of  the  room.  The  deputy  asked  me  if  I  saw  my  own  name, 
to  which  I  promptly  responded,  ^Yes.'  Then  you  are  all  right,' 
said  he,  'and  will  be  turned  out  tonight.'  Shortly  afterwards, 
we  were  marched  off  to  a  neighboring  place  to  get  our  supper 
at  the  expense  of  Uncle  Sam,  after  which  the  chief  marshal  and 
Judge  Beebe  appeared,  and  in  due  form  separated  those  who 
were  to  be  released  from  the  unfortimate  ones  remaining.  I 
waited,  with  feelings  that  can  be  imagined  better  than  they  can 
be  described,  as  the  names  were  read ;  and  at  last  my  own  name 


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Blockade  Running  465 

was  called  without  detection  of  my  expedient,  which  was,  doubt- 
less, owing  to  the  fact  that  the  room  was  badly  lighted  and  dark- 
ness had  already  set  in.  Promptly  responding  to  my  name,  I 
at  once  passed  out  into  the  night,  leaving  my  commander,  Capt. 
Robert  Lockwood,  Mr.  Charles  Craig,  the  Wilmington  pilot, 
Billy  Willington,  our  engineer,  and  several  others  of  the  Mar- 
garet and  Jessie,  who,  together  with  Capt.  Frank  Bonneau,  his 
Wilmington  pilot,  and  his  chief  engineer,  Alexander  Laurence, 
were  sent  to  Fort  Lafayette,  where  they  remained  until  about 
the  end  of  the  war." 

The  Kate's  Adventijbb. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1862,  the  Confederate  Government, 
desiring  to  arrange  for  the  importation  of  supplies  for  the  War 
Department,  and  finding  the  principal  ports  of  the  South  Atlan- 
tic coast  so  well  guarded  by  the  blockaders  that  the  new  under- 
taking of  blockade  running  was  considered  extra  hazardous,  de- 
cided to  use  the  smaller  inlets,  which  were  less  carefully  watched 
by  the  enemy,  and  dispatched  the  steamer  Kate  from  Nassau 
with  a  cargo  of  ammimition  to  Smyrna,  Florida,  where  an 
entrance  was  safely  effected  by  that  vessel,  and  the  cargo  imme- 
diately discharged  and  transported  across  the  country  to  a  place 
of  safety. 

The  Kate  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  J.  Lockwood,  of 
Smithville,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  who  was  well  known  to  our 
river  pilots  and  seafaring  people  as  a  man  of  very  superior  skill 
and  seamanship,  and  as  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  bars  and 
inlets  along  the  Southern  coast. 

A  second  voyage  by  the  Kate  had  been  completed,  and  the 
cargo  successfully  discharged  and  transported,  before  the  move- 
ment became  known  to  the  blockading  squadron;  but,  while 
the  Kate  was  waiting  for  the  return  of  Captain  Lockwood  from 
Charleston,  whither  he  had  proceeded  to  bring  his  family  to  the 
ship  at  Smyrna  Inlet,  a  Federal  man-of-war  discovered  her 
hiding  place,  which  forced  the  chief  officer  of  the  Kate  to  pro- 
ceed to  sea  at  once,  leaving  the  captain  behind.  The  Federal 
cruiser  landed  a  boat's  crew,  who  burned  the  house  of  Mr.  Shel- 
don, the  pilot  who  had  assisted  in  bringing  the  Kate  to  an 
anchorage,  shortly  after  which,  Captain  Lockwood  arrived  with 
his  family,  to  find  that  the  ship  had  already  departed.  Mr. 
Sheldon,  however,  furnished  him  with  an  ordinary  whaleboat, 
which  had  escaped  the  scrutiny  of  the  Federal  man-of-war's 
30 


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466  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

men,  and  Captain  Lockwood  at  once  determined  to  undertake 
the  voyage  in  this  frail  craft,  and  overtake  the  Kate  at  Nassau. 
The  boat  was  only  sixteen  feet  long  and  not  at  all  well  found  for 
Buch  a  perilous  voyage. 

After  a  short  delay,  the  captain,  his  brave  wife,  their  two 
children,  and  a  hired  boy,  found  themselves  safe  over  the  bar 
and  headed  for  the  Bahamas.  The  following  account  of  this 
remarkable  voyage  was  written  by  Mrs.  Lockwood,  and  has  been 
kindly  furnished  by  her  brother,  Mr.  McDougal : 

"After  the  baggage  was  safe  on  board,  I  was  carried  in  a 
man's  arms  through  the  surf  and  placed  in  the  boat,  and  we 
started  over  the  sea  in  our  frail  little  craft.  A  few  yards  from 
shore,  we  discovered  that  she  was  sinking,  but  turned  back  in 
time  to  reach  the  beach,  to  which  I  was  again  transferred  just 
as  the  boat  went  down.  With  some  difficulty  she  was  recovered, 
when  it  was  found  that  the  plug  had  come  out  of  the  bottom 
while  drawing  the  boat  over  the  beach.  We  soon  found  a  remedy 
for  this  trouble,  and  proceeded  to  cross  the  Gulf  Stream.  On 
the  following  morning,  the  wind  blew  a  gale.  The  waves  dashed 
high  over  us  all  day,  while  the  wind  increased  in  fury.  For 
fifteen  hours  we  waited  and  prayed,  thinking  that  every  moment 
would  be  our  last.  About  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  we  dis- 
covered a  reef  and  steered  along  the  rocks  to  find  an  opening, 
so  that  we  might  cross  the  line  of  breakers  and  get  into  calm 
water.  Oakie  told  us  to  sit  still  and  hold  fast  to  the  boat,  as  we 
must  go  over  the  rocks  or  sink.  As  each  enormous  wave  came 
towards  us  it  seemed  to  reach  the  sky  and  break  over  our  frail 
craft,  deluging  us  with  water.  For  several  moments  in  succes- 
sion I  would  sit  under  these  huge  waves,  holding  on  with  one 
hand  and  clasping  my  baby  with  the  other.  Breaker  after 
breaker  burst  over  us,  and  at  the  same  time  lifted  the  boat 
farther  and  farther  on  to  the  rocks,  until  at  last  we  were  plunged 
ahead  into  the  smooth  water  of  the  bay  beyond.  By  some  means, 
I  cannot  tell  how,  we  reached  one  of  the  vessels  lying  at  anchor, 
when  they  lifted  us  all  on  board  and  carried  us  into  the  cabin. 
We  could  not  walk  for  cold  and  cramp.  On  Sunday,  the  23d, 
the  schooner  upon  which  we  had  taken  refuge  sailed  for  Nassau, 
and  on  Monday  we  landed  on  Elbow  Cay,  one  of  the  Bahama 
Islands,  the  wind  not  being  favorable  for  us  to  continue  farther 
that  day.  On  the  25th,  with  a  fair  wind,  we  again  proceeded 
towards  Nassau,  and  arrived  on  Wednesday,  after  being  three 
weeks  on  the  journey  from  Charleston." 


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Blockade  Running  467 

Mr.  McDougal  adds  in  his  journal,  that  he  was  then  chief 
engineer  of  the  steamer  Kate,  of  600  tons,  in  the  Gulf  Stream, 
about  150  miles  from  where  Captain  Lockwood  was  cruising  in 
the  little  boat;  and  that  the  gale  was  so  severe  that  this  large 
vessel  was  obliged  to  lie  to,  and  suffered  considerable  damage 
in  consequence  of  the  severity  of  the  storm,  and  that  it  seems  a 
miracle  that  a  small  boat  like  Captain  Lockwood's  should  have 
lived  through  such  a  fearful  gale. 

The  British  Flag. 

A  majority  of  the  blockade  runners  bore  British  certificates 
of  registry  and  sailed  under  the  British  flag  because  they  were 
owned  and  manned  by  British  subjects,  and  traded  with  British 
ports.  This  did  not  save  them  from  capture  and  condemnation 
if  caught  with  contraband  cargoes  between  Nassau  or  Bermuda 
and  the  coast  of  the  Southern  States,  whether  they  attempted  to 
break  the  blockade  or  not.  But  if  they  were  bound  from  a 
British  port,  say  Nassau  or  Bermuda,  to  a  home  port  in  Great 
Britain,  loaded  with  cotton,  they  would  be  protected  from  cap- 
ture by  their  flag  and  register  and  their  manifest  of  British  own- 
ership ;  or,  if  they  were  bound  from  Great  Britain  to  Nassau  or 
Bermuda  with  arms  or  war  supplies  and  certified  British  owner- 
ship, although  ultimately  intending  to  run  the  blockade,  their 
papers  would  protect  them  from  molestation  by  the  Federal 
cruisers.  Not  so  with  those  under  the  Confederate  flag,  which 
were  liable  to  capture  whenever  found  on  the  high  seas. 

When  the  War  between  the  States  began  Mr.  Donald  MacRae 
was  British  vice  consul  at  Wilmington.  He  resigned,  however, 
and  Mr.  Alexander  Sprunt  was  appointed  by  Consul  Henry 
Pinckney  Walker  at  Charleston  to  act  in  his  place ;  but  the  func- 
tion was  suspended  by  General  Whiting  because  there  were  no 
diplomatic  relations  between  the  foreign  powers  and  the  Con- 
federacy, Great  Britain  having  only  recognized  our  belligerent 
rights. 

It  is  remarkable  that  during  the  entire  war  the  British  flag 
was  the  only  foreign  colors  flown  in  the  ports  of  the  Confederacy. 


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468  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  BLOCKADE  RUNNING. 
By  Captain  John  Wilkinson,  C.  S.  N. 

In  the  early  part  of  December,  1864,  I  was  summoned  again, 
and  for  the  last  time  during  the  war,  to  Richmond.  There  now 
remained  to  the  Confederacy  only  the  single  line  of  rail  com- 
munication from  Wilmington,  via  Greensboro  and  Danville,  to 
Richmond.  The  progress  of  demoralization  was  too  evident  at 
every  step  of  my  journey,  and  nowhere  were  the  poverty  and 
the  straits  to  which  the  country  was  reduced  more  palpably  vis- 
ible than  in  the  rickety,  windowless,  filthy  cars,  traveling  six  or 
eight  miles  an  hour,  over  the  worn-out  rails  and  decaying  road- 
bed. We  were  eighteen  hours  in  making  the  distance  (about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  miles)  from  Danville  to  Richmond. 
As  we  passed  in  the  rear  of  General  Lee's  line  and  I  saw  the 
scare-crow  cattle  there  being  slaughtered  for  the  troops,  the 
game  seemed  to  be  at  last  growing  desperate.  We  were  detained 
for  perhaps  an  hour  at  the  station  where  the  cattle  were  being 
slaughtered.  Several  soldiers  who  were  on  the  train  left  us 
there;  and  as  soon  as  they  alighted  from  the  cars,  they  seized 
portions  of  the  offal,  kindled  a  fire,  charred  the  scraps  upon  the 
points  of  their  ramrods,  and  devoured  the  imclean  food  with  the 
avidity  of  famished  tigers. 

It  was  arranged  in  Richmond  that  I  should  take  command  of 
the  Tallahassee  and  proceed  with  all  dispatch  to  Bermuda  for 
a  cargo  of  provisions,  my  late  experience  with  the  governor  of 
the  island  rendering  it  quite  probable  that  he  would  prevent 
the  ChicJcamauga  from  even  discharging  her  cargo  as  a  merchant 
vessel.  That  steamer  (the  Tallahassee)  y  of  so  many  aliases,  had 
just  returned  from  a  short  cruise  under  Captain  Ward,  of  the 
Confederate  States  Navy.  She  was  now  christened  again,  and 
bore,  thenceforward,  the  appropriate  name  of  Chameleon.  Her 
battery  was  dismounted,  her  officers  and  crew  detached,  and  she 
was  ostensibly  sold  to  the  navy  agent  at  Wilmington.  A  regis- 
ter and  bill  of  sale  were  prepared  in  legal  form,  the  crew  shipped 
according  to  the  laws  relating  to  the  merchant  service,  and  regu- 
lar invoices  and  bills  of  lading  made  out  of  her  cargo  of  cotton. 
The  vessel,  indeed,  was  so  thoroughly  whitewashed  that  she 
subsequently  passed  a  searching  examination  in  Bermuda;  but 
my  recent  experience  there  had  convinced  me  of  the  necessity 
of  adopting  every  precaution,  and  I  was  left  to  my  own  discre- 


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Blockade  Running  469 

tion  with  regard  to  all  the  details ;  the  instructions  under  which 
I  was  acting  requiring  me  only  to  bring  in  a  cargo  of  provisions 
with  all  dispatch. 

The  Chameleon  was  in  nearly  all  respects  like  the  Chickar 
mauga,  only  a  few  feet  longer,  and  drawing  a  few  inches  more 
water. 

On  the  afternoon  of  December  24,  the  United  States  fleet 
opened  fire  upon  Fort  Fisher,  the  heavy  cannonading  continu- 
ing during  the  two  following  days.  The  booming  of  the  heavy 
guns  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  Wilmington. 

There  was  a  complete  panic  there ;  the  non-combatants  moved 
away  and  fright  and  confusion  prevailed  everywhere.  The  co- 
operating land  forces,  under  General  Butler,  had  almost  com- 
pletely invested  the  fort,  and  the  communication  between  it  and 
Wilmington  was  at  one  time  interrupted,  so  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  ascertain  the  condition  of  affairs  below.  In  the  midst 
of  the  turmoil,  we  cast  off  from  the  wharf  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  of  December  26  and  anchored  off  Smithville  after 
dark,  the  tide  not  serving  for  crossing  the  bar  that  night. 

Next  morning  the  Agnes  Fry,  an  inward-boimd  blockade 
runner,  was  discovered  agroimd  on  the  Western  Bar.  Towards 
evening  two  or  three  of  the  blockading  fleet  stationed  off  that  bar 
steamed  in  and  opened  fire  upon  her.  The  bombardment  of  the 
fort  was  still  in  progress.  A  little  after  dark,  just  as  we  were 
weighing  our  anchor.  General  Whiting,  who  was  then  in  Fort 
Fisher,  telegraphed  to  us  that  the  United  States  land  forces  were 
embarking,  the  attack  upon  the  fort  having  been  abandoned.  We 
were  under  way  in  a  few  minutes,  closely  followed  by  the 
Hansa,  Captain  Murray,  and  parting  from  her  just  as  we 
crossed  the  bar.  I  had  known  the  captain  for  many  months, 
under  his  assumed  name,  and  it  was  quite  generally  understood 
that  he  held  a  conmiission  in  the  British  Navy.  While  I  was 
living  in  Nova  Scotia,  some  years  afterwards,  the  card  of  Cap- 
tain A.,  conmianding  H.  B.  M.'s  ship  J n,  was  brought  to  me, 

and  I  was  surprised  to  find  in  the  owner  of  it  my  old  friend 
Murray.  Several  British  naval  officers  of  rank  and  high  charac- 
ter were  engaged  in  the  same  exciting  and  lucrative  occupation 
of  blockade  running;  among  them  the  gallant  Captain  Bur- 
goyne,  who  commanded  afterwards  the  unfortunate  ship  Cap- 
tain,  of  the  British  Navy,  and  who  perished  together  with  nearly 
the  whole  crew  when  she  foundered  at  sea. 

We  crossed  the  bar  imder  such  favorable  circumstances  that 


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470  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

we  were  not  discovered ;  nor  did  we  see  any  of  the  fleet  until  we 
cleared  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  when  we  easily  avoided  several 
vessels  which  had  participated,  no  doubt,  in  the  attack  upon 
Fort  Fisher,  and  were  now  about  to  take  their  stations  off  the 
Western  Bar. 

We  made  a  rapid,  though  very  rough  voyage  to  Bermuda,  a 
stormy  northwest  gale  following  us  nearly  the  whole  distance. 
The  Prussian  Major  Von  Borcke,  who  had  served  on  General 
^*Jeb"  Stuart's  staff  and  who  afterwards  published  (in  Black- 
wood's) his  experience  of  the  war,  was  a  passenger.  The  major 
was  no  sailor,  and  his  sufferings  from  seasickness  were  much 
aggravated  by  a  gunshot  wound  in  his  throat.  As  the  engines 
of  the  Chameleon  would  "race"  in  the  heavy  sea  following  ub, 
and  her  whole  frame  would  vibrate,  he  declared  in  military 
phraseology  ("our  army  swore  terribly  in  Flanders")  that  he 
would  rather  encounter  the  dangers  of  a  "stricken  field"  than 
voluntarily  endure  an  hour  of  such  torture. 

We  arrived  at  St.  George's  on  the  30th  of  December ;  and  our 
troubles  immediately  commenced.  It  was  the  6th  of  January 
before  permission  was  received  to  land  our  cargo  of  cotton,  His 
Excellency,  the  governor,  having  called  upon  the  law  officers  of 
the  Crown  for  aid  in  the  dire  dilemma.  When  the  vessel's 
papers  were  at  last  pronounced  correct,  we  discharged  our  cargo ; 
and  then  arose  the  perplexing  question  of  loading.  I  haven't 
the  slightest  doubt  that  the  American  consul  was  sadly  bothering 
His  Excellency  all  this  time;  however,  permission  was  finally 
granted  to  us  to  take  in  provisions,  but  no  mimitions  of  war. 
As  we  did  not  want  'liardware,"  as  munitions  of  war  were  then 
invoiced,  we  proceeded  to  load.  But  a  great  deal  of  time  had 
been  lost,  and  we  did  not  take  our  departure  for  Wilmington  till 
the  10th  of  January.  We  had  on  board  as  passengers  General 
Preston  and  staff,  returning  from  Europe. 

Our  voyage  across  was  very  rough,  and  the  night  of  our 
approach  to  New  Inlet  Bar  was  dark  and  rainy.  Between  one 
and  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  we  were  feeling  our  way  with 
the  lead,  a  light  was  discovered  nearly  ahead  and  a  short  dis- 
tance from  us.  As  we  drew  closer  in  and  "sheered"  the  Chame- 
leon, so  as  to  bring  the  light  abeam,  I  directed  our  signal  officer 
to  make  the  regular  signal.  No  reply  was  made  to  it,  although 
many  lights  now  began  to  appear  looming  up  through  the  driz- 
zling rain.  These  were  undoubtedly  camp  fires  of  the  United 
States  troops  outside  of  Fort  Fisher;  but  it  never  occurred  to 


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Blockade  Running  471 

me  as  possible  that  a  second  attack  could  have  been  made,  and 
successfully,  in  the  brief  period  of  time  which  had  elapsed  since 
our  departure  from  Wilmington.  Believing  that  I  had  made 
some  error  in  my  day's  observations,  the  Chameleon  was  put  to 
sea  again,  as  the  most  prudent  course  in  the  emergency.  The 
night  was  too  far  spent  to  allow  of  any  delay.  Orders  were 
therefore  given  to  go  at  full  speed,  and  by  daylight  we  had  made 
an  offing  of  forty  or  fifty  miles  from  the  coast.  Clear  and 
pleasant  weather  enabled  me  to  establish  our  position  accurately 
(it  was  my  invariable  custom  at  sea,  during  the  war,  to  take  my 
own  observations),  and  early  in  the  night  we  made  the  Mound 
Light  ahead,  for  which  I  had  shaped  our  course.  The  range 
lights  were  showing,  and  we  crossed  the  bar  without  interfer- 
ence, but  without  a  suspicion  of  anything  wrong,  as  it  would 
occasionally  happen,  under  particularly  favorable  circumstances, 
that  we  would  cross  the  bar  without  even  seeing  a  blockader. 
We  were  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher,  in  fact,  and  close  to  the 
fleet  of  United  States  vessels,  which  had  crossed  the  bar  after  the 
fall  of  the  fort,  when  I  directed  my  signal  officer  to  communicate 
with  the  shore  station.  His  signal  was  promptly  answered,  but 
turning  to  me,  he  said,  "No  Confederate  signal  officer  there,  sir ; 
he  can  not  reply  to  me.''  The  order  to  wear  round  was  instantly 
obeyed ;  not  a  moment  too  soon,  for  the  bow  of  the  Chameleon 
was  scarcely  pointed  for  the  bar  before  two  of  the  light  cruisers 
were  plainly  visible  in  pursuit,  steaming  with  all  speed  to  inter- 
cept us.  Nothing  saved  us  from  capture  but  the  twin  screws, 
which  enabled  our  steamer  to  turn  as  upon  a  pivot  in  the  narrow 
channel  between  the  bar  and  the  Kip.  We  reached  the  bar  be- 
fore our  pursuers,  and  were  soon  lost  to  their  sight  in  the  dark- 
ness outside.  Our  supply  of  coal  being  limited,  the  course  was 
shaped  for  Nassau  as  the  nearer  port,  where  we  arrived  without 
accident.  A  day  or  two  after  our  arrival  the  news  came  of  the 
fall  of  Fort  Fisher. 

Several  narrow  escapes,  besides  our  own,  were  made.  Maffitt, 
in  command  of  the  Owl,  crossed  the  Western  Bar  a  night  or  two 
after  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  while  our  troops  were  evacu- 
ating Fort  Caswell  and  other  military  stations  along  the  river. 
Crossing  the  bar  and  suspecting  no  danger,  he  continued  on  his 
way  up  to  Smithville,  where  he  anchored.  He  was  boarded  a 
few  moments  afterwards  by  a  boat  from  our  military  post  there. 
The  officer  in  command  of  the  boat  informed  him  of  the  capture 
of  Fort  Fisher,  and  that  our  troops  were  then  evacuating  Fort 


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472  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Caswell,  adding  that  several  vessels  of  the  Federal  fleet  had 
crossed  the  New  Inlet  Bar,  and  were  at  anchor  in  the  river 
almost  within  hail  of  him,  Maffitt  was  about  to  give  the  order  to 
slip  the  chain,  "not  standing  upon  the  order  of  his  going,"  when 
his  pilot  begged  for  permission  to  go  ashore,  if  only  for  ten  min- 
utes. He  represented  the  situation  of  his  wife,  whom  he  had 
left  ill  and  without  means  of  support,  in  such  moving  terms,  that 
Maffitt  granted  permission,  upon  condition  that  he  would  return 
speedily.  The  pilot  was  faithful  to  his  promise,  returning  in 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes.  During  his  absence,  steam  was 
raised  and  the  chain  unshackled.  As  the  pilot's  foot  touched 
the  deck  of  the  Owl,  the  boat  was  hooked  on  and  run  up  the 
davits,  the  chain  slipped,  and  the  Owl  upon  her  way  to  sea  again* 

Another  blockade  runner  is  said  to  have  been  not  so  fortunate. 
She  had  rim  the  gauntlet  safely  and  come  to  anchor  off  Smith- 
ville.  The  tarpaulins  had  been  removed  from  the  hatches,  the 
lamps  lighted,  and  a  cold  supper  spread  upon  the  table,  at  which 
the  passengers  were  seated,  two  or  three  officers  of  the  British 
Army  among  them.  A  toast  to  the  captain  having  been  pro- 
posed, they  had  just  tossed  off  a  bumper  of  champagne  to  his 
health  and  continued  successes,  and  he  was  about  to  reply  to  the 
compliment,  when  the  officer  of  the  deck  reported  that  a  boat  was 
coming  alongside.  The  captain  received  the  officer  at  the  gang- 
way. The  mail-bag,  according  to  the  usual  routine,  was  given 
to  the  latter  for  transportation  to  the  shore ;  and  the  customary 
inquiries  made  after  the  name  of  the  vessel,  cargo,  number  of 
passengers,  etc  The  astounded  captain  was  then  informed  that 
his  vessel  was  a  prize  to  the  United  States  ship,  then  at  anchor 
near  him ! 

Charleston  was  now  the  only  harbor  on  the  Atlantic  coast  at 
all  accessible,  and  that  must  evidently  soon  fall;  but  a  cargo 
might  be  landed  there  before  that  inevitable  catastrophe,  and, 
fully  appreciating  the  exigency,  I  determined  to  make  the  effort. 
Even  after  the  occupation  of  Wilmington  by  the  United  States 
troops,  there  would  remain  an  interior  line  of  conmiimication 
between  Charleston  and  Virginia.  The  facts  of  history  prove 
that  the  importance  of  carrying  in  a  cargo  of  provisions  was 
not  exaggerated,  for  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  shortly 
afterwards  literally  starving ;  and  during  their  retreat  from  the 
position  around  Petersburg,  the  country  adjacent  to  their  line 
was  swarming  with  soldiers  who  had  left  die  ranks  in  search 
of  food. 


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Blockade  Running  473 

But  it  was  the  part  of  prudence  to  ascertain,  positively,  before 
sailing,  that  Charleston  was  still  in  our  possession.  This  in- 
telligence was  brought  by  the  Chicora,  which  arrived  at  Nassau 
on  the  30th  of  January ;  and  on  February  1,  the  Owl,  Carolina, 
Dream,  Ohicora,  and  Chameleon  sailed  within  a  few  hours  of 
each  other  for  Charleston. 

We  passed  Abaco  Light  soon  after  dark  and  shaped  our  course 
direct  for  Charleston.  At  early  dawn  the  next  morning,  while 
I  was  lying  awake  in  my  room  on  the  bridge,  I  heard  the  officer 
of  the  deck  give  the  quick,  sharp  order  to  the  helmsman,  ''Hard 
a-port.^'  The  steering  wheel  in  all  of  the  blockade  rimners  was 
upon  the  bridge  and  immediately  forward  of  the  captain's  state- 
room, and  the  officer  of  the  deck  kept  his  watch  Upon  the  bridge. 
As  I  never  undressed  at  night  while  at  sea  in  command  during 
the  war,  I  was  out  upon  the  deck  in  a  moment ;  and  then  I  saw, 
distant  two  or  three  miles  and  directly  in  our  former  course,  a 
large  side-wheel  steamer.  From  her  size  and  rig  I  guessed  her 
to  be  the  Vanderhilt ;  and  I  was  afraid  that  the  Chameleon  had 
at  last  foimd  more  than  her  match,  for  the  Vanderhilt  enjoyed 
the  reputation  of  great  speed.  We  were  around  before  we  were 
discovered,  but  as  the  strange  steamer's  bow  was  pointed  in  our 
direction  a  few  moments  afterwards,  it  was  plain  that  we  would 
have  to  make  good  use  of  our  heels,  and  that  the  race  would  be 
a  trying  one.  The  Chameleon  was  in  fine  condition  for  the 
ordeal,  and  the  usual  precaution  of  cleaning  fires  and  raising 
the  steam  had  been  taken  before  daylight.  My  staunch  old 
quartermaster,  McLean,  who  had  been  with  me  in  nearly  all  the 
chances  and  changes  of  blockade  running,  always  took  his  place 
at  the  wheel  on  trying  occasions.  He  had  nerves  of  steel,  and 
would  have  steered  the  vessel  without  flinching  against  a  line  of 
battleships,  if  so  ordered.  Upon  one  occasion,  after  we  had 
crossed  tie  Western  Bar,  and  were  steaming  at  full  speed  along 
the  coast,  we  suddenly  discovered  a  long,  low  blockader  on  our 
starboard  bow,  and  at  the  same  instant  distinctly  heard  the  order 
from  the  stranger's  deck,  to  "pass  along  the  shell.".  I  called  out 
to  my  old  helmsman,  "Port,  and  run  her  down,"  and  if  the 
strange  vessel  had  not  moved  out  of  our  way  with  alacrity,  she 
would  assuredly  have  been  cut  in  two.  We  grazed  her  stem  by  a 
hair's  breadth  as  we  shot  by  her  at  the  rate  of  thirteen  knots. 
Before  they  had  recovered  from  the  confusion  on  board  of  her, 
we  had  passed  into  the  darkness  beyond,  and  the  shell  which 
they  sent  after  us  flew  wide  of  its  mark. 


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474  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

McLean  was  now  placed  at  the  wheel.  It  was  a  close  race  for 
hours,  neither  apparently  gaining  or  losing  a  foot;  but  Provi- 
dence again  befriended  us.  As  the  day  advanced,  the  breeze, 
which  was  very  light  from  the  northward  at  daylight,  continued 
to  freshen  from  that  quarter.  We  soon  set  all  of  our  canvas,  and 
so  did  the  chaser,  but  as  the  latter  was  square-rigged,  and  we 
carried  fore  and  aft  sails,  our  sheets  were  hauled  flat  aft,  and 
the  Chameleon  was  kept  close  to  the  wind  by  the  steady  old 
helmsman.  I  do  not  doubt  that  we  would  have  been  overhauled 
but  for  this  favorable  contingency.  Head  to  wind,  our  pursuers 
would  certainly  have  overtaken  us,  and  off  the  wind  her  chances 
would  have  been  almost  equally  good.  But  she  began  to  drop 
gradually  to  leeward  as  the  wind  continued  steady,  and  by  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  she  was  five  or  six  miles  distant  on  our 
lee  quarter.  Although  we  had  not  increased  the  distance  be- 
tween us  much,  if  any,  since  the  commencement  of  the  chase,  we 
had  weathered  upon  the  chaser  until  her  sails  had  become  useless 
about  twelve  o'clock,  when  she  furled  them.  As  the  snowy  cloud 
of  canvas  was  rolled  up  like  magic,  and  the  tall,  tapering  spars 
were  seen  in  its  place,  I  supposed  the  cruiser  was  about  to  retire 
from  the  contest;  but  she  still  followed  with  the  tenacity  of  a 
bloodhound.  Apparently  to  no  purpose,  however,  till  about  two 
o'clock,  when  the  chief  engineer,  Mr.  Schroeder,  appeared  on 
the  bridge  with  the  report  that  the  journals  were  heated,  and 
it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  stop  in  order  to  ease  the  bearings. 
This  was  a  predicament,  indeed,  but  when  I  looked  down  into 
the  hold  and  saw  the  clouds  of  vapor  rising  from  the  overheated 
journals,  as  a  stream  of  water  was  being  pumped  upon  them,  I 
saw  that  Schroeder  was  right  in  the  assertion  that  unless  the 
bearings  were  instantly  eased  the  machinery  would  give  way. 
I  had  implicit  confidence  in  Schroeder,  and  it  had  been  justly 
earned,  for  he  had  served  long  under  my  command,  and  had 
always  displayed,  under  trying  circumstances,  great  coolness, 
presence  of  mind,  and  ability.  He  made  every  preparation  for 
the  work  before  him,  taking  off  his  coat,  and  when  every- 
thing was  in  readiness,  the  order  to  stop  the  engines  was  given. 
In  a  few  moments  we  lay  like  a  log  upon  the  water,  and  the 
chaser  was  rapidly  lessening  the  distance  between  us.  The  sus- 
pense became  almost  intolerable.  Our  fate  was  hanging  by  a 
thread ;  but  in  ten  minutes  the  journals  had  been  cooled  off,  the 
bearings  eased,  and  the  Chameleon  again  sprang  ahead  with 
renewed  speed.     The  steamer  in  chase  had  approached  nearly 


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Blockade  Running  475 

within  cannon  shot — ^probably  within  long  range — ^but  in  the 
course  of  the  next  hour  we  had  gained  so  rapidly  in  the  race  that 
the  pursuit  was  abandoned  as  hopeless ;  and  as  the  stranger  wore 
around,  to  resume  her  station  under  easy  steam,  we  followed  in 
her  wake  till  dark,  when  we  evaded  her  without  difficulty  and 
continued  on  our  course  toward  Charleston. 

But  another  precious  day  had  been  lost,  and  subsequent  un- 
favorable weather  still  further  retarding  our  progress,  we  did 
not  reach  the  coast  near  Charleston  Bar  till  the  fifth  night  after 
our  departure  from  Nassau.  The  blockading  fleet  had  been 
reinforced  by  all  the  light  cruisers  from  the  approaches  to  the 
Cape  Fear  River;  and,  as  we  drew  in  to  the  land,  we  were  so 
frequently  compelled  to  alter  the  course  of  the  Chameleon  in 
order  to  evade  the  blockaders,  that  we  did  not  reach  the  bar  till 
long  after  midnight,  and  after  the  tide  had  commenced  to  fall. 
I  was  tempted  to  force  the  pilot  to  make  the  attempt,  but  finally 
yielded  to  the  assurances  tiiat  access  was  impossible  oinder  the 
circumstances.  As  this  was  the  last  night  during  that  moon, 
when  the  bar  could  be  crossed  during  the  dark  hours,  the  course 
of  the  Chameleon  was  again,  for  the  last  time,  shaped  for 
Nassau.  As  we  turned  away  from  the  land,  our  hearts  sank 
within  us,  while  the  conviction  forced  itself  upon  us  that  the 
cause  for  which  so  much  blood  had  been  shed,  so  many  miseries 
bravely  endured,  and  so  many  sacrifices  cheerfully  made,  was 
about  to  perish  at  last. 

The  closing  scenes  of  blockade  running  are  described  by 
Colonel  Scharf  in  his  History  of  the  Confederate  States  Navy 
as  follows : 

**The  military  and  naval  expeditions  against  Wilmington  in 
December,  1864,  and  in  January,  1865,  resulted  in  the  capture 
of  the  forts  and  the  closing  of  the  port.  Eight  vessels  left  the 
port  of  Nassau  between  the  12th  and  16th  of  January,  one  of 
which  took  four  one-hundred-pounder  Armstrong  guns ;  and  at 
the  time  of  their  sailing  there  were  over  two  and  a  half  million 
pounds  of  bacon  stored  at  Nassau  awaiting  transportation.  The 
confidence  reposed  in  the  defense  of  Wilmington  continued  un- 
abated on  the  part  of  the  blockade  runners,  and  the  Charlotte, 
the  Blenheim,  and  the  Stag,  all  British  steamers,  ran  in  after 
the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  were  captured  by  the  Federal 
cruisers  in  the  river.  The  blockade  runner  Owl,  Capt.  John  N. 
Maffitt,  C.  S.  N.,  in  command,  succeeded  in  passing  over  the  bar 


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476  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

near  Fort  Caswell,  and  anchored  at  Smithville  on  the  night  the 
forts  were  evacuated;  but  immediately  returned  to  Bermuda, 
arriving  on  the  21st,  and  carrying  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  and  the  end  of  blockade  running  at  Wilmington,  Her 
arrival  was  timely,  stopping  the  Mavd  Campbell,  Old  Domin- 
ion, Florence,  Deer,  and  Virginia.  Most,  if  not*all,  of  these 
steamers  now  turned  their  prows  towards  Charleston,  the  last 
harbor  remaining  accessible;  and,  though  the  fall  of  that  city 
was  impending,  yet  a  cargo  might  be  safely  landed  and  trans- 
ported along  the  interior  line  to  the  famishing  armies  of  the 
Confederate  States.  To  that  end  Captain  Wilkinson  determined 
to  make  the  effort,  which  was  a  brave  and  gallant  one,  but  was 
ineffectual.  The  blockading  fleet,  reinforced  from  that  off  Wil- 
mington, now  closed  every  practical  entrance;  but  it  was  not 
aintil  after  assurances  from  the  pilot  that  entrance  was  impos- 
sible, that  Captain  Wilkinson  turned  back.  The  Chicora,  more 
fortunate  than  the  Chameleon,  ran  into  Charleston,  but,  finding 
the  city  evacuated,  ran  out,  despite  the  effectiveness  of  the 
blockade,  and  reached  Nassau  on  the  28th.  The  Fox,  less  for- 
tunate, ran  into  Charleston  in  ignorance  of  its  capture  and  was 
seized  by  the  Federal  cruisers. 

"Capt.  John  N.  Maffitt,  C.  S.  N.,  in  the  Owl,  left  Havana, 
about  the  middle  of  March,  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after 
the  United  States  ship  Cherokee  steamed  out  of  the  harbor. 
Passing  Morro  Castle,  the  Owl  hugged  the  coast  towards  the 
west,  followed  by  the  Cherokee,  the  chase  continuing  for  an  hour 
or  more.  The  Owl  had  speed,  and  Maffitt  had  the  seamanship 
to  ^throw  dust  into  the  eyes'  of  his  pursuer  by  changing  her  coal 
from  hard  to  soft,  thus  clouding  the  air  with  dense  black  smoke, 
under  cover  of  which  the  Owl  turned  on  the  Cherokee,  and, 
steaming  away  to  the  stem  of  the  cruiser,  disappeared  in  the 
darkness  of  night  and  storm." 


THE  CONFEDERATE  NAVY. 

If  the  Federal  Government  was  unprepared  for  naval  warfare 
at  the  beginning  of  the  civil  strife,  the  Confederacy  was  even 
less  prepared,  for  it  could  not  claim  the  ownership  of  a  single 
ship.  In  a  conversation  shortly  after  the  war,  our  distinguished 
naval  officer,  Capt.  John  Newland  Maffitt,  said : 


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Blockade  Running  477 

"The  Northern  Navy  contributed  materially  to  the  successful 
issue  of  the  war.  The  grand  mistake  of  the  South  was  neglect- 
ing her  navy.  All  our  army  movements  out  West  were  baffled 
by  the  armed  Federal  steamers  which  swarmed  on  Western 
waters,  and  which  our  government  had  provided  nothing  to 
meet.  Before  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  the  South  ought  to 
have  had  a  navy  strong  enough  to  prevent  the  capture  of  that 
city  and  hold  firmly  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries.  This 
would  have  prevented  many  disastrous  battles;  it  would  have 
made  Sherman's  march  through  the  country  impossible,  and  Lee 
would  have  been  master  of  his  lines.  The  errors  of  our  govern- 
ment were  numerous,  but  the  neglect  of  the  navy  proved  irreme- 
diable and  fatal. 

"Nobody  here,"  he  continued,  "would  believe  at  first  that  a 
great  war  was  before  us.  South  Carolina  seceded  first,  and 
improvised  a  navy  consisting  of  two  small  tugboats!  North 
Carolina  followed  suit,  and  armed  a  tug  and  a  small  passenger 
boat!  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Louisiana  put  in  commission  a 
handful  of  frail  river  boats  that  you  could  have  knocked  to 
pieces  with  a  pistol  shot!  That  was  our  navy!  Then  came 
Congress  and  voted  money  to  pay  oflScers  like  myself,  who  had 
resigned  from  the  Federal  Navy,  but  nothing  to  build  or  arm 
ships  for  us  to  command.  Of  course,  it  woke  up  by  and  by, 
and  ordered  vessels  to  be  built  here,  there,  and  everywhere ;  but 
it  was  too  late. 

"And  yet,"  said  the  captain,  with  a  momentary  kindling  of 
the  eye,  as  the  thought  of  other  days  came  back  to  him,  "the 
Confederate  Navy,  minute  though  it  was,  won  a  place  for  itself 
in  history.  To  the  Confederates  the  credit  belongs  of  testing  in 
battle  the  invulnerability  of  ironclads  and  of  revolutionizing  the 
navies  of  the  world.  The  Merrimac  did  this ;  and,  though  we 
had  but  a  handful  of  light  cruisers,  while  the  ocean  swarmed 
with  armed  Federal  vessels,  we  defied  the  Federal  Navy  and 
swept  Northern  commerce  from  the  seas." 

Colonel  Scharf,  in  his  admirable  History  of  the  Confederate 
States  Navy,  says:  "In  many  respects  the  most  interesting 
chapter  of  the  history  of  the  Confederate  Navy  is  that  of  the 
building  and  operation  of  the  ships-of-war  which  drove  the 
merchant  flag  of  the  United  States  from  the  oceans  and  almost 
extirpated  their  carrying  trade.  But  the  limitations  of  space 
in  this  volume  forbid  more  than  a  brief  review  of  the  subject. 
The  function  of  commerce-destroyers  is  now  so  well  admitted  as 


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478  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

an  attribute  of  war  between  recognized  belligerents  by  all  na- 
tions of  the  world,  that  no  apology  is  necessary  for  the  manner 
in  which  the  South  conducted  hostilities  upon  the  high  seas 
against  her  enemy ;  and,  while  Federal  officials  and  organs  styled 
the  cruisers  'pirates'  and  their  commanders  ^buccaneers,'  such 
stigmatization  has  long  since  been  swept  away,  along  with  other 
rubbish  of  the  War  between  the  States,  and  their  legal  status 
fully  and  honorably  established.  We  have  not  the  space  for 
quotations  from  Professor  Soley,  Professor  BoUes,  and  other 
writers  upon  this  point ;  but  what  they  have  said  may  be  summed 
up  in  the  statement  that  the  government  and  agents  of  the  Con- 
federacy transgressed  no  principle  of  right  in  this  matter,  and 
that  if  the  United  States  were  at  war  today,  they  would  strike 
at  the  commerce  of  an  enemy  in  as  nearly  the  same  manner  as 
circumstances  would  permit.  The  justification  of  the  Confeder- 
ate authorities  is  not  in  the  slightest  degree  affected  by  the  fact 
that  the  Geneva  Tribunal  directed  Great  Britain  to  pay  the  Gen- 
eral Government  $15,500,000  in  satisfaction  for  ships  destroyed 
by  cruisers  constructed  in  British  ports. 

"Eleven  Confederate  cruisers  figured  in  the  Alabama  Claims 
settlement  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  They 
were  the  Alabama,  Shenandoah,  Florida,  Tallahassee,  Georgia, 
Chickamauga,  Nashville,  Retribution,  Sumter,  Sallie,  and  Bos- 
ton, The  actual  losses  inflicted  by  the  Alabam^a,  $6,547,609, 
were  only  $60,000  greater  than  those  charged  to  the  Shenandoah. 
The  sum  total  of  the  claims  filed  against  the  eleven  cruisers  for 
ships  and  cargoes  was  $17,900,633,  all  but  about  $4,865,000 
being  caused  by  the  Alabama  and  the  Shenandoah,  The  tri- 
bunal decided  that  Great  Britain  was  in  no  way  responsible  for 
the  losses  inflicted  by  any  cruisers  but  the  Alabam^a,  Florida, 
and  Shenandoah,  It  disallowed  all  the  claims  of  the  United 
States  for  indirect  or  consequential  losses,  which  included  the 
approximate  extinction  of  American  commerce  by  the  capture 
of  ships  or  their  transfer  to  forei.2:n  flags.  What  this  amounted 
to  is  shown  in  the  'Case  of  the  United  States'  presented  to  the 
tribunal.  In  this  it  is  stated  that  while  in  1860  two-thirds  of 
the  commerce  of  New  York  was  carried  on  in  American  bot- 
toms, in  1863  three-fourths  was  carried  on  in  foreign  bottoms. 
The  transfer  of  American  vessels  to  the  British  flag  to  avoid 
capture  is  stated  thus:  In  1861,  vessels  126,  tonnage  71,673; 
in  1862,  vessels  135,  tonnage  64,578;  in  1863,  vessels  348,  ton- 
nage 252,579;  in  1864,  vessels  106,  tonnage  92,052.     Corn- 


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Blockade  Running  479 

manders  of  the  Confederate  cruisers  have  avowed  that  the  de- 
struction of  private  property  and  the  diversion  of  legitimate 
commerce  in  the  performance  of  their  duty  were  painful  in  the 
extreme  to  them ;  but  in  its  wars  the  United  States  had  always 
practiced  this  mode  of  harassing  an  enemy,  and  had,  indeed, 
been  the  most  conspicuous  exemplar  of  it  that  the  world  ever 
saw." 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written  by  Colonel  Scharf  in  1887, 
there  has  been  a  growing  aversion  to  privateering  on  the  part  of 
the  principal  commercial  powers.  A  press  association  dispatch 
from  Washington  during  the  late  Boer  War  said : 

"The  report  from  Brussels  that  former  President  Kruger  is 
being  urged  to  notify  the  powers  that  unless  they  intervene  in 
the  South  African  contest  he  will  conmiission  privateers  is  not 
treated  seriously  here.  It  is  well  understood,  as  one  outcome 
of  the  war  with  Spain,  that  the  United  States  Government  will 
never  again,  except  in  the  most  extraordinary  emergency,  issue 
letters  of  marque ;  and  the  same  reasons  that  impel  our  govern- 
ment to  this  course  would  undoubtedly  operate  to  prevent  it 
from  recognizing  any  such  warrants  issued  by  any  other  nation, 
even  if  that  nation  were  in  full  standing. 

"In  the  case  of  the  Spanish  War,  both  the  belligerents  by 
agreement  refrained  from  issuing  commissions  to  privateers, 
and  it  now  has  been  many  years  since  the  flag  of  any  reputable 
nation  has  flown  over  such  craft." 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1862,  the  Confederate  States 
Government  began  the  construction  of  an  ironclad  ram,  named 
North  Carolina,  on  the  west  side  of  Cape  Fear  at  the  shipyard 
of  the  late  W.  B.  Beery,  the  drawings  and  specifications  of  the 
vessel  having  been  made  by  Capt.  John  L.  Porter,  chief  naval 
constructor  of  the  Confederate  States  Navy,  with  headquarters 
at  Portsmouth,  Virginia. 

The  armament  of  the  North  Carolina  consisted  of  one  10-inch 
pivot  gun  in  the  bow  and  six  broadside  guns  of  about  8-inch 
calibre.  The  timbers  of  the  vessel  were  heavy  pine  and  hard- 
wood covered  with  railroad  iron,  giving  the  ram,  when  launched, 
the  appearance  of  a  turtle  in  the  water. 

The  North  Carolina  was  subsequently  anchored  for  a  long 
time  off  Smithville,  as  a  guard  vessel  commanding  the  entrance 
to  the  river  at  the  Main  Bar,  imtil  she  was  gradually  destroyed 
by  the  teredo,  or  sea-worm,  and  sank  at  her  moorings,  where,  I 
believe,  she  still  remains. 


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480  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  Raleigh,  a  vessel  of  light  construction,  was  built  later  at 
the  wharf  near  the  foot  of  Church  Street;  and  after  being 
launched  was  completed  at  Cassidy's  shipyard.  Her  construc- 
tion and  armament  were  similar  to  that  of  the  North  Carolina, 
but  she  was  covered  with  heavy  iron  plates  of  two  thicknesses 
running  fore  and  aft  and  athwart  ship. 

The  star  of  the  Confederacy  was  waning  in  the  spring  of 
1864 ;  a  depreciated  currency  and  the  scant  supply  of  provisions 
and  clothing  had  sent  prices  almost  beyond  the  reach  of  people 
of  moderate  means.  In  Richmond,  meal  was  $10  per  bushel; 
butter,  $5  per  pound ;  sugar,  $12  per  pound ;  bacon,  hog  round, 
$4  per  poimd;  brogan  shoes,  $25  per  pair;  felt  hats,  $150; 
cotton  cloth,  $30  per  yard ;  and  it  was  a  saying  in  the  Capital  of 
the  Confederacy,  that  the  money  had  to  be  carried  in  the  market 
basket  and  the  marketing  brought  home  in  the  pocketbook. 

Early  in  May  the  condition  of  the  commissariat  was  alarm- 
ing; but  a  few  days'  rations  were  left  for  Lee's  army,  and  only 
the  timely  arrival  of  the  blockade  runner  Banshee  with  pro- 
visions saved  the  troops  from  suffering. 

Wilmington  was  the  only  port  left  to  the  blockade  runners, 
and  the  blockade  of  the  mouths  of  the  Cape  Fear  had  become 
dangerously  stringent.  Some  twenty  steamers  guarded  the  two 
inlets,  besides  two  outer  lines  of  fast  cruisers  between  this  city 
and  the  friendly  ports  of  Nassau  and  the  Bermudas.  On  dark 
nights,  armed  launches  were  sent  into  the  bar  to  report  outgoing 
steamers  by  firing  rockets  in  the  direction  taken  by  them.  The 
ceaseless  vigilance  of  the  forts  could  scarcely  make  an  exit  for 
friendly  vessels  even  comparatively  free  from  danger.  An  hour 
after  dark.  Fort  Fisher,  having  trained  its  sea-face  guns  upon 
the  bar,  would  ricochet  its  Colimibiad  shot  and  shell  upon  that 
point,  so  as  to  frighten  off  the  launches ;  and  then  the  blockade 
runners  would  venture  out  and  take  their  chances  of  running 
the  gauntlet  of  the  blockading  fleet. 

In  this  emergency,  Commodore  Lynch,  commanding  the  Con- 
federate fleet  in  the  Cape  Fear  River,  determined  to  raise  the 
blockade  of  New  Inlet,  the  favorite  entrance  of  the  blockade 
runners. 

The  ironclad  ram  Raleigh,  already  described,  Lieut.  J.  Pem- 
broke Jones  commanding,  and  two  small  wooden  gunboats,  Yad- 
kin and  Equator,  were  chosen  for  the  purpose.  Our  late  towns- 
man, Capt.  E.  W.  Manning,  chief  engineer  of  the  station,  and 
the  late  Engineer  Smith,  Confederate  States  Navy,  of  Fayette- 


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Blockade  Running  481 

ville,  were  in  charge  of  the  machinery  of  the  Raleigh.  On  the 
afternoon  of  May  6,  1864,  the  commodore  visited  Fort  Fisher, 
to  take  a  reconnaissance  and  obtain  as  far  as  practicable  the 
cooperation  of  the  fort.  Seven  vessels  were  at  anchorage  at  sun- 
down :  the  Tuscarora,  Britannia,  Nansemond,  Howquah,  Mount 
Vernon,  Kansas,  and  Niphon.  He  arranged  a  distinguishing 
signal  for  his  vessels — a  red  light  above  a  white  one — so  that 
they  would  not  be  fired  upon  by  the  fort. 

Fort  Fisher  had  its  sea-face  guns  manned  after  dark  by  ex- 
perienced artillerists,  and  about  eight  o'clock  the  range  lights 
were  set  on  the  mound  and  the  Confederate  flotilla  put  to  sea. 
The  commander  of  the  fort,  Col.  William  Lamb,  with  some  of 
his  oflScers,  repaired  to  the  ramparts  opposite  the  bar  and  awaited 
the  result. 

Within  thirty  minutes  after  the  vessels  had  disappeared  from 
the  vision  of  the  anxious  garrison,  a  few  shots  were  heard  from 
seaward,  and  some  Coston  blue  lights  were  seen  in  the  offing; 
then  all  was  dark  as  Erebus  and  silent  as  the  grave.  Specula- 
tion was  rife  among  the  Confederates  who  manned  the  guns. 
Had  the  foe  been  dispersed  or  destroyed  ?  Why  were  no  rockets 
sent  up  to  announce  a  victory,  to  cheer  the*  thousand  hearts 
which  beat  with  anxious  hope  within  Fort  Fisher?  A  long 
night  of  waiting  was  spent  without  any  sign  save  the  occasional 
twinkle  of  a  distant  light  at  sea.  The  gunners  were  relieved 
at  midnight,  but  all  continued  dark  and  silent. 

At  last  day  dawned,  the  breakers  on  the  bar  became  visible, 
the  Raleigh  and  her  consorts  appeared,  and  then  outside  of 
them,  at  long  range,  the  enemy's  fleet.  Shots  were  exchanged 
between  the  combatants  after  daylight ;  one  of  the  Federal  ves- 
sels fired  rapidly  at  the  Raleigh,  approaching  as  she  fired,  but, 
receiving  a  shot  from  the  ironclad  through  her  smokestack, 
withdrew  to  a  safer  distance. 

Then  the  seven  blockaders  came  closer  to  the  Confederate 
fleet,  showing  fight,  and  probably  with  the  intention  of  trying 
to  run  the  Raleigh  down;  but  that  vessel  and  her  consorts 
headed  for  the  fort  and  steamed  slowly  in,  the  enemy  prudently 
keeping  beyond  range  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher.  It  was  a 
great  disappointment  that  the  garrison  saw  the  Raleigh,  Yadkin, 
and  Equator  come  over  the  bar  and  imder  the  guns  of  the  fort, 
leaving  the  blockading  squadron  apparently  unharmed. 

The  Yadkin  and  Equator  came  safely  into  the  river,  but  the 
Raleigh,  after  passing  the  moimd  and  rounding  Confederate 

31 


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482  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Point,  grounded  on  the  Rip  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Efforts 
were  made  to  lighten  her  and  get  her  off,  but  the  receding  tide 
caused  her  to  hog  and  break  in  two,  on  account  of  the  heavy 
armor,  and,  becoming  a  wreck,  she  subsequently  sank  and  went 
to  pieces.  Little  was  saved  from  her;  but  the  crew  were  not 
endangered,  as  the  weather  was  calm. 

The  following  is  the  account  of  the  incident  given  by  the 
Daily  Journal  of  Tuesday,  May  10,  1864,  omitting,  however, 
mention  of  the  accident  to  the  Raleigh: 


The  Ieon-Clad  "Ealbigh'^  at  Sea. 

FoET  FisHEB,  N.  C,  May  7,  1864. 

The  monotony  of  garrison  life  has  been  disturbed  by  an  act 
of  gallantry  on  the  part  of  our  navy.  Last  evening,  the  iron- 
clad Raleigh,  Lieut.  Pembroke  Jones  commanding,  bearing  the 
broad  pennant  of  Flag  Officer  Lynch,  steamed  out  of  New  Inlet 
in  quest  of  the  enemy.  Not  long  after  leaving  the  bar  the 
Raleigh  met  a  blockader  cruising  about,  and  gave  her  a  seven- 
inch  shot  crashing  through  her  sides ;  the  Federal  vessel  being 
unused  to  such  an  encounter,  immediately  left,  making  signals 
to  the  fleet.  The  iron-clad  continued  her  cruise  until  after  mid- 
night, when  an  unsuspecting  blockader,  taking  her  for  a  block- 
ade runner,  fired  a  shot  and  ran  down  to  pick  up  a  prize,  but, 
instead  of  receiving  the  surrender  of  an  unarmed  blockade 
runner,  Jonathan  was  complimented  by  a  ball  that  was  more 
surprising  than  agreeable.  Thinking  in  wonder  that  they  had 
been  fired  on  by  one  of  the  squadron  through  mistake,  the  block- 
ader displayed  the  usual  signal  of  a  bright  blue  light,  when  the 
Raleigh,  being  very  near,  sent  a  rifle  shell  whistling  through 
her  bulwarks.  The  Yankee  "doused  his  glim"  with  unexampled 
alacrity.  Very  soon  the  red-and-blue  signals  of  the  enemy  were 
seen  flashing  in  different  directions,  giving  the  alarm  to  each 
other.  Nothing  more  was  seen  or  heard  during  the  night,  and 
we  who  awaited  the  result  on  the  ramparts  of  Fort  Fisher  were 
relieved  when  the  dawn  conamenced  to  roll  the  curtain  from 
the  scene.  Daylight  first  disclosed  the  small  steamers  Yadkin 
and  Equator  about  two  miles  from  shore  awaiting  the  orders  of 
the  Raleigh,  which  they  accompanied  over  the  bar.  Soon  the 
horizon  was  clear,  and  we  discovered  the  iron-clad  eight  miles 
to  sea,  in  quiet  possession  of  the  blockading  anchorage.     Soon 


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Blockade  Running  483 

after,  the  blockaders  that  had  run  off  to  sea  appeared  on  the 
horizon,  and  the  little  black  dots  developed  themselves  into 
gunboats. 

First,  came  two  well  in  view,  and  one,  approaching  within 
range  of  the  Raleigh,  was  greeted  by  a  shot ;  a  long-taw  engage- 
ment now  commenced,  in  which  the  second  blockader  joined; 
but  the  enemy  was  soon  sufficiently  amused  and  ran  off,  giving 
the  flag  officer  a  wide  berth.  Six  sails  now  appeared,  but  only 
one  had  the  temerity  to  exchange  shots  with  the  iron-clad,  and 
she  soon  decamped  beyond  range.  About  6  o'clock  eight  block- 
aders came  in  sight,  but  notwithstanding  the  Raleigh  steamed 
defiantly  around  their  anchorage,  eight  miles  from  the  guns 
of  Fort  Fisher,  not  one  dared  to  take  up  the  gauntlet.  At  7 
o'clock  the  flag  officer,  wishing  to  save  the  tide  on  the  bar, 
signalled  for  his  steamers  and  turned  the  Raleigh's  prow  to 
shore.  The  little  trio  formed  in  line  some  five  miles  out,  and 
steamed  slowly  in,  the  Confederate  flag  waving  saucily  above 
their  decks.  The  fort  greeted  the  Raleigh  with  a  salute  as  she 
passed  in. 

What  damage  the  iron-clad  did  to  the  two  vessels  she  struck 
is  not  known.    She  was  not  struck. 


WILMINGTON  DUKING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

(By  an  Ex-Confederate  Officer.*) 

After  the  Capital  of  the  Confederacy  there  was  not  in  the 
South  a  more  important  place  than  the  little  town  of  Wilming- 
ton, North  Carolina,  about  thirty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  noted  in  peace  times  for  its  exports  of  tar, 
pitch,  turpentine,  and  lumber. 

Previous  to  the  War  between  the  States  Wilmington  was  very 
gay  and  social.  But  the  war  sadly  changed  the  place — ^many  of 
the  old  families  moving  away  into  the  interior,  and  those  who 
remained,  either  from  altered  circumstances  or  the  loss  of  rela- 
tives in  battle,  living  in  retirement.  When  we  first  knew  it, 
Maj.  Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting  was  in  command.  He  had  been 
a  United  States  Army  oflScer,  who  for  a  long  time  had  been 
stationed  at  Smithville,  near  the  Old  Inlet  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  where,  prior  to  the  war,  there  had  been  a  fort  and  a  garri- 
son, though  for  some  years  disused.     Whiting  was  one  of  the 

iln  a  Northern  magazine  after  the  war. 


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484  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

most  accomplished  oflScers  in  the  Southern  Army.  He  was  a 
splendid  engineer,  and  having  been  engaged  in  the  Coast  Sur- 
vey for  some  time  on  that  portion  of  the  coast,  knew  the  country 
thoroughly,  the  capability  of  defense,  the  strong  and  the  weak 
points.  He  was  fond  of  the  social  glass,  and  may  have  some- 
times gone  too  far.  He  was  not  popular  with  many  of  the 
citizens,  as  he  was  arbitrary,  and  paid  little  attention  to  the 
suggestions  of  civilians.  He  was  a  very  handsome,  soldierly- 
looking  man,  and  though  rough  sometimes  in  his  manners,  he 
was  a  gentleman  at  heart,  incapable  of  anything  mean  or  low, 
and  of  undaimted  courage.    Peace  to  his  ashes ! 

On  Whiting's  staff  were  three  young  officers  of  great  prom- 
ise: his  brother-in-law,  Maj.  J.  H.  Hill,  formerly  of  the  United 
States  Army,  now  an  active  express  agent  at  Wilmington;  Maj. 
Benjamin  Sloan,  his  ordnance  officer,  now  teaching  school  some- 
where in  the  mountains  of  South  Carolina;  and  Lieut.  J.  H. 
Fairley,  a  young  Irishman,  who  had  been  many  years  in  this 
country,  and  who  hailed  from  South  Carolina.  Fairley  was 
noted  in  the  army  as  a  daring  scout  and  a  very  hard  rider, 
withal  one  of  the  quietest  and  most  modest  of  men.  He  is  now 
drumming  for  a  dry-goods  house  in  New  York  instead  of  in- 
specting the  outposts.  We  wonder  if  he  recollects  the  night 
when  the  writer  picked  up  a  rattlesnake  in  his  blanket  at  Mason- 
boro  Sound. 

Whiting  scarcely  ever  had  enough  troops  at  his  command 
to  make  up  a  respectable  Confederate  division.  In  1864  he 
had  at  Wilmington  Martin's  brigade,  which  was  a  very  fine  and 
large  one,  composed  of  four  North  Carolina  regiments,  remark- 
ably well  officered;  two  or  three  companies  of  heavy  artillery 
in  the  town,  doing  provost  and  guard  duty ;  at  Fort  Caswell  at 
the  mouth  of  Old  Inlet  on  the  Western  Bar,  a  battalion  of 
heavy  artillery  and  a  light  battery ;  at  Smithville,  a  similar  bat- 
talion; at  Bald  Head,  an  island  opposite  Fort  Caswell,  Hed- 
rick's  North  Carolina  regiment,  about  600  effective  men;  at 
Fort  Fisher,  Lamb's  North  Carolina  regiment,  about  700  effect- 
ive men;  a  company  at  Fort  Anderson;  a  company  of  the 
Seventh  Confederate  States  Cavalry  at  the  ferry  oyer  New 
River,  sixty  miles  northeast  of  Wilmington,  on  the  sound ;  two 
companies  of  cavalry,  a  light  battery,  and  a  company  of  infan- 
try at  Kenansville,  forty  miles  north  of  Wilmington  and  seven 
miles  east  of  the  Weldon  Railroad.  These,  with  two  or  three 
light  batteries  scattered  along  the  sound,  from  a  little  above 


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Blockade  Running  485 

Fort  Fisher  up  to  Topsail,  constituted  in  the  spring  of  1864 
the  whole  Confederate  force  in  the  Department  of  Cape  Fear, 

With  this  force  and  Whiting's  skill  and  bravery,  we  military 
men  thought  we  could  hold  Wilmington,  for  we  justly  regarded 
the  general  as  one  of  the  few  eminently  fit  appointments  that 
the  War  Department  had  made.  In  Whiting,  we  had  implicit 
faith.  So,  though  there  were  constant  rumors  of  expeditions 
against  the  place,  we  scarcely  believed  they  were  coming,  so 
long  had  the  thing  been  delayed,  and,  in  fact,  an  attack  was 
wished  for  by  the  youthful  Hotspurs  to  relieve  the  monotony  of 
garrison  life  at  Caswell,  Bald  Head,  and  Fisher.  Thus  we  had 
lapsed  into  a  dream  of  security,  or  thought,  at  least,  the  evil 
day  was  far  off.  We  ate,  drank,  and  were  merry,  and  there 
was  marrying  and  giving  in  marriage,  as  in  the  days  before  the 
flood. 

It  seemed  singular  to  us  that  the  United  States  should  so  long 
neglect  to  close  almost  the  only  port  of  the  Confederacy  into 
which,  every  "dark  of  the  moon,''  there  ran  a  half-dozen  or  so 
swift  blockade  runners,  freighted  with  cannon,  muskets,  and 
every  munition  of  war,  and  with  medicines,  cloth,  shoes,  bacon, 
etc.  Through  that  port  were  brought,  till  January,  1865,  all 
the  stores  and  material  needed  by  the  indefatigable  Colonel 
Gtorgas,^  the  Confederate  chief  of  ordnance,  the  most  efficient 
bureau  officer  the  Confederacy  had.  Through  it  came  those 
famous  Whitworth  and  Armstrong  guns  sent  us  by  our  English 
friends.  Into  Wilmington  was  brought  by  Mr.  Commissary 
General  Northrup  that  rotten,  putrid  bacon  called  "Nassau," 
because  it  had  spoiled  on  the  wharves  of  that  place  before  being 
reshipped  for  Wilmington.  It  was  coarse  Western  bacon, 
bought  by  Confederate  emissaries  at  the  North;  and  many  a 
time  have  we  imprecated  curses  both  loud  and  deep  on  poor  old 
Northrup's  devoted  head  as  we  worried  down  a  piece  of  the 
rancid  stuff.  We  must  say,  in  all  candor,  that  he  was  impartial 
in  his  distribution  of  it,  and  ordered  it  given  to  both  Confeder- 
ate trooper  and  Federal  prisoner.  Northrup  himself  ate  none 
of  it ;  he  lived  on  rice,  of  which  he  would  buy  a  hogshead  at  a 
time  from  the  conmiissariat.  We  became  so  vitiated  in  our 
taste  by  eating  it  that  at  last  we  came  to  prefer  it  to  good  bacon, 
and  liked  the  strong,  rancid  taste.  We  could  not  afford  to  per- 
mit our  stomachs  to  cut  up  any  shines,  and  forced  them  to 
stand  any  and  everything  by  breaking  them  into  it. 

iThe  father  of  the  present  distinguished  officer  of  that  name. 


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486  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

But  the  cargoes  of  those  white-painted,  bird-like-looking 
steamers  that  floated  monthly  into  Wilmington,  producing  such 
excitement  and  joy  among  its  population,  unfortimately  for  the 
Confederates,  did  not  contain  government  stores  and  munitions 
of  war  alone,  bad  as  the  bacon  and  much  of  the  stuff  bought 
abroad  by  worthless  Confederate  agents  were.  The  public 
freight  compared  with  the  private  was  small.  By  them  were 
brought  in  the  cloth  that  made  the  uniforms  of  those  gaily- 
decked  clerks  that  swarmed  the  streets  of  Richmond  with  mili- 
tary titles,  and  read  the  battle  bulletins  and  discussed  the  war 
news.  From  that  source  came  the  braid,  buttons,  and  stars  for 
the  host  of  "majors,"  who  were  truly  fifth  wheels  and  did  not 
even  have  the  labor  of  "following  the  colonel  around,"  with 
which  the  Confederacy  was  afflicted. 

As  for  ourselves,  we  never  had  the  pleasure  of  this  sort  of 
thing  but  twice.  Once  by  invitation  of  our  friend  Gleorge 
Baer,  alias  Captain  Henry,  who  immortalized  himself  by  writ- 
ing that  celebrated  protest  concerning  the  capture  of  the  Orey- 
hound,  and  by  his  escape  from  his  captors  in  Boston.  Baer 
invited  us  to  a  fashionable  10  o'clock  breakfast  on  the  Index, 
which  he  then  commanded,  and  the  consequence  was  we  nearly 
stuffed  ourselves  to  death,  and  came  near  having  an  apoplec- 
tic fit. 

The  Confederate  Government  used  to  send  some  queer  agents 
abroad  at  the  expense  of  the  people.  A  Mrs.  Grinnell  was  sent 
out  by  the  surgeon  general — so  she  stated — ^to  get  bandages, 
etc.,  which  nobody  else,  we  suppose,  but  Mrs.  Ghrinnell  could 
get.  She  was  an  English  woman  of  that  class  and  with  those 
manners  which  any  man,  if  he  has  traveled  much,  has  often 
seen.  She  gave  herself  out  as  a  daughter  of  an  English  baronet, 
and  had  first  come  to  New  York  several  years  prior  to  the  war. 
Then  there  was  Belle  Boyd,  who  represented  herself,  we  believe, 
as  an  agent  sent  out  by  Mr.  Benjamin.  She  was  captured, 
with  our  friend  George  Baer,  on  the  Greyhound.  Another  was 
a  Mrs.  Baxley,  of  Baltimore.  She  represented  herself,  we  be- 
lieve, as  an  agent  of  old  Mr.  Merominger. 

Mr.  Mallory's  navy  was  always  the  laughing-stock  of  the 
army,  and  many  were  the  jeers  that  the  Confederate  "mud- 
crushers"  let  off  at  his  iron-clads,  formidable  things  as  they 
were,  had  he  properly  managed  the  Confederate  Navy.  Cap- 
tain Lynch  was  the  flag  officer  of  the  Cape  Fear  squadron  when 
we  first  went  there.     His  fleet  consisted  of  the  ironclad  ram 


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Blockade  Running  487 

North  Carolina^  which  drew  so  much  water  that  she  could  never 
get  over  the  bars  of  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  inlets,  except,  possibly, 
at  the  highest  spring  tide,  and  then  the  chances  were  against 
her  ever  getting  back  again;  the  Raleigh ,  another  iron-clad, 
not  completed  until  late  in  the  spring  of  1864;  and  two  or 
three  little  steam-tugs.  They  all  came  to  grief.  The  North 
Carolina,  the  bottom  of  which  was  neither  sheathed  nor  pre- 
pared to  resist  the  worms,  was  pierced  by  them  till  her  hull  was 
like  a  honeycomb,  and  finally  she  sunk  opposite  Smithville. 
The  Raleigh  was  beached  and  lost  on  a  bar  near  Fort  Fisher. 
The  tugs  were  burned  on  the  river  subsequent  to  the  evacuation 
of  the  town. 

Whiting  and  Lynch,  from  some  cause  or  other,  never  were 
on  good  terms,  jealous  of  each  other's  authority,  we  suppose. 
It  finally  came  near  culminating  seriously.  There  had  been  an 
order  sent  by  Mr.  Mallory  to  Lynch,  in  pursuance  of  an  act 
of  the  Confederate  Congress,  not  to  let  any  vessel  go  out  with- 
out taking  on  a  certain  proportion  of  government  cotton. 
Lynch  was  commander  of  the  naval  defenses  of  the  Cape  Fear. 
By  some  oversight  the  Adjutant  General's  oflSce  at  Richmond 
had  sent  no  such  order  to  Whiting,  who  commanded  the  de- 
partment, and  consequently  the  port  and  its  regulations.  One 
of  Collie's  steamers  was  about  to  go  out  without  complying 
with  the  law.  Old  Lynch  sent  a  half  company  of  marines  on 
board  of  her  and  took  possession.  This  Whiting  resented  rather 
haughtily  as  an  unwarrantable  interference  with  his  authority 
as  commander  of  the  port,  and,  marching  in  a  battalion  of  the 
Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment,  under  Lieut.  Col.  John  C. 
Lamb,  ejected  the  marines  and  took  possession  of  the  steamer, 
hauling  her  up  stream  to  her  wharf.  Lynch  said  he  did  not 
care  how  far  Whiting  took  her  up  the  river,  but  he  vowed  if  any 
attempt  was  made  to  take  her  to  sea,  he  would  sink  her,  and 
he  shotted  his  guns.  Matters  looked  squally  and  excitement 
was  high.  A  collision  was  feared.  They  were  both  summoned 
to  Richmond  to  explain,  and  both  returned  apparently  satisfied. 
Lynch,  however,  was  shortly  afterward  relieved,  and  Conmio- 
dore  Pinckney  took  his  place. 

We  had  often  wondered  why  the  port  was  not  more  effectually 
closed.  To  tell  the  truth  it  was  hardly  closed  at  all.  Many  of 
the  blockade  runners  continued  their  career  till  the  fall  of 
Fisher.  An  experienced  captain  and  a  good  engineer  invariably 
brought  a  ship  safely  by  the  blockading  squadron.    Wilkinson 


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488  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

and  Carter  never  failed — good  sailors,  cool,  cautious,  and  reso- 
lute, they  ran  in  and  out  without  difficulty  many  times.  The 
great  danger  was  from  the  exterior  line  of  the  blockade  some 
forty  or  fifty  miles  out. 

But  owing  to  the  configuration  of  the  coast  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  effect  a  close  blockade.  The  Cape  Fear  has  two 
mouths.  Old  Inlet,  at  the  entrance  of  which  Fort  Caswell 
stands,  and  New  Inlet,  nine  miles  up  the  river,  where  Fort 
Fisher  guards  the  entrance.  From  the  station  off  Old  Inlet, 
where  there  were  usually  from  five  to  six  blockaders,  around 
to  the  station  off  New  Inlet,  a  vessel  would  have  to  make  an  arc 
of  some  fifty  miles,  owing  to  the  Fryihg  Pan  Shoals  interven- 
ing, while  from  Caswell  across  to  Fisher  was  only  nine  miles. 
The  plan  of  the  blockade  runners  coming  in  was  to  strike  the 
coast  thirty  or  forty  miles  above  or  below  the  inlets,  and  then 
run  along  (of  course  at  night)  till  they  got  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  forts.  Sometimes  they  got  in  or  out  by  boldly  run- 
ning through  the  blockading  fleet,  but  that  was  hazardous,  for, 
if  discovered,  the  ocean  was  alive  with  rockets  and  lights,  and 
it  was  no  pleasant  thing  to  have  shells  and  balls  whistling  over 
you  and  around  you.  The  chances  were,  then,  that  if  you  were 
not  caught,  you  had,  in  spite  of  your  speed,  to  throw  a  good 
many  bales  of  cotton  overboard. 

The  wreck  of  these  blockade  runners  not  infrequently  oc- 
curred by  being  stranded  or  beached,  and  highly  diverting 
skirmishes  would  occur  between  the  blockaders  and  the  garri- 
sons of  the  forts  for  the  possession.  The  fleet,  however,  never 
liked  the  Whitworth  guns  we  had,  which  shot  almost  with  the 
accuracy  of  a  rifle  and  with  a  tremendous  range.  The  soldiers 
generally  managed  to  wreck  the  stranded  vessels  successfully, 
though  oftentimes  with  great  peril  and  hardships.  It  mattered 
very  little  to  the  owners  then  who  got  her,  as  they  did  not  see 
much  of  what  was  recovered,  the  soldiers  thinking  they  were 
entitled  to  what  they  got  at  the  risk  of  their  lives.  But  a 
wreck  was  a  most  demoralizing  affair — the  whole  garrison  gen- 
erally got  drimk  and  stayed  drunk  for  a  week  or  so  afterwards. 
Brandies  and  fine  wines  flowed  like  water ;  and  it  was  a  month 
perhaps  before  matters  could  be  got  straight.  Many  accumu- 
lated snug  little  sums  from  the  misfortunes  of  the  blockade 
runners,  who  generally  denounced  such  pillage  as  piracy,  but 
it  could  not  be  helped. 

We  recollect  the  wrecking  of  the  Ella  off  Bald  Head  in  De- 


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Blockade  Running  489 

cember,  1864.  She  belonged  to  the  Bee  Company,  of  Charles- 
ton, and  was  a  splendid  new  steamer,  on  her  second  trip  in, 
wiUi  a  large  and  valuable  cargo  almost  entirely  owned  by  private 
parties  and  speculators.  She  was  chased  ashore  by  the  block- 
ading fleet  and  immediately  abandoned  by  her  officers  and  crew, 
whom  nothing  would  induce  to  go  back  in  order  to  save  her 
cargo.  Yankee  shells  flying  over  and  through  and  around  her 
had  no  charms  for  these  sons  of  Neptune.  Captain  Badham, 
however,  and  his  company,  the  Edenton  Battery,  with  Captain 
Bahnson,  a  fighting  Quaker,  from  Salem,  N.  C.,  boarded  and 
wrecked  her  under  the  fire  of  the  Federals — six  shells  passing 
through  the  Ella  while  they  were  removing  her  cargo.  The  con- 
sequence was  that  for  a  month  afterwards  nearly  the  whole 
garrison  were  on  "a  tight,"  and  groceries  and  dry-goods  were 
plentiful  in  that  vicinity.  The  general  demoralization  produced 
by  "London  Dock"  and  "Hollands"  seemed  even  to  affect  that 
holy  man,  the  chaplain,  who  said  some  very  queer  graces  at  the 
headquarters  mess-table. 

Seldom,  however,  was  there  any  loss  of  life  attending  these 
wrecks.  But  there  was  one  notable  case  of  the  drowning  of  a 
famous  woman,  celebrated  for  her  beauty  and  powers  of  fas- 
cination. We  allude  to  the  death  of'  Mrs.  Greenhow,  so  well 
known  for  many  years  in  Washington  circles.  Before  she  even 
crossed  the  Confederate  lines,  she  had  imdoubtedly  rendered 
valuable  service  to  the  authorities  in  Richmond,  and  was  in 
consequence  imprisoned  by  the  Federal  authorities  in  Washing- 
ton. After  coming  to  Richmond  and  laboring  in  the  hospitals 
there  for  some  time,  she  sailed  for  Europe  from  Wilmington, 
and  it  was  on  her  return  trip  that  she  was  drowned,  just  as 
she  reached  the  shores  of  the  South.  She  had  lived  past  her 
beauty's  prime,  had  drunk  deep  of  fashion's  and  folly's  stream 
of  pleasure,  had  received  the  admiration  and  adulation  of  hun- 
dreds of  her  fellow-mortals,  and  had  reached  that  point  in  life 
when  those  things  no  longer  please,  but  pall  on  the  senses.  Her 
time  had  come.  The  Condor,  a  blockade  runner  on  which  she 
was  coming  as  a  passenger,  was  beached  a  short  distance  above 
Fort  Fisher,  and  Mrs.  Greenhow,  fearing  capture  and  the  treat- 
ment of  a  spy,  pleaded  with  the  captain  to  send  her  ashore.  He 
refused,  saying  that  he  would  protect  her ;  but  she  finally  pre- 
vailed upon  him;  and  manning  a  boat,  he  made  an  effort  to 
have  her  taken  to  the  shore.  Unfortunately,  the  boat  capsized. 
She  alone  was  drowned.     It  was  supposc^i  the  gold  she  had 


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490  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Pear  River 

sewed  up  in  her  clothing  weighted  her  down  and  was  the  cause 
of  her  drowning.  Her  body  was  found  on  the  beach  at  daylight 
by  Mr.  Thomas  E.  Taylor,  who  afterwards  took  it  to  Wilming- 
ton. She  was  laid  out  in  the  Seaman's  Bethel,  where  we  saw 
her.  She  was  beautiful  in  death.  After  her  funeral,  her  ward- 
robe and  a  great  many  articles  that  she  had  brought  over  for 
sale,  and  which  had  been  rescued  from  the  wreck,  were  sold 
at  auction  in  Wilmington.  It  was  very  splendid,  and  the  ^Ven- 
ture" she  had  brought  in  for  sale  was  most  costly.  It  was  said 
that  an  English  countess  or  duchess  had  an  interest  in  this 
venture,  and  was  to  have  shared  the  profits  of  the  speculation. 

But  the  storm  was  soon  to  rain  on  our  devoted  heads.  Those 
white-painted  steamers,  clipping  the  water  so  nimbly,  with  the 
British  and  Confederate  flags  flying,  with  their  brandies  and 
wines,  their  silks  and  calicoes,  their  bananas  and  oranges,  glad- 
dening the  hearts  of  the  dwellers  on  the  banks  of  the  Cape  Fear, 
were  soon  to  disappear  from  its  waters,  and  the  glory  of  Wil- 
mington to  depart. 

Day  after  day  we  had  watched  the  blockading  fleet  with  the 
naked  eye  and  a  glass,  and  often  thought  what  a  lonely  time 
those  fellows  must  be  having,  and  longed  for  some  northeast 
storm  to  send  them  on  the  coast,  in  order  that  we  might  have 
the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance.  Cushing's  acquaintance,  by 
the  way,  we  came  very  near  making,  when  that  daring  officer 
came  up  the  Cape  Fear  in  June,  we  think  it  was  1864,  passing 
through  the  New  Inlet  by  Fort  Fisher,  with  a  boat's  crew  of 
some  eighteen  or  twenty  sailors  and  marines,  and,  landing 
half-way  between  the  town  and  the  fort,  concealed  his  boat  in 
a  creek,  and  laid  perdu  on  the  Wilmington  and  Fisher  road, 
waiting  for  Whiting  or  Lamb  to  come  along.  A  mere  accident 
enabled  us  to  escape  him ;  and,  though  of  no  importance  ourself , 
we  had  papers  with  us  at  the  time  that  would  have  been  highly 
interesting  to  the  United  States  Government.  We  all  of  us 
admired  his  courage,  and  thought  it  deserved  success.  We  well 
remember  delivering  Cushing's  message  to  General  Whiting, 
repeated  to  us  by  an  old  citizen  whom  he  caught  and  released, 
that  'Tie  had  been  in  Wilmington,  and  would  have  him  or 
Colonel  Lamb  shortly." 

On  December  24, 1864,  the  armada  commanded  by  Butler  and 
Porter  appeared  off  the  coast,  and  the  bombardment  of  Fisher 
commenced,  and  such  a  feu  d'enfer  as  was  poured  on  that  de- 
voted fort  was  never  seen.     Coming  up  the  river  from  Smith- 


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Blockade  Running  491 

ville  on  a  steamer  that  afternoon,  we  witnessed  it,  and  such  a 
roar  of  artillery  we  never  heard.  Those  large  double-enders 
seemed  to  stand  in  remarkably  close  to  the  fort,  and  deliver  their 
fire  with  great  accuracy,  knocking  up  the  sand  on  the  ramparts. 
It  seemed  a  continuous  hail  of  shot  and  shell,  many  of  them 
going  over  Fisher  and  dropping  into  the  river.  But  Fisher 
was  a  long  sand  fort,  stretching  in  an  obtuse  angle  from  the 
river  bank  around  to  the  mouth  of  the  New  Inlet,  that  opened 
into  the  ocean.  It  was  over  a  mile  from  point  to  point.  Though 
it  was  thus  heavily  bombarded  for  two  days,  little  or  no  im- 
pression was  made  on  its  works  except  to  give  them  a  ragged 
appearance,  and  very  few  casualties  occurred,  the  garrison 
sticking  mostly  to  their  bomb-proofs,  which  were  very  complete. 
Whiting  was  tiiere  in  command  in  person,  having  been  sent  there 
by  Bragg. 

The  next  day,  Christmas,  was  Sunday,  and  all  day  Porter's 
guns  were  thimdering  away  at  Fisher,  and  shaking  the  windows 
in  Wilmington,  where  the  citizens  were  offering  up  their  prayers 
for  our  protection  from  the  enemy.  Communication  with  Fort 
Fisher  by  land  or  telegraph  was  then  cut  off — ^messages  had 
been  sent  up  to  that  time.  Toward  night  sensational  messages 
conmienced  to  be  brought  up  from  below — one  to  the  effect 
that  the  enemy  were  on  the  parapet  at  Fisher  (in  truth  and  in 
fact  they  never  got  closer  than  the  stables,  at  least  two  or  three 
himdred  yards  from  the  fort).  Bragg  sent  Mrs.  Bragg  away 
that  night  at  9  p.  m.,  in  a  special  train  up  the  Weldon  Kailroad, 
and  an  officer  who  saw  him  at  about  11  p.  m.  reported  that  the 
old  gentleman  seemed  to  be  quite  unnerved,  and  that  his  hand 
was  very  tremulous.  Of  course  there  was  a  great  exodus  of 
civilians  from  the  place  early  the  next  morning,  the  fact  that 
Mrs.  Bragg  had  gone  off  acting  as  a  keynote  of  alarm  to  others. 
By  midday,  Monday,  however,  these  sensational  reports  and 
stories  were  all  quieted  by  the  authenticated  news  that  the 
enemy  had  reembarked  on  the  fleet  and  that  the  attack  had 
ceased.  Then  the  fleet  sailed,  and  everything  quieted  down. 
The  general  impression  was  that  there  would  not  be  another 
attack  till  after  the  spring  equinox,  say  in  May  or  June. 

When  Whiting  returned  to  the  city,  Bragg  still  continued  in 
command,  and  his  friends  and  himself  evidently  took  the  credit 
of  having  foiled  Butler's  attempt.  Bragg  was  a  friend  and 
favorite  of  Mr.  Davis.  He  had  sided  with  General  Taylor  in 
Taylor^s  quarrel  with  General  Scott,  and  Mr.  Davis  was  a  man 


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492  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

who  never  forgot  his  friends  nor  forgave  his  enemies.  He 
seemed  determined  to  sustain  Bragg  at  all  events,  though  the 
feeling  throughout  the  whole  army,  and,  in  fact,  the  South,  was 
against  that  general.  When  Wilmington  was  known  to  be 
threatened  and  Bragg  was  sent  there,  the  Richmond  Examiner 
simply  remarked,  "Good-bye,  Wilmington!"  and  the  prediction 
was  verified. 

Whiting,  after  the  first  attack,  wrote  to  Bragg,  suggesting 
that  in  case  of  another  attack,  which  would  probably  be  made, 
to  prevent  surprise  he  would  advise  that  Hagood's  South  Caro- 
lina brigade,  numbering  about  2,000  effective  men,  be  thrown 
into  Fort  Fisher,  the  garrison  of  which  consisted  of  one  raw, 
inexperienced  regiment,  that  had  never  smelled  powder  except 
in  the  first  attack,  and  which  did  not  number  over  700  effective 
men.  Hagood's  troops  were  veterans,  and  had  been  in  many  a 
battle.  He  also  advised  that  the  three  other  brigades  of  Hoke's 
division  be  placed  along  about  the  spot  where  the  Federals  had 
first  landed,  and  be  intrenched  so  as  to  prevent  a  landing  above 
the  fort.  Wise  precautions,  if  they  had  been  adopted.  Bragg 
endorsed  on  the  letter  of  advice  from  Whiting  that  he  saw  no 
necessity  in  carrying  out  those  suggestions.  It  was  the  failure 
to  carry  out  those  suggestions  that  caused  the  loss  of  Wilming- 
ton. Had  they  been  followed,  Wilmington  would  not  have 
fallen  when  it  did,  nor  Fisher  have  been  taken.  Instead,  Bragg 
brought  Hoke's  division  up  about  half  a  mile  back  of  Wilming- 
ton, over  twenty  miles  from  the  Fort,  and  had  a  grand  review 
there,  in  which  he  paraded  himself  in  a  new  suit  of  uniform, 
presented  to  him  by  his  admirers  in  Wilmington. 

Whiting's  prediction  about  a  surprise  was  shortly  to  be  veri- 
fied. Thursday  night,  the  12th  of  January,  1865,  the  fleet 
again  appeared  off  Fisher.  This  time,  through  Bragg's  im- 
becility, it  did  its  work  effectually.  Friday  morning  the  citi- 
zens of  Wilmington  were  aroused  by  the  booming  of  Porter's 
cannon,  a  second  time  opening  on  Fisher.  When  the  news  came 
up  at  midnight  that  the  fleet  had  again  appeared,  the  band  of 
Hoke's  division  was  in  town  serenading,  the  officers  were  visit- 
ing, and  the  men  scattered  about — ^Bragg,  no  doubt,  asleep  in 
fancied  security. 

Of  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  subsequent  inevitable 
loss  of  Wilmington,  I  shall  not  speak.  These  events  have  passed 
into  history.  My  purpose  has  been  simply  to  portray  the  aspect 
of  Wilmington  when  blockaded. 


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Blockade  Running  493 

THE  FIEST  AND  SECOND  ATTACKS  UPON 
FOET  FISHER. 

On  the  morning  of  December  20,  1864,  a  Federal  fleet  began 
to  assemble  at  New  Inlet.  It  bore  the  force  General  Grant  had 
sent  under  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler  to  reduce  Fort  Fisher,  and  the 
Federal  Navy,  under  Admiral  Porter,  was  cooperating  with 
52  warships,  the  greatest  flotilla  ever  brought  together  in  Ameri- 
can waters.  But  General  Butler  hoped  for  the  practical  de- 
struction of  the  fort  by  means  of  an  explosion  of  powder  on  a 
vessel,  the  Louisiana.  All  being  in  readiness,  on  the  night  of 
the  23d  the  Louisiana  was  brought  in,  and  at  1.52  a.  m.  the 
explosion  occurred.  To  the  amazement  of  Butler  nothing  hap- 
pened. Colonel  Lamb,  the  next  morning,  reported :  "A  block- 
ader  got  aground  near  the  fort,  set  fire  to  herself  and  blew  up." 
So  little  was  the  explosion  noticed  that  its  purpose  was  not 
conjectured. 

During  the  24th  a  terrific  bombardment  was  kept  up  by  the 
Federal  fleet,  but  without  much  damage.  Colonel  Lamb  noting 
that  the  greatest  penetration  into  his  sand  defenses  was  not  more 
than  five  feet  perpendicularly.  On  Christmas  day,  Sunday,  a 
large  force  of  infantry  was  landed  at  Battery  Anderson,  three 
miles  up  the  beach.  These,  being  unopposed  by  infantry  and 
well  beyond  the  fire  of  the  fort,  prepared  for  the  assault.  The 
beach  was  swept  by  the  guns  of  the  fleet  and  had  there  been  an 
infantry  force  to  attack  the  Federal  troops  it  could  not  have 
approached  them.  At  4.30  p.  m.  the  expected  assault  was 
made,  but  successfully  repulsed;  and  the  next  morning.  General 
Butler,  admitting  failure,  withdrew  his  troops  to  his  ships ;  and, 
although  the  bombardment  continued,  this  first  attack  ended  in 
disaster  for  the  Federals,  the  defense  being  a  glorious  victory. 

Admiral  Porter  and  General  Grant  were  much  disappointed 
at  Butler's  fiasco,  and  they  arranged  to  make  another  attempt. 
General  Grant  enjoined  the  utmost  secrecy,  and  a  new  force 
was  quietly  collected  under  General  Terry  and  transported 
to  Beaufort.  The  Confederates  were  jubilant  at  the  defeat 
of  Butler,  and  General  Bragg,  who  did  not  expect  an  early 
renewal  of  the  attack,  moved  Hoke's  division  to  Wilmington, 
en  route  to  make  an  effort  to  capture  New  Bern.  General 
Whiting,  however,  was  of  a  different  opinion  and  looked  for  the 
return  of  the  Federal  forces.    On  the  8th  of  January  the  new 


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494  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

expedition  had  reached  Beaufort,  and,  all  the  details  having 
been  arranged  by  General  Terry  and  Admiral  Porter,  on  the 
12th  the  vessels  sailed  for  Xew  Inlet.  Early  on  the  morning 
of  the  13th,  the  fleet  opened  fire  on  the  fort,  and  by  2  o'clock 
8,000  troops,  with  12  days  rations  and  intrenching  tools,  had 
been  landed  at  Battery  Anderson,  and  General  Terry  at  once 
began  to  intrench  himself  from  the  beach  to  the  river.  Hoke^s 
division  was  hurried  from  Wilmington,  but  arrived  too  late  to 
be  of  use  in  the  defense.  Hagood's  brigade  was  ordered  to 
reinforce  the  garrison,  and  two  of  his  regiments  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  fort  in  time.  The  arrangement  was  for  an  assault 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  15th,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  14th 
Admiral  Porter  threw  2,000  sailors  and  marines  ashore,  who 
quickly  intrenched  themselves  in  the  sand  near  the  fort,  ready 
to  cooperate  with  the  infantry.  At  3  o'clock,  on  the  15th,  all 
the  whistles  of  the  fleet  united  in  the  signal,  and  the  assault  was 
made  under  cover  of  a  fierce  bombardment.  The  sailors  being 
close  to  the  front  of  the  fort,  and  in  such  numbers,  were  mis- 
taken for  the  principal  attacking  force,  and  the  garrison  was 
concentrated  to  meet  them.  They  were  swept  off  the  approach 
to  the  fort  as  leaves  by  a  whirlwind.  But  the  troops  under 
Terry  were  more  successful.  Although  suffering  heavy  losses, 
and  meeting  stem  resistance,  they  were  able  to  gain  possession 
of  a  traverse  at  the  river  end  of  the  fort,  and  then  by  the  aid  of 
the  fleet,  which  threw  its  shells  into  the  traverses  held  by  the 
garrison,  the  Federal  infantry  gradually  progressed  until  by  9 
o'clock  it  had  carried  the  fort.  Whiting  and  Lamb  and  scores 
of  officers  and  many  men  lay  either  terribly  wounded  or  dead, 
and  at  length,  after  hours  of  fierce  fighting  in  the  black  night, 
all  the  blacker  from  the  smoke  of  battle,  the  survivors  withdrew 
to  Battery  Buchanan,  in  the  hope  of  finding  boats  as  a  means  of 
escape.  But  the  boats  were  no  longer  there,  and  nothing  re- 
mained but  to  surrender. 

Note:  In  the  accompanying  drawing  of  the  second  attack  upon  Fort 
Pisher  is  seen  the  Lilian,  the  blockade  runner  on  which  the  author, 
when  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  purser. 

The  Lilian  was  a  beautiful  little  ship,  a  model  of  a  yacht,  and  very 
fast.  She  made  many  successful  trips,  eluding  the  vigilance  of  the 
blockading  fleet  or  showing  them  her  heels;  but,  finally,  on  August  23, 
1864,  during  a  chase  for  five  hours  under  fire,  she  was  struck  by  several 
shells,  one  of  which,  fired  by  the  Oettysburg,  penetrated  her  starboard 
bow  below  the  water-line,  making  steering  impossible.  Three  of  the 
Federal  cruisers  now  overhauled  her,  and  when  they  came  along  side. 


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Blockade  Running  495 

the  Lilian  was  down  so  much  by  the  he&d  that  she  was  almost  sub- 
merged forward.  The  author  with  forty-eight  men  was  taken  aboard 
the  U.  S.  S.  Keystone  State,  which  the  next  day  joined  the  blockading 
fleet  at  New  Inlet.  The  Lilian  was  towed  into  Beaufort  and  repaired 
at  Philadelphia.  She  was  then  equipped  by  the  Federals  with  an  arma- 
ment of  two  heavy  guns  and  took  part  in  the  second  attack  upon  Fort 
Fisher. 


THE   CAPTUEE  OF  WILMINGTON. 

Fort  Fisher  fell  January  15,  1865,  General  Hoke,  with 
4,500  veteran  troops,  was  intrenched  in  the  sand-hills,  opposite 
Fort  Anderson,  and  General  Terry,  deeming  his  force  too  weak, 
awaited  reinforcements  before  advancing. 

At  length,  on  February  11,  his  strength  being  8,000,  he 
moved  forward,  but  was  checked  by  Hoke.  On  the  night  of  the 
14th,  he  sought  to  turn  Hoke's  left  flank,  but  again  failed. 
Abandoning  the  plan  of  a  direct  movement,  he  then  threw  Cox's 
division  to  the  western  shore  of  the  river,  purposing  to  approach 
Wilmington  from  that  direction.  The  ironclads  began  a  brisk 
bombardment  of  Fort  Anderson,  and  Cox  made  a  feint  as  if 
to  attack  the  fort  in  its  front,  but  moved  a  brigade  around 
Orton  Pond  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  fort  and  possess  himself  of 
the  open  road  to  Wilmington.  This  movement  being  discov- 
ered. General  Hagood  at  once  abandoned  the  fort  and  took  post 
beyond  Town  Creek.  The  right  and  rear  of  his  position  thus 
being  opened  to  the  fire  of  the  Federal  fleet,  General  Hoke  fell 
back  to  a  more  secure  position,  four  miles  from  the  town.  On 
the  19  th  General  Cox  advanced  to  Town  Creek,  and  Terry  fol- 
lowed Hoke  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  following  day 
Cox  crossed  Town  Creek  below  the  Confederate  position,  and 
was  able  to  reach  Hagood's  rear,  after  a  stifF  fight,  capturing 
Colonel  Simonton,  who  was  in  temporary  command,  a  large 
number  of  officers,  and  395  men.  Two  days  later  Cox  reached 
Eagle's  Island,  and  Wilmington  was  at  his  mercy.  Hoke  there- 
upon destroyed  such  property  as  wo\ild  be  of  use  to  the  Federal 
Army,  and  retreated  towards  Goldsboro.  On  the  morning  of 
the  22d,  General  Terry  entered  and  took  possession  of  the  town. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  from  the  journal  of  Maj.  Gen. 
Jacob  D.  Cox,  United  States  Army,  with  reference  to  daily 
events  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher.  We  quote  from 
Wednesday,  February  15,  1865,  up  to  Wednesday,  February 
22,  1865,  when  he  entered  Wilmington  and  took  possession  of 
the  town. 


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496  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Wednesday,  February  15: — ^We  started  last  night  at  dark 
and  found  the  pontoons  were  very  slow  in  getting  up  even  with 
our  lines.  A  division  of  Terry^s  command  preceded  mine,  hav- 
ing the  pontoons  in  charge.  The  train  became  much  scattered 
before  it  reached  our  advanced  line  of  works,  and  part  of  the 
boats  did  not  get  any  farther.  It  was  nearly  midnight  when 
the  train  reached  the  Half-Moon  Battery,  about  a  mile  in  front 
of  our  line,  where  our  outer  picket  is  placed.  We  got  about  a 
mile  beyond  this  on  our  former  trip,  and  on  this  occasion  we 
succeeded  in  getting  about  a  mile  farther  than  then.  Only 
eighteen  of  the  boats  would  be  got  up,  and  it  became  evident 
that  no  crossing  could  be  effected  before  daylight,  even  if  the 
rest  of  the  boats  could  be  got  up  by  that  time.  It  also  appeared 
that  the  enemy  were  on  the  qui  vive,  and  we  could  see  their 
camp  fires  on  the  other  side  of  the  sound.  As  we  had  not  boats 
enough  to  make  a  bridge,  and  the  appearance  was  that  the 
passage  would  be  disputed.  General  Schofield  again  determined 
to  give  up  the  plan,  and  we  countermarched  to  camp,  getting 
back  about  2.30  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  weather  was 
pleasanter  than  we  had  reason  to  expect,  for  it  grew  milder  all 
night  and  ended  by  raining  hard  this  morning.  The  clouds 
partly  concealed  the  moon,  but  it  seems  to  me  impossible  that 
the  enemy  should  not  have  seen  us,  as  the  strip  of  sand  is  so 
narrow  and  the  line  of  surf  makes  such  a  white  background  for 
the  dark  masses  of  the  moving  column.  My  own  preference 
would  have  been  to  give  up  the  movement  as  soon  as  it  was 
evident  that  the  pontoons  would  be  behind  time,  so  as  not  to  let 
the  enemy  have  any  idea  of  the  movement,  which  from  that 
time  was  certain  to  prove  a  failure.  I  suspect,  however,  that 
the  plan  was  a  suggestion  of  Colonel  Comstock,  one  of  Grant's 
staff,  who  is  with  us  as  engineer,  and  that  General  Schofield 
on  that  account  thought  it  best  not  to  stop  till  it  had  been  well 
tried.  The  fleet  bringing  our  Second  Division  is  said  to  have 
arrived  yesterday.  The  delay  of  the  pontoons  above  spoken  of 
was  owing  to  the  impossibility  of  dragging  a  heavily  loaded 
truck  in  the  soft  sand  with  scant  teams. 

Thursday,  February  16: — Moved  the  command  by  steamboat 
to  Smithville,  on  the  other  side  of  the  bay,  with  a  view  to 
operate  on  that  side  of  Cape  Fear  Eiver.  Baggage  did  not  get 
down  till  dark.  Orders  given  to  move  up  the  river  at  8  a.  m. 
tomorrow. 

Friday,  February  17: — March  up  the  river,  meeting  the 


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Blockade  Running  497 

enemy's  cavalry  as  soon  as  we  get  three  miles  from  the  village. 
Drive  them  back  till  we  get  within  two  miles  of  Fort  Anderson, 
where  we  go  into  camp  according  to  orders,  and  open  signal 
communications  with  Greneral  Schofield  on  his  headquarters 
steamship,  and  with  the  fleet  under  Admiral  Porter.  Advanced 
ten  miles  today. 

Saturday,  February  18 : — ^Move  at  7  o'clock,  driving  back  the 
enemy  and  establishing  a  line  of  investments  on  the  south  side 
of  the  fort.  Have  a  lively  skirmishing  fight.  The  enemy  open 
with  artillery  along  their  line,  while  our  fleet  opens  heavily  on 
the  fort.  At  1  o'clock  I  withdraw  Casement's  and  Keilly's  bri- 
gades (Colonel  Sterl  commanding  the  latter)  and  move  them 
to  the  left  and  rear  around  the  head  of  Orton  Pond.  Reach 
the  head  of  the  pond  about  5.30  o'clock  and  find  there  a  strong 
party  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  oppose  our  passage.  Moore's 
Creek,  running  into  the  pond,  has  wide,  marshy  banks,  the 
marsh  being  filled  with  thick  tangled  undergrowth,  through 
which  it  was  almost  impossible  for  skirmishers  to  make  their 
way.  The  road  is  a  narrow  causeway,  only  wide  enough  for 
one  wagon,  and  the  enemy  had  rifle-pits  commanding  the  exits 
from  the  swamps,  as  well  as  a  second  line  a  little  farther  back. 
We  are  delayed  here  about  an  hour.  Succeed  finally  in  driving 
off  the  rebels  with  a  loss  to  us  of  seven  men  wounded  and  one 
killed.  Just  as  we  gained  the  opposite  bank  General  Ames, 
with  his  division  of  Terry's  men,  came  up  and  reported  to  me 
under  General  Schofield's  orders,  and  we  go  into  camp  for  the 
night,  the  rebel  cavalry  retreating  in  the  direction  of  Fort 
Anderson. 

Sunday,  February  19 : — The  train  of  supplies  which  was  to 
have  come  up  last  night  didn't  report  till  10  o'clock  this  morn- 
ing. We  resumed  our  march  up  the  west  bank  of  Orton  Pond 
to  turn  the  enemy's  position  at  Fort  Anderson.  March  about 
half-way,  when  we  meet  Captain  Lord  of  General  Schofield's 
staff,  who  informs  us  that  the  fort  is  evacuated,  the  enemy 
having  left  it  in  the  night,  after  hearing  of  our  movement 
aroimd  the  pond.  General  Ames  proceeds  to  the  fort  with  his 
division,  whilst  I  go  on  up  the  river  with  my  command,  the  two 
brigades  left  in  front  of  the  fort  joining  me.  I  put  Hender- 
son in  advance,  and  press  the  enemy  rapidly  to  Old  Town  Creek, 
where  we  find  him  in  a  strong  line  of  works,  the  bridge  being 
destroyed  and  the  creek  being  both  unfordable  and  difficult  of 
approach  by  reason  of  the  marshy  banks  so  common  in  this 


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498  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

region.  I  learn  that  there  is  no  ford  at  which  men  or  horses 
can  pass  for  fifteen  miles  above,  but  find  a  flatboat  about  a  mile 
down  the  stream  which  I  secure  for  tomorrow's  operations. 

Monday,  February  20 : — Order  Henderson  to  keep  the  enemy 
amused  by  pressing  as  closely  as  possible  in  front,  and  direct 
Casement  to  take  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  and  thence  around 
to  the  enemy's  rear.  A  little  later  I  order  Moore's  brigade, 
which  is  temporarily  in  my  command,  to  follow  Casement,  and 
go  with  it  myself.  We  overtake  Casement  before  he  reaches  the 
road  to  Wilmington  behind  the  rebels.  I  order  Moore  across  to 
the  old  Wilmington  Road,  so  called,  to  stop  any  retreat  in  that 
direction,  and  with  the  two  brigades  under  Casement  push  down 
upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy.  They  are  evidently  taken  by  sur- 
prise and  we  charge  over  them,  capturing  their  two  pieces  of 
artillery  and  nearly  400  prisoners,  including  the  colonel  com- 
manding the  brigade.  We  also  take  three  battle  flags.  Our  loss 
was  about  30,  caused  chiefly  by  the  few  discharges  of  cannon 
they  were  able  to  make  before  our  men  could  reach  their  lines. 
Moore  fails  to  come  to  time  on  the  old  Wilmington  Road,  and 
the  remainder  escape  that  way.  The  action  ended  just  at  night- 
fall. I  have  the  bridge  repaired  during  the  night,  ready  to  move 
in  the  morning. 

Tuesday,  February  21 : — ^Marched  toward  Wilmington,  meet- 
ing no  opposition.  The  bridges  along  the  road  were  destroyed, 
causing  much  delay  in  repairing  them,  but  in  spite  of  delays  my 
advance  reached  the  Brunswick  Ferry,  opposite  Wilmington,  a 
little  after  noon.  The  enemy  had  a  few  skirmishers  on  Eagles' 
Island,  between  us  and  the  city,  and  had  sunk  and  partly  de- 
stroyed their  pontoon  bridge  at  this  place.  We  get  up  some  of 
the  boats  and  with  them  ferry  over  a  regiment  (Sixteenth  Ken- 
tucky). These  skirmish  across  the  island,  about  one  mile  and  a 
half,  and  find  some  of  the  enemy  on  the  farther  side  of  it  with 
a  piece  of  artillery  posted  so  as  to  rake  the  road,  which  is  very 
straight  and  flanked  by  impassable  swamps  on  both  sides.  I 
keep  the  regiment  there,  ordering  them  to  make  the  best  cover 
they  can  and  set  to  work  to  raise  and  repair  the  rest  of  the  pon- 
toon boats.  The  rebels  immediately  begin  to  bum  the  supplies 
and  stores  in  Wilmington,  the  smoke  rising  in  columns  more 
immense  than  any  I  have  ever  seen.  I  send  a  dispatch  to  Gen- 
eral Schofield,  informing  him  of  my  progress  and  of  these  indi- 
cations of  evacuation  by  the  enemy,  but  before  I  can  get  an 
answer  I  receive  his  dispatch,  sent  earlier,  in  which  he  informs 
me  that  General  Terry  has  made  no  headway,  and  orders  me  to 


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Blockade  Running  499 

withdraw  my  command  and  cross  the  river  to  Terry's  support. 
I  start  one  brigade,  and  send  him  a  dispatch  urging  him  not  to 
remove  all  of  my  troops,  as  I  am  sure  the  enemy  is  evacuating. 
A  second  dispatch  reiterates  the  order  to  move,  and  I  start  an- 
other brigade  at  midnight,  and  prepare  to  move  the  rest,  when, 
to  my  great  satisfaction,  I  got  a  third  dispatch  countermanding 
the  order  as  to  two  of  the  brigades,  and  stating  that  my  dis- 
patches had  not  come  to  hand  when  the  orders  to  move  were  sent. 
Wednesday,  February  22: — As  I  expected,  we  enter  Wil- 
mington this  morning  without  opposition,  and  as  it  is  Washing- 
ton's birthday  we  hail  the  event  as  a  good  omen.  The  enemy 
has  retreated  up  the  road  to  Goldsboro.  I  complete  the  repair 
and  relaying  of  the  rebel  pontoon  bridge,  and  by  noon  cross  the 
Brunswick  River  and  the  island  to  the  ferry  across  Cape  Fear 
River  (the  channel  on  the  west  of  the  island  is  called  Bruns- 
wick River),  and  so  into  Wilmington  with  my  troops.  General 
Terry,  being  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  marches  through  in 
pursuit  of  Hoke.  My  troops  are  put  in  camp  around  the  town, 
and  I  assume  conmiand  of  the  place.  Assigned  One  Hundred 
and  Fourth  Ohio  to  duty  as  provost-guard,  and  fix  my  head- 
quarters temporarily  at  the  house  of  a  Dr.  Bellamy,  a  fugitive 
rebel. 


USE  OF  TORPEDOES  IN  THE  OAPE  FEAR  RIVER 
DURING  THE  WAR. 

Shortly  after  the  occupation  of  Fort  Anderson  by  the  advanc- 
ing Federals  and  the  supposed  clearing  of  the  river  of  Confed- 
erate mines  and  torpedoes,  the  Federal  transport  Thorn,  laden 
with  army  supplies,  was  proceeding  up  the  river  towards  Wil- 
mington when  she  struck  a  torpedo  which  had  been  planted  in 
the  channel  in  Orton  Cove  and  was  blown  up  and  sunk.  This 
vessel  was  subsequently  raised  and  floated  by  the  Baker  Wreck- 
ing Company,  of  Norfolk.  The  Thorn  was  piloted  by  a  well- 
known  negro  man  from  Smithville,  who  before  the  war  had 
served  on  board  a  United  States  Coast-Survey  schooner. 

With  reference  to  the  use  of  torpedoes  in  the  Cape  Fear  at 
the  time,  Capt.  E.  S.  Martin,  ordnance  officer.  Confederate 
States  Army,  has  furnished  the  following  information : 

"I  do  not  recollect  that  torpedoes  were  used  until  the  fall 
of  1864,  when  they  were  sent  to  Fort  Caswell  to  be  placed  on  or 
near  the  bar.  They  were  placed  there  by  me,  connected  by  wire 
with  electric  batteries  in  the  fort,  to  be  exploded  as  occasion 


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500  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

required.  They  were  never  exploded,  however.  I  tried  to  ex- 
plode them  when  the  fort  was  evacuated,  but  did  not  succeed, 
as  the  batteries  would  not  work.  These  torpedoes  were  large, 
carrying  400  pounds  of  powder.  I  think  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment took  them  up  after  the  war. 

"Just  before  or  during  the  attack  on  Fort  Anderson,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  a  number  of  so-called  floating  torpedoes  were  sent 
to  Fort  Anderson  to  be  placed  between  the  fort  and  the  fleet  of 
the  enemy,  and  were  so  placed  by  me  under  order  of  Greneral 
Hagood,  commanding  at  that  place.  These  torpedoes  were  at- 
tached to  floats  of  just  sufficient  buoyancy  to  keep  them  near 
the  surface  of  the  water  and  were  provided  with  sensitive  fuses, 
so  that  if  touched  they  would  explode.  Twenty  or  more  of  them 
were  taken  down  the  river  at  night  and  located,  as  I  have  said, 
at  different  points  in  the  channel.  I  think  that  a  vessel,  prob- 
ably the  transport  Thorn,  was  blown  up  by  one  of  these  torpe- 
does after  we  evacuated  the  fort,  and  the  rest  were  removed  by 
the  Federal  Government.  There  were  no  torpedo  boats  used 
in  the  Cape  Fear." 

Since  the  above  information  was  furnished  by  Captain  Mar- 
tin, I  learn  that  during  the  war  a  number  of  torpedoes  were 
chained  and  anchored  by  the  Confederates  in  the  following 
named  channels  of  Cape  Fear  River,  leaving  open  a  limited  space 
for  the  passage  of  blockade  runners  under  the  pilotage  of  spe- 
cially detailed  men  who  were  entrusted  with  the  secret  knowl- 
edge of  these  mine  fields.  Capt.  E.  D.  Williams,  the  present 
harbor  master  of  the  port  of  Wilmington,  was  one  of  the  persons 
entrusted  with  this  secret  defense  against  the  Federal  fleet.  He 
tells  me  that  the  first  mine  was  planted  three  miles  below  Wil- 
mington at  a  point  in  the  ship  channel  opposite  Hart's  Vine- 
yard, the  second  was  at  Orton  Cove,  near  Fort  Anderson  at  Old 
Bnmswick.  This  one  blew  up  the  Federal  transport  Thorru 
The  third  mine  was  anchored  outside  New  Inlet  Rip  near  Fort 
Fisher.  A  fourth  and  last  one  was  outside  the  Rip  near  Fort 
Caswell. 

A  number  of  these  torpedoes  were  brought  up  with  the  anchors 
of  merchant  vessels  for  two  years  after  tiie  war,  but  no  prema- 
ture explosions  occurred.  A  torpedo  boat  named  General  Whit- 
ing was  brought  into  the  Cape  Fear  the  last  year  of  the  war  by 
a  blockade  runner,  from  England,  but  proved  to  be  too  small 
for  effective  use.  At  the  end  of  the  war  she  was  sunk  in  the 
river  near  Point  Peter. 


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KESUMPTION  OF  CAPE  FEAE  COMMERCE. 

After  the  four  years'  war,  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the 
Cape  Fear  gradually  returned  to  normal  conditions.  At  first 
there  was  a  large  coastwise  trade  by  sailing  vessels,  chiefly 
schooners  of  150  to  600  tons,  and  a  larger  volume  of  business 
direct  with  Europe  and  the  West  Indies  in  foreign  bottoms,  con- 
sisting of  brigs,  barques,  and  sometimes  of  full-rigged  ships,  of 
British,  German,  and  Scandinavian  origin.  The  exports  were 
naval  stores — spirits  turpentine,  rosin,  tar — and  some  cotton  to 
Europe,  and  lumber  to  the  West  Indies. 

For  many  years  after  the  war  Wilmington  maintained  first 
place  in  the  turpentine  and  lumber  trade,  and  there  were  as 
many  as  a  hundred  sailing  vessels  in  port  at  one  time.  As  the 
cotton  trade  increased  it  was  taken  up  by  this  class  of  vessels; 
but  in  1881  the  new  era  of  steam  appeared  in  the  arrival  of  the 
British  steamer  Bamesmore,  chartered  by  Alexander  Sprunt  & 
Son,  which  loaded  a  cargo  of  3,458  bales  of  cotton,  673  casks 
of  spirits  turpentine,  and  550  barrels  of  rosin.  Much  ado  was 
made  of  this  occasion,  and  a  banquet  and  speech-making  accen- 
tuated its  importance  to  the  community;  but  in  his  letter  of 
acknowledgment  to  the  president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
under  whose  auspices  the  event  was  celebrated.  Captain  Tren- 
ery,  of  the  Bamesmore,  regretted  to  say  that  the  depth  of  water 
in  the  Cape  Fear  was  not  sufficient  to  encourage  further  steamer 
trade.  He,  however,  complimented  his  enterprising  agents  for 
loading  into  his  ship  in  nine  days  3,458  bales  of  cotton.  A  few 
weeks  ago  the  same  firm  loaded  one  of  many  cargoes  within  nine 
days,  and  this  cargo  consisted  of  20,300  bales  of  cotton  valued 
at  a  million  and  a  half  dollars,  yet  it  caused  scarcely  a  ripple 
of  remark  in  these  progressive  times;  but  the  contrast  of  the 
Bamesmore  with  the  Holtie  is  an  object  lesson  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Cape  Fear  commerce.  The  Bamesmore's  draft  was 
14  feet.  The  draft  of  the  Holtie  is  20  feet,  with  seven  to  eight 
feet  to  spare  underfoot  in  the  river  channel,  which  now  shows 
27  to  28  feet  from  Wilmington  to  the  sea. 

[501] 


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502  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


KEPOETS  ON  WILMINGTON  TRADE  1815-1872. 

The  following  reports  on  the  trade  of  Wilmington  at  intervals 
of  about  thirty  years,  beginning  with  1816  and  ending  with  1872» 
will  give  some  idea  of  the  domestic  and  foreign  commerce  for  the 
half-century  preceding  the  War  between  the  States  and  the  period 
immediately  following  it,  when  every  effort  was  made  to  recover 
from  the  paralyzing  effects  of  the  great  struggle. 


The  Tbadb  of  Wilmington,  1815. 
Bt  Joshua  Potts. 

(A  commercial  statement  which  came  into  the  prrewion  ol  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 

Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  through  the  oourteiy  of  Hra.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting. 

widow  of  General  Whiting.) 

Wilmington,  though  but  a  small  port,  affords  in  season  and 
in  proportionate  quantities  nearly  all  the  various  kinds  of  pro- 
duce that  are  to  be  found  in  the  growth  of  the  United  States, 
collectively — such  is  the  effect  of  an  intermediate  climate,  an 
extensive  territory  of  different  soil,  and  diversity  of  occupation 
of  numerous  inhabitants. 

Portable  articles  of  produce  are  brought  from  the  interior 
country  by  land  carriage  to  inland  towns  at  the  head  of  boating 
navigation;  thence  they  are  carried  down  to  Wilmington  in 
large  flatboats,  calculated  for  that  purpose. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  country  transportation  of  lumber, 
naval  stores,  timber  and  spars  is  facilitated  by  rafts,  conducted 
by  a  few  hands  down  numerous  rivers  and  creeks. 

In  times  of  iminterrupted  commerce,  many  ships  and  vessels 
of  considerable  burthen  were  annually  loaded  here  and  bound 
for  European  ports  with  cargoes  of  naval  stores,  tobacco,  flax- 
seed, cotton,  rice,  and  large  timber  of  pitch  pine;  their  cargoes 
were  dunnaged  and  stowed  with  staves. 

Our  produce  is  particularly  adapted  for  the  markets  of  the 
West  India  Islands,  and  when  we  have  a  free  trade,  many 
vessels  of  Wilmington  and  the  Northern  States  during  winter 
and  spring  load  here,  and  depart  for  the  West  Indies  in  as  many 
directions  as  there  are  islands,  their  cargoes  assorted  with  lum- 
ber, flour,  rice,  pork,  bacon,  lard,  butter,  tobacco,  tar,  live- 
stock, etc. 

A  proportion  of  our  produce  is  transported  coastwise  to  vari- 
ous ports,  but  that  of  New  York  the  principal — ^and  vice  versa, 


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Peace  Restored  503 

the  merchants  and  dealers  of  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville  are 
generally  furnished  with  a  variety  of  merchandise  from  sundry 
ports  on  the  northern  coast,  especially  from  New  York.  Kegu- 
lar  packets  ply  between  Wilmington  and  New  York. 

Excellent  crops  of  various  kinds  of  produce  are  annually  pro- 
duced throughout  this  country.  Our  market  opens  in  Novem- 
ber, is  brisk  in  December,  increases  in  January,  February,  and 
March,  slackens  in  April,  declines  in  May,  and  ends  in  June. 
The  summer  and  fall  months  in  regard  to  trade,  are  dull,  and 
the  fall  sickly. 

Those  kinds  of  our  produce  of  the  first  importance  are  noted 
for  the  present  year  as  follows : 

Tobacco  is  raised  only  in  the  upper  country ;  it  is  brought  and 
inspected  at  Fayetteville,  at  the  head  of  boating  navigation, 
ninety  miles  above  Wilmington.  It  may  be  had  at  Fayetteville 
at  almost  any  time  of  the  year ;  but  it  is  more  plentiful  between 
December  and  March.  Of  late  years  the  quantity  has  been 
reduced,  and  the  culture  of  cotton  substituted,  as  being  less  pre- 
carious, less  toilsome,  and  of  more  profit  than  tobacco.  Within 
the  last  fifteen  years,  tobacco  has  been  lessened  in  culture  more 
than  one-half  of  former  crops.  Its  quality  is  said  to  have  been 
inferior  to  that  of  Virginia,  but  of  late  it  has  been  produced  of 
amended  goodness,  and  some  of  it  prime.  In  the  first  place,  it 
is  uniformly  purchased  from  the  planters  by  merchants  of  Fay- 
etteville, and  by  them  either  exported  to  Europe  or  sold  again 
in  the  United  States. 

Cotton,  upland,  is  but  of  recent  cultivation  in  this  State,  and 
is  increasing  in  quantity ;  the  quality  is  said  to  be  equal  to  that 
of  South  Carolina  or  Georgia.  The  planters  at  first  put  up 
their  cotton  in  round  bags,  but  of  late  much  of  it  is  packed  in 
square  bales.    There  is  no  inspection  of  cotton. 

Rice:  A  fine  crop  is  raised  chiefly  in  the  vicinity  of  Wil- 
mington, near  tidewater,  of  quality  equal  to  any  in  llie  South- 
em  States;  and  a  charge  for  the  rough  casks  which  contain  it 
is  always  made  by  the  planters. 

Flour:  The  usual  crop  of  considerable  quantity;  of  late 
years  subject  to  a  good  inspection  and  marked  under  several 
qualities ;  the  superfine  is  said  to  be  equal  to  that  of  the  Middle 
States. 

Com  is  seldom  either  plentiful  or  cheap  in  Wilmington.  The 
country  around  does  not  produce  it  in  sufficient  quantity  for 
exportation. 


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504:  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Tar  is  not  made  in  as  large  quantity  as  formerly,  nor  is  it 
produced  and  brought  to  market  with  the  same  ease;  it  is  an 
article  subject  to  waste,  and  the  price  generally  low.  Country- 
men, in  many  instances,  have  paid  attention  to  cotton  and  tim- 
ber; and  numerous  inhabitants  of  that  description  have  re- 
moved to  the  Western  States.  Since  the  return  of  peace,  how- 
ever, the  demand  for  tar  and  turpentine  has  raised  the  value 
of  those  articles  to  an  encouraging  price.  It  is  rafted  to  Wil- 
mington, and  after  having  been  coopered  and  inspected,  is  trans- 
ported coastwise,  and  a  proportion  shipped  for  European  ports. 

Turpentine  is  seen  at  market  from  June  to  December.  In 
consequence  of  the  late  war,  the  quantity  has  been  reduced  and 
prices  depressed;  the  present  demand,  however,  has  enhanced 
the  value.    There  is  a  scarcity  at  present. 

Flaxseed,  as  well  as  tobacco  and  flour,  is  raised  in  the  in- 
terior of  this  country.  It  is  first  contained  in  bags  and  brought 
in  wagons  to  Fayetteville,  and  there  measured  and  sold  by  the 
bushel,  usually  from  90  to  120  cents,  according  to  prospect. 
The  purchasers  at  Fayetteville  have  it  there  perfectly  cleaned 
in  machines  for  that  purpose,  and  put  up  in  casks  of  oak,  well 
made,  each  containing  seven  bushels.  When  commerce  is  free, 
the  price  of  a  cask  of  flaxseed  at  Wilmington  is  generally  be- 
tween ten  and  eleven  dollars.     There  is  no  inspection  on  flax- 

SOOu. 

Lumber,  many  kinds  and  of  superior  quality,  is  brought 
plentifully  to  market  during  the  winter  and  spring — plenty  of 
sawed  boards,  planks,  and  scantling,  of  fine  grained  pitch  and 
yellow  pine.  Pine  timber  and  spars  of  any  size  may  be  had. 
Shingles  of  cypress,  22  inches  in  length,  are  plentiful,  gen- 
erally thin  and  light,  but  proportionately  cheap.  Shingles  of 
juniper,  well  drawn  and  rounded,  may  be  had  from  a  distance, 
on  timely  notice. 

Staves  are  not  to  be  had  here  in  quantity  sufficient  to  furnish 
cargoes  for  vessels ;  they  are,  however,  to  be  had  diiring  winter 
and  spring,  and  wherewith  cargoes  of  other  produce  are  dun- 
naged  and  stowed.  Staves  are,  however,  at  times  so  plentiful 
as  to  compose  the  principal  part  of  a  vessel's  cargo.  White  oak 
hogshead  and  barrel  staves  are  never  plentiful;  the  growth  of 
the  tree  is  confined  to  narrow  limits  on  the  borders  of  the  River 
Cape  Fear.  Eed  oak  hogshead  staves  are  to  be  had  in  larger 
numbers  than  those  of  the  white  oak,  and  are  always  more  than 
proportionately  cheap. 


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Peace  Restored  505 

It  is  unadvisable,  and  often  disadvantageous,  for  a  merchant 
in  a  distant  State  or  foreign  port  to  dispatch  a  ship  to  Wibning- 
ton  under  orders  for  a  cargo  of  our  produce  without  having 
written  his  correspondent  of  particulars  required.  Four  to  six 
weeks  previous  notice  to  the  agent  is  always  requisite,  that  he 
may  have  time  and  opportunity  to  procure  the  produce  de- 
scribed at  the  best  advantage  and  have  it  in  readiness  by  the 
time  of  arrival  of  such  ship.  Great  detention  and  disappoint- 
ment often  happen  in  consequence  of  voyages  being  abruptly 
commenced;  as  but  seldom  peculiar  kinds  of  produce  can  be 
had  on  sudden  notice. 

Inspection  of  produce  is  established  by  law  throughout  North 
Carolina.  A  clause  enacts  that  the  shippers  thereof  shall  pay 
the  fees  of  inspection  on  the  several  articles  as  follows :  Rice, 
flour,  pork,  lard,  beef,  butter,  tar,  turpentine,  pitch,  and  rosin. 
The  rates  are  low. 

On  lumber,  the  buyer  and  seller  equally  sustain  the  charges 
of  inspection  and  delivery.  Custom  supersedes  a  law  for  in- 
spection of  lumber.    The  fee  is  small. 

Cash  or  suitable  bills  (commonly  drafts  on  New  York)  are 
the  only  funds  that  will  command  either  tobacco,  rice,  cotton, 
or  flaxseed. 

Considerable  quantities  of  Liverpool  salt  were  formerly  im- 
ported, but  during  our  Eestrictive  Acts  and  nearly  three  years 
continuance  of  the  late  war  with  England  scarcely  any  has  been 
brought  in.  Coarse  salt  of  late  has  arrived  tolerably  plentiful, 
and  although  subject  to  a  duty  of  about  30  cents  per  bushel,  the 
last  sales  per  cargo  were  per  bushel  65  cents. 

Liverpool  groimd  salt  is  always  preferred  at  Fayetteville  to 
any  coarse  salt,  at  the  same  price,  owing  to  weight  of  wagonage 
up  the  country,  Liverpool  being  the  lightest,  per  bushel. 

For  a  few  years  since,  while  commerce  was  under  restriction, 
and  during  the  late  war,  sundry  salt  works  were  erected  on  the 
sound,  near  Wilmington,  which,  towards  the  last  of  the  war, 
highly  rewarded  their  several  proprietors.  But,  since  the  re- 
turn of  peace,  the  price  of  home-made  salt  has,  consequently, 
fallen  to  that  of  similar  quality  imported.  Notwithstanding, 
the  domestic  works  will  be  continued  in  operation.  They  will 
be  productive  of  profit,  so  far  at  least  as  the  duty  on  foreign 
salt  may  be  extended. 

The  manner  of  producing  what  is  here  called  "sound"  salt  is 
by  means  of  vats  constructed  with  boards,  into  one  of  which  the 


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506  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

salt  water  is  brought  by  pumps  worked  with  wind.  Three  vats 
constitute  one  set,  and  the  sea  water  under  evaporation,  after 
having  deposited  the  druggy  and  slimy  parts,  is  timely  drawn 
from  one  reservoir  into  another,  by  which  process  the  crystal- 
lized salt  becomes  of  the  purest  quality.  The  grain  is  of  the  size 
called  hominy  salt,  or  larger,  and  the  quantity  annually  pro- 
duced, within  eight  to  twenty  miles  of  Wilmington,  is  already 
more  than  30,000  bushels. 

Main  Bar  of  Cape  Fear,  high  water  at  7  o'clock  at  full  and 
change  of  the  moon,  depth  18  feet. 

New  Inlet  Bar,  high  water  at  7  o'clock  at  full  and  change  of 
the  moon,  depth  11^  feet. 

Tides  on  each  bar,  perpendicular,  5  to  6  feet. 

Flatts,  ten  miles  below  Wilmington,  to  town,  11%  feet. 

Course  in,  over  the  Main  Bar :  When  in  five  fathoms  water, 
the  lighthouse  used  to  bear  north  half  east,  but,  unfortunately, 
a  couple  of  years  since  the  sea  encroached  on  the  shore^  and 
destroyed  the  lighthouse;  and  within  a  few  years  an  angle  to 
the  westward  has  been  formed  in  that  part  of  the  channel  which 
was  formerly  straight,  by  which  circumstance  the  navigation 
over  the  Main  Bar  has  become  difficult.  Pilots  generally  attend 
in  time  to  conduct  vessels  in  safety. 

Lighterage,  between  the  Flatts  and  Wilmington,  comes  on  all 
vessels  above  11%  feet. 

Also,  between  the  Main  Bar  and  the  Flatts,  at  high  water, 
are  shoals  of  14%  feet. 

Wilmington  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Cape  Fear,  or 
Clarendon,  River,  and  lies  north  30  miles  above  the  Main  Bar, 
and  20  miles  above  New  Inlet. 

The  Tbadb  op  Wilmington,  1843. 

Bt  Robert  W.  Bbown. 

(A  oommerdal  atatement  which  oame  into  the  possoMion  of  the  WUmington  Chamber 
of  Comzneroe  through  the  courtesy  of  Major  M.  P.  Tasrlor.) 

Portable  articles  of  produce  are  brought  from  the  interior 
country  by  land  carriage  to  Fayetteville,  at  the  head  of  boating 
navigation;  thence  they  are  carried  down  to  Wilmington  by 
well  constructed  steamboats  and  their  numerous  towboats,  com- 

iWhy?  Because  the  river  current  had  been  depreciated  to  such  ex- 
tent in  volume  and  force  by  the  opening  at  New  Inlet  as  to  be  over- 
come by  the  current  and  force  of  waves  of  the  ocean;  thus  permitting 
the  ocean  waves  and  currents  to  gradually  wear  away  the  shore. 

H.   NUTT. 


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Peace  Restored  507 

prising  a  flotilla  on  an  extensive  scale,  qualified  to  carry  large 
quantities  of  merchandise  up  and  produce  down ;  and  when  the 
river  is  not  too  low  for  steamboats  to  run  all  the  way,  greater 
dispatch  is  not  given  in  any  part  of  our  country.  At  those 
periods  of  low  water  which  occasionally  happen,  transportation 
is  facilitated  by  the  smaller  flat  towboats,  aided  by  steamboats, 
so  far  as  the  latter  can  proceed. 

In  the  course  of  many  years  practice  of  the  author  in  his 
agency  for  numerous  merchants  of  the  interior,  and  since  the 
establishment  of  steamboats,  he  has  had  goods  delivered  at  Fay- 
etteville  within  a  week  or  ten  days  from  New  York,  and  the 
merchants  and  farmers  of  the  back  country,  hitherto  trading 
extensively  with  South  Carolina,  must  find  their  way  to  the 
convenient  seaport  of  their  own  State,  and  Wilmington  can  pro- 
duce a  market,  for  export  and  import,  with  all  necessary  facili- 
ties. The  larger  vessels  for  foreign  trade  and  the  smaller  for 
coasting  have  the  advantage  of  two  bars — ^the  New  Inlet  and 
the  Main  Bar  to  pass  in  and  out. 

Regular  packets  ply  between  Wilmington,  New  York,  and 
Philadelphia.  Steamboats  of  good  capacity  ply  on  the  river 
below  Wilmington  for  passengers,  freighting,  and  towing.  The 
healthy  summer  retreat  at  Smithville  is  much  resorted  to. 

The  summer  and  fall  months,  in  regard  to  trade,  are  dull; 
rivers  generally  low;  crop  season  with  the  country  people;  a 
relaxation  in  town;  and  consequently  business  generally  is  less 
active,  except  the  ordinary  preparations  for  renewal  of  the  fall 
trade,  and  the  importation  of  large  quantities  of  goods  for  their 
passage  to  the  interior,  which  is  a  steady  employment  from  July 
to  November.  This  business  demands  the  constant  vigilance, 
care,  and  presence  of  the  consignees  and  parties  entrusted  with 
it  during  the  most  unfavorable  period  of  the  season. 

A  new  route  is  now  established  by  the  Wilmington  and  Ra- 
leigh Railroad  through  the  northeastern  counties  of  the  State, 
leading  to  Weldon,  on  the  Roanoke,  and  thence  to  Norfolk  or 
Petersburg.  Splendid  steamboats,  built  for  the  purpose,  and 
second  to  none  in  the  United  States,  ply  between  Wilmington 
and  Charleston,  conveying  with  great  comfort  and  compara- 
tively no  risk  the  mail  and  passengers,  which  route,  as  already 
ascertained,  is  admitted  to  be  one  of  the  best  in  the  whole  coun- 
try, avoiding  the  great  hazard  of  Capes  Hatteras,  Lookout,  and 
Frying  Pan,  in  a  short  seascope  between  Cape  Fear  and  Charles- 
ton Bars,  so  far  as  passengers  are  concerned. 


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508  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Trade,  too,  has  commenoed  upon  this  route  with  the  rich  and 
fertile  counties  of  the  east,  whose  inhabitants  are  ready  to  em- 
brace the  great  facility  in  prospect  of  finding  at  Wilmington  a 
market  for  their  valuable  productions.  It  is  only  necessary  to 
have  the  supply  to  insure  demand. 

Cotton :  Upland  in  moderate  supply  the  last  year  or  two.  It 
is  now  packed  mostly  in  square  bales,  and  delivered  at  market 
in  excellent  order.  Freight  to  England,  chiefly  Liverpool,  varies 
as  to  circumstances  %  to  %d.,  and  it  often  occurs  that  cotton 
purchased  by  order  is  shipped  coastwise  to  New  York,  where  it 
takes  the  chances  of  a  good  market,  or  is  forwarded  by  packet 
to  England  or  France.  Shipments  to  France  direct  are  made 
from  Wilmington.  Both  cotton  and  rice  can  be  obtained  and 
shipped. 

Rice:  We  have  often  heard  a  preference  expressed  for  the 
rice  on  this  river.  Charleston  dealers  send  for  it,  to  clean  there 
^d  export  in  the  rough,  etc.  The  quantity  made  is  about 
200,000  bushels.  There  is  now  an  extensive  steam  mill,  besides 
sundry  water  mills,  which  enable  us  to  furnish  in  due  season 
the  whole  crop  of  this  article,  and  greatly  add  to  our  supply  of 
clean  rice  for  export  from  the  port  of  Wilmington.  The  quan- 
tity may  now  be  fairly  estimated  at  about  ten  thousand  tierces. 
In  consequence,  dealers  may  expect  less  disappointment  in  sup- 
plies and  at  fair  prices.  A  steam  mill  recently  erected  at  New 
York  has  made  demands  upon  our  rough  rice  and  takes  it  coast- 
wise. By  custom,  the  purchaser  pays  50  cents  for  each  cask 
and  8y2  cents  for  inspection.  The  casks  are  of  various  sizes, 
from  300  to  600  pounds  net.  About  the  middle  of  November 
to  the  first  of  December  we  get  the  first  new  rice  to  market. 

Flour  is  expected  to  be  fine  this  year — the  crops  of  wheat 
throughout  are  represented  as  excellent.  It  is  inspected  and 
branded  at  Fayetteville,  under  several  qualities,  and  at  present 
no  charge  of  inspection  to  the  shipper  here.  The  cross  mid- 
dling, fine  and  superfine,  are  generally  sent  down  together.  It  is 
not  always  practicable  to  procure  superfine  alone.  Quality  good. 
Inspection  improved. 

Wheat  is  brought  into  Fayetteville  by  wagons,  where  it  is 
bought,  cleaned  at  mills,  and  put  up  in  casks  of  seven  bushels 
or  bags,  and  sent  down  to  Wilmington  for  sale  or  to  ship. 

Com :  We  have  it  frequently  from  the  northern  counties  in 
this  State,  brought  round  in  vessels,  and  also  from  Maryland. 
The  demand  this  year  has  been  uniformly  good,  and  sold  at  full 


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Peace  Restored  509 

prices.  The  adjoining  counties  have  had  satisfactory  accounts — 
the  consumption  seems  to  have  increased. 

Tar  is  rafted  to  Wihnington  down  rivers  and  creeks,  and 
bought  of  the  country  people  by  the  raft,  from  20  to  300  bar- 
rels, afloat ;  after  which,  it  is  landed  on  a  wharf,  inspected  and 
coopered — the  purchaser  always  paying  inspection  of  2  cents 
per  barrel,  cooperage,  wharfage,  and  the  landing  charge;  the 
whole  expense  about  12  cents  per  barrel,  including  one  week's 
wharfage.  Our  cooperage  is  good,  and  attention  is  paid  to 
pumping,  in  order  to  clear  it  of  water  as  much  as  possible. 
January  to  May  is  the  season  when  tar  is  most  plentiful. 

Turpentine  is  seen  in  market  from  June  to  April.  We  gen- 
erally get  the  greatest  quantities  from  the  20th  of  November 
until  about  the  last  of  February.  Before  and  after  these  periods 
it  comes  in  smaller  parcels.  After  heavy  rains  and  during  high 
freshets  we  have  considerable  quantities  down  at  once;  and 
often  at  such  time  the  supply  offered  for  sale  reduces  the  price. 
Turpentine  is  rafted  and  sold  as  tar,  subject  to  inspection  and 
like  expenses.  The  buyer,  from  custom,  pays  for  the  whole 
raft,  as  landed,  including  hard  or  scrapings  as  well  as  soft ;  the 
hard,  however,  at  less  price — one-half  the  rate  paid  for  soft. 
By  custom  and  law  of  the  State,  it  is  weighed,  taking  320 
pounds  gross  as  the  barrel.  Our  barrels  are  generally  large, 
and  when  packed  overgo  that  weight.  The  usual  crop  has  been 
100,000  to  140,000  barrels.  I  will  further  add,  in  regard  to 
this  article,  that  on  inspection,  after  the  inspector  has  tried 
each  cask  at  the  bung  with  a  rod,  he  weighs  a  small  portion  of 
the  lot,  by  which  the  whole  purchase  is  averaged.  Inspection, 
3  cents  per  barrel.  The  crop  of  1843-44  is  expected  to  reach 
200,000  barrels.  The  railroad  route  delivers  a  large  propor- 
tion of  turpentine  to  market,  which  is  in  addition  to  the  raft- 
ing process.  The  several  distilleries  now  established  for  work- 
ing up  turpentine  in  the  home  market  consume  weekly  1,500 
barrels  of  the  raw  material,  and  such  distilling  has  become  a 
great  item  of  business  here.  They  produce  rosin,  spirits  tur- 
pentine, and  make  varnish  and  pitch. 

Flaxseed  is  an  article  in  regard  to  the  quantity  of  which  an 
accurate  estimate  can  not  be  formed.  The  seed  is  sown  with  no 
other  view  than  to  produce  flax  for  domestic  purposes ;  gathered 
in  quantities  and  brought  to  market  from  the  first  of  September 
to  the  fifteenth  of  January — principally  in  November  and  De- 
cember.   In  conunon,  the  quantity  received  depends  materially 


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510  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

upon  the  price.  Crops  of  former  years,  about  3,000  tierces. 
Of  the  last  season's,  the  quantity  exported  and  shipped  coast- 
wise, only  about  9  to  1,500  casks.  There  is  no  other  market  in 
the  Southern  States  where  it  is  purchased  to  any  extent.  No 
inspection. 

Lumber:  Many  kinds  and  of  a  superior  quality  are  rafted 
plentifully  to  market  during  winter  and  spring  from  water 
mills;  say,  sawed  boards,  plank  and  scantling,  of  fine  grained 
pitch  and  yellow  pine,  promiscuously  sawed,  however,  unless 
previously  contracted  for,  and  thus  sold  by  the  raft,  at  a  rate 
to  be  agreed  on,  turn  out  as  it  may ;  refuse  at  half-price,  and  is 
commonly  so  shipped  altogether.  Expenses  of  rafting  or  land- 
ing and  inspection  paid  by  the  purchaser.  Pine  timber  and 
spars  of  any  size  may  be  had  upon  previous  notice  by  contract 
with  the  coimtry  people;  and  at  a  time  when  the  waters  are 
sufficiently  up  for  rafting.  Five  well-constructed  steam  saw- 
mills are  erected  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  and  now  in  opera- 
tion, where  lumber  of  any  lengths  or  sizes  may  be  furnished, 
and  delivered  to  vessels  bright  from  the  saws.  The  quality  is 
excellent — sawed  from  square  logs  of  good  timber.  The  in- 
creasing demand  for  our  lumber,  coastwise  and  steady  calls  for 
it  throughout  the  West  Indies,  has  vastly  increased  the  trade 
and  employment  of  vessels.  Half  the  inspection  is  charged  at 
those  mills,  and  their  prices  are  uniform.  The  lumber  trade  is 
also  benefited  by  the  establishment  at  Orton,  fifteen  miles  below 
Wilmington,  of  two  excellent  sawmills,  carried  by  a  never- 
failing  water  power  from  a  pond  seven  miles  in  extent,  supply- 
ing lumber  from  square  timber  equal  to  that  of  the  steam  mills 
and  at  the  same  rates.  In  a  contract  with  those  mills,  vessels 
meet  as  good  dispatch  as  at  any  other. 

An  extensive  planing  mill  is  also  erected  at  this  place,  where 
flooring  and  all  other  descriptions  of  boards  are  supplied  for 
domestic  use  as  well  as  foreign  demand. 

Shingles  of  cypress,  22  inches  in  length,  are  plentiful  and 
often  good,  and  may  be  contracted  for  to  be  brought  of  better 
quality  and  larger  size.  Demand  the  past  season  was  good.  De- 
mand this  summer  has  been  less,  and  a  corresponding  falling  off 
in  supply — ruled  from  $1.50  to  $4  per  thousand.  Shingles  of 
jimiper,  18  inches,  may  be  had  on  timely  notice  during  the 
winter. 

Pipe  staves  are  never  made  here.  All  our  staves  are  gener- 
ally very  good.    In  the  further  progress  of  railroads  and  open- 


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Peace  Restored  511 

ing  to  the  country,  we  shall  expect  to  find  our  stave  supply 
revived. 

Main  Bar  of  Cape  Fear,  high  water  at  7  o'clock,  at  full  and 
change  of  the  moon;  depth  formerly  18  feet,  but  pilots  now  say 
only  131^  to  15  feet. 

New  Inlet  Bar,  high  water  at  7  o'clock,  at  full  and  change 
of  the  moon,  10  to  11^  feet. 

Tides  on  each  bar,  perpendicular,  5  to  6  feet. 

Flatts,  five  or  six  miles  below  Wilmington,  10  to  11%  feet. 

Pilots  generally  attend  in  time  to  conduct  vessels  in  safety; 
and  there  are  now  two  decked  boats  in  use,  besides  many  open 
boats. 

The  course  in,  over  Main  Bar,  is  much  more  direct  and  less 
difficult  than  formerly:  a  lighthouse  on  Bald  Head  Island,  as 
also  a  lighted  beacon  at  New  Inlet. 

Lighterage  comes  on  all  vessels  above  10  to  121^  feet  at  pres- 
ent, in  consequence  of  some  operations  on  the  river  below  town, 
which  were  commenced  with  a  view  to  improvement. 

Also,  between  Flatts  and  Smithville,  at  high  water,  are  shoals 
14  feet;  consequently,  vessels  that  load  deeper  than  14  feet, 
must  go  down  to  Smithville  to  complete  their  cargoes.  Thirteen 
and  a  half  to  15  feet  water  may  be  carried  out  over  Main  Bar; 
10  to  11  feet,  New  Inlet. 

Thb  Teadb  op  Wilmington,  1872. 

(Eztrmota  from  a  oommeroial  statement  made  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.) 

Taking  the  harbor  as  it  was,  and  as  it  is  confidently  expected 
by  those  who  have  studied  the  matter  it  will  be  again,  by  a 
judicious  management  of  the  government  works  now  going  on, 
and  completed,  we  have  a  capacious  harbor,  easy  of  access,  with 
winds  from  almost  any  quarter,  perfectly  land-locked,  and  the 
approaches  to  the  bar  well  protected  from  the  principal  storms 
on  our  coast,  with  good  anchorage  outside.  Lying  to  the  south- 
ward of  all  the  dangerous  capes  on  the  coast  which  would  inter- 
fere with  navigation  or  voyages  to  and  from  all  Southern,  West 
Indian,  and  South  American  ports,  as  well  as  to  Europe,  a  con- 
siderable saving  in  the  single  item  of  marine  insurance  is  made. 

By  reference  to  the  report  of  exports  hence,  it  will  be  seen 
that  we  furnish  cargoes  of  everything  required  in  the  markets 
of  the  West  Indies  and  South  America,  with  perhaps  the  single 
exception  of  flour,  which  will  soon  be  within  our  grasp.    Hence 


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512  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

we  are  enabled  to  furnish  full  cargoes  outward,  and  the  return 
voyage  with  cargoes  of  sugar,  coffee,  fruits,  molasses,  and  other 
tropical  products  would  be  laid  down  in  our  market  cheaper 
than  in  any  other  on  the  coast.  Again,  being  ^Tieadquarters" 
for  spirits  of  turpentine,  rosin,  tar,  pitch,  lumber,  timber,  etc., 
we  are  enabled  to  furnish  the  European  markets  with  these 
products  on  the  best  terms  and  to  receive  cargoes  in  return  of 
their  products  and  manufactures  laid  down  at  as  low  cost  as  in 
any  other  port. 

This  being  a  great  railroad  center,  with  one  line  extending 
southward  and  westward  through  the  Goilf  States,  with  another, 
in  course  of  completion,  extending  its  arms  almost  in  an  air  line 
to  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  and  other  cities  of 
the  great  Northwest ;  another  extending  northward  and  connect- 
ing with  lines  to  every  point  of  the  country,  Wilmington  offers 
every  facility  for  the  safe  and  rapid  distribution  of  importa- 
tions, and  for  the  return  of  the  products  of  the  whole  country 
for  exportation. 

Steam  communication  on  the  Cape  Fear  River  is  had  with 
Fayetteville,  and  by  a  comparatively  small  outlay  for  improve- 
ment of  the  navigation  of  the  upper  rivers,  which  is  in  part 
complete,  would  put  us  in  easy  reach  of  the  great  deposits  of 
iron,  coal,  and  various  other  minerals  in  which  the  valley  of 
Deep  River  abounds.  The  development  of  these  mining  inter- 
ests only  awaits  the  restoration  of  our  harbor.  Then  the  value 
of  this  port  to  the  General  Government  as  a  coaling  and  naval 
station  can  hardly  be  estimated. 

The  trade  of  this  port  is  steadily  and  constantly  increasing, 
and  as  our  harbor  improves  will  continue  to  do  so  in  more  rapid 
proportion. 

Since  the  late  War  between  the  States,  the  article  of  rice, 
which  was  at  one  time  among  our  principal  articles  of  export, 
has  almost  ceased  to  be  produced,  owing  to  the  indifferent,  hard- 
to-be-controlled  labor.  The  crop  will  not  now  exceed  10,000 
bushels,  not  enough  for  home  demand. 

The  production  of  cotton  in  this  State  has  been  very  largely 
increased,  and  although  no  accurate  figures  can  be  given,  in 
consequence  of  a  large  portion  leaving  the  State  via  the  ports 
of  Virginia  and  South  Carolina,  it  is  believed  that  the  crop 
amounts  to  at  least  200,000  bales.  At  this  port  is  handled  cot- 
ton from  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  as  well  as  our  own  State, 
and  during  the  year  1871  there  were  exported,  principally  coast- 


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Peace  Restored  513 

wise,  over  95,000  bales.  The  extension  of  the  Wilmington, 
Charlotte,  and  Rutherford  Railroad  and  its  completion  will,  it 
is  estimated,  at  least  double  our  receipts  of  the  staple. 

Spirits  of  turpentine  is  manufactured  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent in  the  city,  and  the  whole  pine  region  of  this  State  and 
South  Carolina  is  dotted  with  numerous  distilleries  worked  by 
owners  or  tenants  of  the  forests.  Most  of  the  products  find 
their  way  to  this  market. 

Exports  of  naval  stores  for  the  past  year  from  this  port  have 

been  as  follows : 

Coastwise.  Foreign, 

Spirits   turpentine,   barrels 64,862  47,162 

Rosin,  barrels    441,341  127,100 

Tar,    barrels 31,993  5,874 

Turpentine,  barrels   17,126  836 

Leaving  stocks  in  port  of  spirits  turpentine,  7,299  barrels; 
rosin,  72,166  barrels ;  tar,  2,640  barrels,  and  crude  turpentine, 
2,842  barrels. 

Pitch  is  manufactured  in  sufficient  quantity  only  to  supply 
the  demand,  and  the  reputation  of  "Wilmington  pitch"  is  ex- 
celled by  none.  .  The  manufacture  of  this  article  is  confined  to 
the  distillers  of  turpentine  in  this  city,  very  little  being  made 
in  the  coimtry. 

These  articles  alone  show  material  to  occupy  quite  a  fleet  of 
vessels.  In  this  connection  it  should  be  stated  that  no  vessel  has 
ever  been  obliged  from  choice  to  leave  this  port  in  ballast. 

The  timber  and  lumber  trade,  though  not  what  it  was  fifteen 
years  since,  has  steadily  increased  since  the  war,  and  should 
reach  and  exceed  its  former  figures.  Our  shingles  (cypress  and 
juniper  or  cedar)  have  an  established  reputation  in  the  North- 
em  and  West  India  markets,  and  may  be  had  in  quantity  to 
suit  any  demand  from  the  very  extended  and  heavily  timbered 
swamps  on  our  water  courses  and  railways.  Staves  could  be 
had  of  the  best  white  or  red  oak  to  supply  any  demand.  At 
present  they  are  called  for  almost  entirely  for  home  consump- 
tion. 

Our  principal  supplies  of  com  reach  us  by  sea  from  the 
eastern  counties;  but  our  rail  connections  with  the  West  will 
soon  throw  the  com  and  other  grain  from  that  section  into  com- 
petition. 

Peanuts  are  produced  to  considerable  extent  in  the  surround- 
ing country  and  form  quite  a  feature  in  our  domestic  exports. 

33 


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514  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  crop  of  1870-71  amounted  to  about  100,000  bushels,  of  an 
aggregate  value  of  $200,000.  The  crop  this  year  is  largely  in 
excess. 

Among  the  manufactures  of  interest  and  value  should  be 
mentioned  cane  fibre,  by  a  patented  process  from  the  swamp 
cane,  with  which  our  swamps  abound,  and  which  is  reproduced 
in  three  years  after  cutting  and  of  a  quality  superior  to  the 
original  growth.  The  prepared  fibre  is  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  paper  and  papier-mache  goods. 

Barrel  shooks  are  manufactured  to  a  great  extent  and  shipped 
to  Northern  markets  for  the  reception  of  syrups  from  sugar 
manufactories. 

Fuel  for  manufacturing  purposes  is  very  cheap,  and  princi- 
pally of  the  surplus  sawdust  and  shavings  from  steam  saw  and 
planing  mills,  which  may  be  had  for  the  asking.  Pine  wood  is 
in  abundance  at  low  prices. 

Banking  facilities  are  by  no  means  sufficient  to  meet  the  de- 
mands of  trade;  but  as  our  people  recuperate  more  steadily 
from  the  disastrous  effects  of  their  late  struggle,  this  want  is 
being  supplied. 

In  the  present  condition  of  our  bar  and  river,  vessels  drawing 
over  12  to  12%  feet  require  to  be  lightered  to  and  from  a  point 
outside  the  Rip,  whence  they  can  always  sail  with  151^  to  16 
feet.  Our  harbor  restored,  we  confidently  expect  to  find  at 
least  20  feet  at  mean  low  tide  on  the  bar  (with  a  rise  of  tide  4 
to  5  feet),  and  the  removal  of  obstructions  in  the  river  will  give 
us  ample  water  for  our  docks. 


CUBAN  MAN-OF-WAR  INCIDENT. 

Early  in  October,  1869,  a  remarkable  incident  occurred  in 
Cape  Fear  waters  which  drew  the  attention  of  the  civilized 
world  upon  the  port  of  Wilmington.  Cuba  was  in  a  state  of  in- 
surrection against  the  Spanish  Government  and,  although  there 
was  no  established  seat  of  government,  the  Cubans  proclaimed 
a  republic.  Neither  the  United  States  nor  any  foreign  power, 
except  some  South  American  States,  had  recognized  the  Cuban 
Republic  or  accorded  the  rights  of  belligerents. 

Therefore,  when  the  Cuban  man-of-war  Cvha,  alias  Hornet, 
alias  Lady  Stirling,  alias  Prince  Albert,  for  she  had  assumed 
all  of  these  names  in  order  to  escape  detection  at  sea,  arrived 


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Peace  Restored  515 

on  a  quiet  Sunday  morning  in  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  she  made 
quite  a  sensation,  which  was  increased  when  two  of  her  officers 
appeared  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Wihnington  and 
called  from  his  devotions,  in  front  of  this  writer,  the  late  Mr. 
David  G.  Worth,  the  only  dealer  in  coal  in  the  town  at  that 
time,  with  a  request  that  he  deliver  at  once  a  supply  of  coal  for 
the  Cuban  man-of-war.  The  requisition  upon  the  straight-laced 
Presbyterian  was  promptly  rejected,  much  to  the  disgust  and 
dismay  of  the  applicants,  who  were  told  that  he  did  not  sell  nor 
deliver  coal  on  Sunday.  Meantime,  the  Washington  Govern- 
ment was  informed  by  wire  that  the  Cuba,  a  propeller  of  1,800 
tons  register,  with  two  smokestacks,  two  masts,  brig-rigged, 
pierced  for  18  guns,  two  of  which  were  pivots  of  very  heavy 
caliber,  with  a  strange  flag,  commanded  by  Captain  Higgins, 
with  300  men  and  30  officers,  was  waiting  in  the  port  of  Wil- 
mington for  needed  supplies  with  which  to  prey  upon  Spanish 
commerce. 

Prompt  action  followed  this  news.  The  United  States  gun- 
boat Frolic  (formerly  the  North  Carolina  blockade  runner  Ad- 
vance) and  two  other  war  vessels  were  dispatched  to  the  Cape 
Fear  to  intercept  the  stranger,  and  the  Federal  Court  subse- 
quently seized  and  disarmed  her. 


BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  OF  NAVIGATION 
AND  PILOTAGE. 

To  the  efforts  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Navigation 
and  Pilotage,  with  the  cooperation  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  with  the  aid  of  our  representatives  in  Congress,  are 
largely  due  the  development  of  the  river  and  harbor  improve- 
ment, the  marking  of  the  river  and  bar  channels,  the  building 
and  establishment  of  the  new  lightship  on  Knuckle  Shoal — ^the 
finest  lightship  in  the  service  of  the  United  States — ^the  impor- 
tant aid  to  river  navigation  in  the  thirty-one  powerful  new 
lights  (for  which  the  board  obtained,  through  great  persever- 
ance, an  appropriation  from  Congress),  the  construction  of  the 
best  pilot  service  on  the  coast,  the  systematic  monthly  soundings 
of  the  bar  by  competent  pilots,  the  quarterly  charted  sound- 
ings of  the  bar  and  river  (which  are  posted  in  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce),  the  reduction  of  bar  and  river  casualties  until  they 


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516  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

are  almost  unknown,  the  Tninimizing  of  the  rates  of  marine  in- 
surance, and  the  establishment  by  subscription  of  a  fund  for  the 
benefit  of  the  widows  and  children  of  deceased  pilots  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River  and  Bar,  amounting  now  to  about  $6,000  and 
which  it  is  the  ambition  of  the  chairman  to  raise  to  $20,000. 

These  are  some  of  the  things  which  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners of  Xavigation  and  Pilotage  has  done  for  Wilmington; 
and  all  of  this  work,  and  much  more,  has  been  done  without 
emolument  or  reward,  beyond  the  satisfaction  of  serving  well 
the  port  of  Wilmington  and  the  Conunonwealth  of  North  Caro- 
lina. The  aim  of  the  board  has  always  been  to  build  up,  and  in 
this  constructive  work  it  has  received  the  constant  support  and 
cooperation  of  practically  all  the  working  pilots. 

The  board  consists  of  four  commissioners  residing  in  Wil- 
mington and  one  residing  in  Southport,  all  being  appointed 
every  four  years  by  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina.  This  is 
the  oldest  conunercial  organization  in  the  State,  having  been 
established  more  than  eighty  years  ago,  and  it  has  always  been 
composed  of  reputable,  experienced  men,  familiar  with  mari- 
time affairs  pertaining  to  the  port  of  Wilmington  and  to  the 
Cape  Fear  River  and  Bar. 

The  commissioners  have  authority  in  all  matters  appertain- 
ing to  the  navigation  of  the  Cape  Fear  waters  from  seven  miles 
above  Negrohead  Point  downward  and  across  the  bar.  They 
license  and  control  the  pilots,  and  have  authority  to  make  regu- 
lations, and  to  impose  reasonable  fines,  forfeitures,  and  penal- 
ties for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  their  rules  and  regulations. 
They  elect  the  harbor  master  and  port  wardens. 

The  board  meets  for  the  transaction  of  routine  business  at  11 
o'clock  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  every  month,  and  the  chair- 
man calls  special  meetings  in  cases  of  urgency  for  official  action. 

Bar  pilotage  is  compulsory  and,  although  river  pilotage  is 
optional,  the  services  of  a  river  pilot  are  employed  in  nearly 
all  cases. 

CAPE  FEAR  AIDS  TO  NAVIGATION. 

The  aids  to  the  navigation  of  the  Cape  Fear,  which  are 
effective  in  the  steady  expansion  of  our  conunerce,  are  largely 
due  to  the  watchful  care  and  cordial  cooperation  of  our  Com- 
missioners of  Navigation  and  Pilotage  and  to  our  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  supported  by  our  representatives  in  Congress,  and  I 


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Peace  Restored  517 

may  add  that  they  are  more  particularly  due  to  the  untiring  de- 
votion of  our  junior  senator,  Lee  S.  Overman,  whose  powerful 
personality  has  repeatedly  prevailed  in  the  securing  of  special 
appropriations  when  other  means  which  had  been  employed 
failed  to  interest  the  department  officials  at  Washington. 

Our  acknowledgments  are  specially  due  Senator  Overman  for 
his  excellent  service  to  Wilmington  in  procuring  the  greatly  im- 
proved river  lights,  and  the  new  lightship  Number  94,  on  Fry- 
ing Pan  Shoals,  after  our  former  light  vessel  had  been  arbitra- 
rily removed,  and  in  safeguarding  by  special  act  of  Congress  this 
most  important  aid  from  a  second  removal  to  a  much  less  im- 
portant position  to  us,  thirty  miles  at  sea.  He  has  proven  the 
adage,  "A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed." 

A  prominent  master  mariner  has  well  said:  "If  we  want  to 
mark  a  dangerous  hole  in  the  public  highway,  we  do  not  place  a 
lantern  on  the  next  block  away  from  the  danger,  but  we  put  a 
light  on  the  spot  where  the  danger  lies."  Therefore,  why  should 
we  permit  the  removal  of  our  lightship  from  the  Frying  Pan 
Shoals,  on  which  it  has  been  moored  as  a  beacon  for  half  a 
century,  to  a  point  thirty  miles  at  sea  for  the  benefit  of  coast- 
wise traffic  which  does  not  come  to  Wilmington  at  all?  With 
the  lightship  ahead,  the  careful  mariner  makes  the  port  in 
safety;  with  the  lightship  invisible  behind  him,  he  gropes  in 
darkness  and  in  danger  of  disaster. 

Comparatively  few  of  the  citizens  of  our  commercial  com- 
munity are  interested  in  the  detail  work  of  the  Department  of 
Commerce  at  Washington,  or  in  its  Lighthouse  Service,  so  im- 
portant to  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  and  do  business 
upon  its  great  waters.  This  is  probably  due  chiefly  to  the  tech- 
nical nature  of  the  information  r^ularly  published  and  easily 
obtained  from  the  obliging  inspector  of  tiie  Sixth  District,  who 
has  given  me  the  following  comprehensive  review  of  the  aids  to 
navigation  along  our  dangerous  coast  and  up  the  Cape  Fear 
Eiver  to  the  port  of  Wilmington. 

With  general  depths  of  7  to  14  feet.  Frying  Pan  Shoals  ex- 
tend in  an  unbroken  line  10  miles  south-southeastward  from 
Cape  Fear;  for  a  distance  of  5^/^  miles  farther  in  the  same 
direction  the  shoals  are  broken,  the  depth  over  them  ranging 
from  10  to  24  feet.  Frying  Pan  Shoals  light  vessel  is  moored 
off  the  end  of  this  part  of  the  shoals,  and  a  red  whistling  buoy 
is  moored  off  the  western  side  of  the  shoals,  nearly  8%  miles 
northwestward  of  the  light  vessel. 


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618  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

Broken  ground  with  depths  of  6  to  7  fathoms  extends  7  miles 
eastward  and  12  miles  east-southeastward  from  the  light  ves- 
sel ;  the  least  depth  is  3%  fathoms,  and  lies  9  miles,  99  degrees 
true  E.  by  S.  of  the  light  vessel.  The  outer  end  of  the  shoals 
is  marked  by  a  gas-and-bell  buoy  (flashing  white  light),  which 
lies  12  miles,  118  d^rees  true  SE.  by  E.  1/4  E.  of  Frying 
Pan  Shoals  light  vessel.  Large,  deep-draft  vessels  generally 
pass  southward  of  the  gas-and-bell  buoy. 

Light  vessel  Number  9^  was  built  for  the  station  on  Frying 
Pan  Shoals  in  the  Sixth  Lighthouse  District.  The  vessel  is  135 
feet  9  inches  over  all,  with  a  beam  of  29  feet  and  a  draft  of  12 
feet  9  inches ;  the  displacement  at  this  draft  is  660  tons.  The 
hull  is  built  of  mild  steel,  with  two  wooden  deck-houses  on  the 
spar  deck  serving  the  purpose  of  pilot-house  and  bridge-and- 
radio  house.  One  steel  lantern  mast,  of  diameter  sufficient  to 
contain  a  ladder  giving  access  to  the  lantern,  and  a  wooden 
mainmast,  carrying  a  fore-and-aft  sail,  are  fitted. 

The  signal  light  is  carried  on  the  lantern  mast.  It  consists 
of  an  incandescent  oil-vapor  light  mounted  in  a  lens  of  the 
fourth  order,  and  gives  a  light  of  2,900  candlepower. 

The  fog-signal  apparatus  consists  of  a  12-inch  deep-toned 
chime  whistle  connected  to  the  main  boilers.  Steam  is  supplied 
through  a  reducing  valve,  and  a  specially  designed  vertical 
engine  is  arranged  to  cut  off  steam  to  the  whistle  so  as  to  give 
the  characteristic :  Blast,  5  seconds ;  silent,  55  seconds.  A  sub- 
marine bell,  actuated  by  compressed  air,  strikes  one  stroke  every 
3  seconds. 

This  vessel  was  equipped  with  radio  outfit  before  being  placed 
on  the  station,  so  that  its  effective  date  would  be  coincident 
with  the  establishment  of  the  vessel.  This  installation  has  an 
effective  radius  of  about  200  miles,  and  besides  being  of  great 
value  to  passing  vessels,  it  is  of  great  aid  to  the  Lighthouse 
Service  in  keeping  the  vessel  to  the  highest  state  of  efficiency 
as  an  aid. 

The  propelling  machinery  consists  of  one  vertical,  direct- 
action,  surface-condensing,  fore-and-aft  compound  engine,  hav- 
ing cylinders  16  and  31  inches  in  diameter  by  24  inches  stroke, 
driving  a  cast-steel  propeller  8  feet  in  diameter  by  ten-foot 
pitch,  and  supplied  by  steam  under  a  pressure  of  110  pounds 
per  square  inch  of  heating  surface.  The  machinery  and  boilers 
are  located  amidship.  The  vessel  is  fitted  throughout  with  all 
modem  appliances,  including  steam  windlass,  sanitary  plumb- 


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Peace  Restored  519 

ing  and  fixtures,  and  drainage  system,  but  has  no  electric-light- 
ing system. 

The  complement  of  this  vessel  is  four  officers  and  ten  men. 
The  officers'  quarters,  mess-room,  pantry,  and  bathroom  are 
located  as  far  as  practicable  on  the  main  deck.  Quarters  for 
the  crew,  including  the  galley,  are  located  on  the  main  deck  just 
forward  of  the  boilers  and  machinery.  The  oil-room  and  stores 
are  located  on  the  lower  deck  and  in  the  hold  forward  and  aft. 
The  hull  is  yellow,  with  "Frying  Pan"  in  large  black  letters  on 
each  side.  This  vessel  was  constructed  under  the  Act  of  May 
27,  1908,  appropriating  $115,000.  The  vessel  was  built  under 
contract  at  Muskegon,  Michigan,  and  the  cost  was  $104,080.37. 
Construction  was  commenced  on  May  28,  1909,  and  was  com- 
pleted and  the  vessel  delivered  to  the  government  on  June  13, 
1911.  On  November  15,  1911,  the  light  vessel  was  placed  on 
the  station  in  the  Sixth  Lighthouse  District. 

The  cape  is  a  low,  sharp  point  of  sand  beach  forming  the 
southern  extremity  of  Smith's  Island.  The  island,  lying  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  entrance  to  Cape  Fear  Kiver,  is  mostly  low 
and  marshy,  but  has  a  thick  growth  of  trees  on  its  western  side. 
Near  the  southern  end  of  the  island  is  Cape  Fear  Lighthouse, 
which  will  usually  be  the  first  object  seen  in  approaching  the 
cape. 

The  lighthouse  on  the  cape  is  a  white,  iron,  skeleton  tower, 
upper  part  black.  The  light  is  flashing  white  (light  2.3,  eclipse 
7.7  seconds),  159  feet  above  the  water,  and  visible  19  miles. 
The  light  is  incandescent  oil  vapor,  using  a  mantle  2^4  inches 
in  diameter,  and  the  intensity  of  the  flash  through  the  lens, 
which  is  six  feet  in  diameter,  is  160,000  candles.  This  light 
was  built  in  1903,  and  is,  with  one  exception,  the  newest  and 
most  modern  first-class  lighthouse  in  the  district. 

On  the  west  side  of  Smith's  Island,  east  side  of  the  entrance 
to  the  Cape  Fear  Kiver,  is  Bald  Head  Lighthouse.  The  struc- 
ture is  a  white,  octagonal,  pyramidal  tower.  The  light  is  flash- 
ing white,  with  a  dark  sector  between  220  degrees  and  308  de- 
grees, 99  feet  above  the  water,  and  visible  16  miles.  This  light 
has  recently  been  converted  from  an  oil  light  with  a  keeper 
to  an  unwatched  gaslight,  and  now  forms  a  part  of  the  system 
described  below. 

Cape  Fear  Kiver  has  a  total  length  of  above  371  miles,  and 
empties  into  the  sea  immediately  west  of  Cape  Fear.  It  is  the 
approach  of  the  city  of  Wilmington,  which  is  27  miles  above  its 


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Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


mouth.  Frying  Pan  Shoals  light  vessel,  Cape  Fear  Light- 
house, and  Bald  Head  Lighthouse  are  the  principal  guides  for 
the  approach. 

The  entrance  of  the  river  is  obstructed  by  a  bar  which  ex- 
tends about  two  miles  off-shore.  The  channel  is  under  improve- 
ment to  secure  a  depth  of  26  feet  from  the  sea  to  Wilmington, 
with  a  width  of  400  feet  across  the  bar,  300  feet  in  the  river, 
and  an  increased  width  at  the  bends.  In  June,  1912,  the  full 
depth  had  been  obtained,  but  not  the  full  width  in  places.  The 
channel  is  well  marked  by  range  lights  and  buoys,  and  with 
the  aid  of  a  chart  it  could  not  be  difficult  for  a  stranger  of  16- 
feet  draft  to  navigate  it  on  a  rising  tide. 

Caps  Fbab  Rivbb  Lights. 

These  aids  consist  of  thirty-three  lights  marking  the  dredged 
channels  of  the  Cape  Fear  River.  They  replace  twenty-nine 
lights,  mostly  of  the  oil-burning  post-lantern  type,  on  old  wooden 
structures,  and  not  properly  placed  to  mark  the  new  channels. 
Ten  of  the  new  lighted  beacons  were  established  December  1, 
1912,  and  the  remainder  November  15,  1913. 

The  aids  extend  along  the  Cape  Fear  River  from  the  entrance 
to  Wilmington,  a  distance  of  about  twenty-nine  miles.  The 
sites  are  (except  in  three  cases)  submarine,  the  depth  of  water 
averaging  six  feet.  The  bottom  is  hard  sand,  underlaid  in  a 
few  cases  with  rock. 

The  substructures  built  on  marine  sites  (thirty  in  all)  con- 
sist each  of  four  reinforced  concrete  piles  and  connecting 
beams.  These  are  surmounted  by  skeleton  towers  of  galvanized 
iron  pipe,  carrying  slatted  wooden  daymarks.  Towers  for  rear 
range  lights  are  thirty  feet  high  and  for  front  lights  and  others 
ten  feet  high. 

A  variety  of  illimiinating  apparatus  has  been  installed,  as 
follows : 


No. 

Apparatus 

niuminant 

Charaoteiistio 

16 

Reflector 

Range  lens 

4th  Order  lens 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

300  mm.  lens  lantemf 

oa 

Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Oil 

Fixed 

Flashing  every  second 

Occulting  every  2  seconds 

Flashing  every  second 

Flashing  every  3  seconds 

Occulting  every  2  seconds 

Fixed 

3,100 
3.000 
830 
200 
200 
200 
170 

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Peace  Restored  521 

In  general,  acetylene  is  used  as  the  illuminant,  where  possible, 
for  a  distance  of  about  twenty  miles  from  the  entrance,  and  oil 
from  there  to  Wilmington.  All  acetylene  lights  are  white,  rear 
lights  being  occulting  every  two  seconds  and  front  lights  flash- 
ing every  second.  All  oil  lights  are  fixed,  rear  lights  white, 
and  front  lights  red. 

Eight  of  the  white  range  lights  which  could  be  suitably  located 
abreast  of  turns  in  the  channel  are  provided  with  red  sectors  of 
30  degrees  covering  these  turns. 

There  have  been  no  quarters  provided,  all  lights  being  un- 
watched.  The  change  of  illuminant  in  Bald  Head  Light, 
which  constitutes  a  unit  of  this  system,  makes  quarters  no  longer 
necessary  in  connection  therewith.  The  entire  group  of  lights 
is  cared  for  by  two  post  light  keepers,  one  resident  near  South- 
port,  close  to  the  entrance,  having  charge  of  three  oil  and  sixteen 
gas  lights,  and  one  at  Wilmington,  at  the  other  end  of  the 
group  of  lights,  having  charge  of  fourteen  oil  lights.  All  gas 
lights  are  so  located  that  gas  tanks  can  be  landed  from  a  launch 
directly  upon  the  structure,  except  at  Bald  Head  Light. 

These  improvements  in  the  lighting  of  the  Cape  Fear  Kiver 
are  being  made  under  the  Act  of  March  4,  1911,  appropriating 
$21,000,  and  the  Act  of  August  26,  1912,  appropriating 
$30,000  additional.  The  total  expenditures  and  obligations  for 
the  thirty-three  lights  to  September  30,  1913,  is  $50,076.30, 
with  a  probable  further  expenditure  of  $500  for  one  additional 
light,  and  $300  for  clearing  timber  which  partially  obstructs 
one  range  line. 

Other  aids  supplementing  the  lighting  aids  mentioned  above 
are.  Frying  Pan  Shoals  Whistling  Buoy,  westward  of  the  outer 
end  of  the  shoals ;  Cape  Fear  Entrance  Whistling  Buoy,^  about 
two  and  one-half  miles  off  the  bar;  Cape  Fear  Entrance  Bell 
Buoy,  at  the  entrance  to  dredged  channels,  and  thirty-three  iron 
buoys  and  five  beacons  marking  turns  and  other  critical  points 
in  the  dredged  channels  in  the  river.  Two  other  iron  buoys 
mark  the  quarantine  anchorage,  and  one  marks  a  wreck  on  the 
middle  ground  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

iNotice  to  mariners: 

*'0n  November  2,  1915,  Cape  Fear  River  Entrance  Oas-and-Whistle 
Buoy  CF,  painted  in  perpendicular  stripes,  was  established  in  6% 
fathoms  of  water,  in  place  of  Cape  Fear  River  Entrance  Whistle  Buoy 
CF,  which  was  discontinued.  The  gas-and-whistle  buoy  is  cylindrical, 
with  skeleton  superstructure,  and  shows  a  flashing  white  light  of  390 
candlepower  every  three  seconds,  thus,  0.3  seconds;  eclipse  2.7  seconds, 
16  feet  above  the  water." 


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622  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


GENERAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE   COAST. 

Between  Cape  Hatteras  and  Charleston,  three  dangerous 
shoals  extend  seaward  at  right  angles  to  the  coast,  namely, 
Diamond  Shoals,  Lookout  Shoals,  and  Frying  Pan  Shoals. 
These  shoals  reach  out  from  the  shoreline  to  an  average  distance 
of  twenty  miles,  and  have  an  average  width  of  1.5  miles.  A 
fourth  shoal  exists  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Romain,  but  of  less 
extent  and  of  less  dangerous  character  than  any  of  those  just 
mentioned. 

The  prevailing  winds  on  the  North  Carolina  coast  are  from 
the  northeast  aroimd  to  southeast  and  southwest.  The  attend- 
ant currents  generally  set  directly  on  the  three  great  shoals  be- 
tween Hatteras  and  Cape  Fear,  and  it  is  in  the  vicinity  of  these 
shoals  that  practically  all  the  maritime  disasters  on  the  coast 
of  the  Carolinas  occur. 

The  treacherous  currents  along  this  stretch  of  coast  are 
largely  responsible  for  the  sweeping  of  vessels  upon  the  shoals. 
From  Cape  Lookout  Bight  to  Frying  Pan  lightship,  Capt.  G. 
L.  Garden,  conamanding  the  Seminole,  has  usually  found  it 
necessary  to  allow  for  at  least  five  miles  westerly  set  of  current 
on  a  run  of  eighty-nine  miles.  Below  Frying  Pan,  there  is 
also  a  strong  set  into  the  bight,  and  this  is  especially  noticeable 
in  the  run  from  Cape  Fear  Bar  to  the  entrance  of  Winyah 
Bay. 

According  to  Captain  Garden,  there  is  a  safe  rule  for  all 
navigators  to  follow  on  this  station ;  that  is,  never  get  inside  of 
ten  fathoms,  unless  sure  of  one's  position.  The  ten-fathom 
curve  will  carry  one  clear  of  all  the  great  shoals  from  Hatteras 
to  Romain.  The  same  raainent  authority  said  to  the  writer: 
"A  stranger  approaching  this  section  of  the  coast  will,  on  find- 
ing himself  in  thick  weather  inside  of  ten  fathoms,  do  well  to 
let  go  an  anchor  at  once.'' 

The  end  of  Frying  Pan  Shoals  is  marked  by  our  lightship, 
Number  9Jf,  and  the  present  position  of  this  craft  is  most  ad- 
vantageous to  vessels  making  for  the  Cape  Fear  Bar.  It  is  a 
fact  that  Gape  Fear  Light  is  not  seen  from  the  extreme  end  of 
Frying  Pan  Shoals,  and  it  is  the  end  of  the  spit  which  masters 
of  ships  are  so  anxious  to  determine.  A  gas  buoy,  12  miles 
SE.  by  E.  l^  E.  off  Frying  Pan  lightship,  marks  the  end  of 
the  broken  ground.    This  gas  buoy  is  a  favorite  mark  for  coast- 


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Pedce  Restored  523 

ing  vessels,  and  is  also  available  for  ships  coining  in  from  sea- 
ward, but  before  shaping  into  the  Cape  Fear,  safe  navigation 
demands  that  one  should  find  the  end  of  Frying  Pan,  and  it  is 
this  useful  function  which  the  present  lightship  serves.  From 
the  Frying  Pan  lightship,  two  courses  only  are  necessary,  one 
to  clear  the  Knuckle  Buoy,  and  a  second  course  direct  to  the 
Whistling  Sea  Buoy.  Then  from  the  sea  buoy  one  has  only 
to  run  right  down  to  the  bell  buoy  marking  the  commence- 
ment of  the  bar.  Nowadays,  crossing  the  Cape  Fear  Bar  is  a 
very  different  matter  from  what  it  was  under  the  ten  to  twelve 
feet  conditions  of  blockade-running  days,  when  there  were  no 
lights,  nor  buoys,  nor  any  guide  save  the  lead,  the  line  of  break- 
ers, and  possibly  an  outline  of  shore. 

Wilmington's  approach  from  the  sea  is  a  magnificent  thor- 
oughfare, both  across  the  two  miles  of  bar  and  the  twe^ty-8even 
miles  of  river  stretch  inland.  The  channel  across  the  bar  is 
well  lighted  and  furnished  with  buoys.  The  prevailing  winds 
being  from  northward  to  northeast,  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals 
and  Cape  Fear  Spit  protect  the  bar  entrance  during  the  major 
part  of  bad  weather,  making  it  a  better  entrance  than  the  for- 
mer New  Inlet  Channel,  which  led  past  Fort  Fisher. 

To  maintain  the  magnificent  thoroughfare  of  two  miles  of 
Cape  Fear  Bar,  it  is  necessary  for  the  engineers  directing  the 
river  and  harbor  improvement  to  keep  a  suction  dredge  con- 
stantly employed  upon  the  bar,  as  the  currents  are  continually 
sweeping  Ae  sandy  bottom  into  the  ship  channel,  thereby  en- 
dangering navigation,  but  as  long  as  continued  appropriations 
are  available  for  this  important  aid,  the  work  can  be  done 
effectively. 

A  project  for  the  permanent  maintenance  of  deep  water  by 
stone  jetties,  similar  to  those  employed  on  Charleston  Bar,  has 
been  discussed  by  our  local  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Naviga- 
tion and  Pilotage,  and  the  matter  has  been  taken  up  with  the 
United  States  Corps  of  Engineers. 

The  Frying  Pan  Shoals  must  be  rounded  before  a  vessel  can 
stand  to  the  northward.  The  depth  along  the  Frying  Pan  Spit 
varies  from  7  to  14  feet,  and  the  shoals  extend  in  an  unbroken 
line  10  miles  south-southeast  from  Cape  Fear.  Following  the 
same  general  direction  of  the  primal  shoal  are  numerous  patches 
running  out  for  a  distance  of  51/2  miles  farther.  The  depth 
over  these  patches  varies  from  10  to  24  feet.  It  is  just  beyond 
these  patches  that  the  Frying  Pan  lightship  is  anchored,  and 


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524  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

by  keeping  to  seaward  of  the  Frying  Pan  lightship,  there  will 
be  no  depth  of  water  encountered  less  than  3%  fathoms;  and 
the  patches  can  be  avoided  by  deep-draft  ships  by  shaping  a 
course  which  will  carry  them  to  the  southward  and  eastward 
of  Frying  Pan  lightship  until  the  position  of  the  present  lighted 
bell  buoy  is  reached.  The  3%  fathom  patch  referred  to  above 
lies  9  miles  east  by  south  (mag.)  of  the  Frying  Pan  lightship. 
For  deep-draft  vessels  the  practice  in  running  the  coast  is  to 
pass  outside  the  gas  buoy,  but  the  practice  on  the  Seminole, 
when  coming  from  the  northward,  is  to  shape  strai^t  to  the 
Frying  Pan  lightship,  making  allowance  for  fully  five  miles 
inset  of  current  on  a  ninety-mile  course. 

In  general  terms,  a  stranger  approaching  the  coast  between 
Hatteras  and  Frying  Pan  can  determine  his  position  by  re- 
course to  the  lead.  The  depths  are  very  regular,  and  from  4 
to  6  fathoms  can  be  taken  to  within  one  mile  of  the  beach. 
The  ten-fathom  curve  follows  the  curve  of  the  coast  at  an  aver- 
age distance  of  eight  miles  from  the  shore  until  in  the  vicinity 
of  Cape  Fear,  and  there  it  bends  around  Frying  Pan. 

There  is  a  mighty  carrying  trade  from  north  to  south  past 
these  dangerous  shoals.  Practically  all  steam  craft  to  and 
from  the  Gulf  follow  the  coast,  and  this  trade  promises  to  be 
greatly  augmented  since  the  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal. 

The  Seminole  keeps  eyes  and  ears  open  on  that  part  of  this 
great  thoroughfare  which  has  been  assigned  to  her,  and  night 
and  day  trained  wireless  operators  are  listening  for  a  calL  At 
the  first  call  for  help  the  cutter  must  start,  and  to  be  pre- 
pared for  emergency  call  at  any  hour,  and  for  any  stage  of 
weather,  demands  the  constant  attention  of  officers  and  crew. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Seminole  are  at  Wilmington,  where 
the  Revenue-Cutter  Service  possesses  its  own  wharf  and  store- 
houses, and  at  this  port  the  cutter  is  provisioned  after  each 
cruise.  The  officers  of  the  Seminole  during  the  year  1912-13 
were: 

Captain  Godfrey  L.  Garden,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

First  Lieutenant  L.  C.  Covell,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

Second  Lieutenant  L.  T.  Chalker,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

Third  Lieutenant  T.  S.  Kllnger,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

Third  Lieutenant  C.  H.  Abel,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

First  Lieutenant  Engineers  R.  B.  Adams,  U.  S.  R  C.  S. 

Second  Lieutenant  Engineers  W.  P.  Prall,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

Third  Lieutenant  Engineers  C.  C.  Sugden,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 


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Peace  Restored  525 

The  wireless  has  contributed  wonderfully  to  the  effective- 
ness of  the  patrol.  The  Seminole  has  picked  up  messages  at 
the  first  call  from  distressed  craft,  and  long  after  the  cutter 
had  started  confirmations  were  being  received  via  official 
sources  from  land.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  ordinarily 
the  Seminole  will  pick  up  any  distress  call  from  a  modem 
wireless  installation  which  may  be  sent  out  on  'her  station. 
What  the  Seminole  may  miss  will  in  all  probability  be  picked 
up  by  either  one  of  the  United  States  powerful  wireless  stations 
at  Beaufort  or  Charleston,  and  the  Seminole  is  always  in  touch 
with  one  or  the  other  of  these  two  stations. 


UNITED  STATES  KEVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE.^ 

-  An  important  arm  of  great  reach  and  efficiency  is  the  admir- 
able Revenue-Cutter  Service  on  this  station.  At  no  time  in 
its  history  has  this  service  been  more  effective  in  life-saving 
and  in  the  rescue  of  imperiled  ships  from  imminent  destruction 
than  during  the  past  five  years.  Within  the  writer's  memory 
more  than  a  hundred  vessels  have  been  totally  lost  on  or  near 
Cape  Fear  and  many  brave  seamen  went  down  with  them ;  but 
such  is  the  equipment  and  efficiency  of  the  cutter  Seminole  and 
the  professional  skill  and  daring  of  her  commander,  his  well- 
tried  officers  and  men,  that  valuable  ships  and  crews,  given  up 
for  lost  in  the  terrific  winter  gales  of  our  dangerous  coast,  have 
been  drawn  out  of  the  teeth  of  the  destructive  elements  and 
restored  to  usefulness,  and  this  without  reward  or  the  hope  of 
reward  beyond  the  consciousness  of  duty  done. 

Repeated  recognitions  of  rescue  work  have  been  made  by 
Lloyd's  and  other  important  underwriters,  and  two  services  of 
silver  plate  have  been  presented  to  the  commander  and  officers 
of  the  Seminole,  and  quite  recently,  with  the  approval  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  a  gymnasium  has  been  presented, 
by  friends  of  this  valuable  service,  to  the  crew  of  that  vessel 
as  a  mark  of  appreciation  by  shipowners  and  imderwriters  and 
as  a  reward  of  distinguished  merit. 

The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained  by  the  fine  fellows  who 

iln  January,  1915,  the  United  States  Congress  passed  an  act  creating 
the  Coast  Quard  by  combining  the  Revenue-Cutter  Service  and  the 
Life-Saving  Service,  and  all  duties  previously  performed  by  the  two 
latter  services  are  now  performed  by  the  former,  with  equipment,  offi- 
cers, and  administration  suited  to  the  combined  activities  of  the  two. 


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626  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

respond  so  quickly  and  eagerly  to  the  S.O.S.  wireless  call  for 
help.  An  unwritten  law  compels  them  to  succor  a  fellow  sea- 
man in  distress  even  at  the  risk  of  their  own  destruction,  and  it 
stirs  the  blood  of  all  humanity  to  read  of  ships  like  the  Semir 
nole,  tossed  upon  a  raging  sea,  yet  standing  by  a  sinking  ship 
imtil  every  man  is  rescued  from  the  jaws  of  death. 

During  the  past  decade  the  President  of  the  United  States 
has  annually  designated  vessels  of  the  Revenue-Cutter  Service 
to  patrol  actively  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  winter  months 
for  the  purpose  of  rendering  aid  to  distressed  merchant  craft. 
The  patrol  extends  from  Maine  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  has 
numbered  as  many  as  ten  cutters.  From  the  first  day  of  De- 
cember of  each  year  to  the  first  day  of  April  following,  the 
patrolling  force  is  constantly  cruising. 

The  littoral  lying  between  Cape  Hatteras  and  Charleston  has 
for  several  years  constituted  the  station  of  the  revenue-cutter 
Seminole.  Measured  between  lightships,  or  over  the  course 
usually  followed  by  coasting  steamers,  the  distance  between  the 
northern  and  southern  extremities  of  this  station  is  270  nauti- 
cal miles.  This  stretch  of  coast  during  the  winter  months  is 
noted  for  the  disasters  which  occur  to  shipping.  The  Seminole's 
record  for  the  winter  season  of  1912-13  is  typical.  During  the 
four  months  from  December  1,  1912,  to  April  1,  1913,  the 
cutter  assisted,  in  all,  nine  craft,  comprising  both  steamers  and 
sailing  vessels,  and  representing  a  value  of  floating  property  of 
$993,000,  a  cargo  value  of  $573,000,  or  a  total  vessel-and- 
cargo  valuation  of  $1,566,000.  A  tenth  vessel,  the  Savannah, 
a  dangerous  derelict,  was  destroyed  with  a  mine. 

About  six  weeks  before  a  recent  season's  winter  cruising  com- 
menced, the  Seminole  made  a  run  of  over  100  miles  in  a  north- 
east gale  to  the  burning  steamship  Berkshire,  of  the  Merchants 
and  Miner's  Line,  took  off  the  passengers,  put  out  the  fire,  and 
saved  both  vessel  and  cargo  from  total  loss — representing  for 
cargo  and  vessel  fully  $500,000. 

It  may  be  asked  why  private  wrecking  craft  are  not  available 
to  render  some  of  the  service  performed  by  the  cutters.  The 
fact  is  that  they  are  not  in  evidence.  Nor  can  private  enter- 
prise hope  to  cope  with  a  government  service  in  which  there 
is  high  esprit  de  corps  such  as  characterizes  the  Revenue-Cutter 
Service.  Risks  and  hazards  are  cheerfully  assumed  by  the 
Revenue-Cutter  Service,  the  sole  object  to  be  attained  being 
relief  for  the  distressed  and  the  performance  of  duty. 


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Peace  Restored  527 


CAPE  FEAE  LIFE-SAVING  SEKVICE.i 

A  public  service  which  measures  its  efficiency  by  the  num- 
ber of  human  lives  saved  from  the  perils  of  the  sea  is  to  be 
classed  among  the  highest  himianities  of  a  great  government. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  its  general  superintendent,  the 
Hon.  S.  I.  Kimball,  I  have  obtained  the  following  information 
with  particular  reference  to  the  Life-Saving  Service  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Cape  Fear. 

The  equipment  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island  Stations, 
which  are  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Fear,  consists  of 
apparatus,  including  line-throwing  guns,  projectiles,  lines,  beach 
lights,  signaling  devices,  and  power  boats,  as  well  as  other 
boats.  The  Cape  Fear  Station  has  a  Beebe-McLellan  self-bail- 
ing surfboat,  an  open  Beebe  surfboat,  and  a  Beebe-McLellan 
self -bailing  power  surfboat,  with  horizontal  engine;  and  the 
Oak  Island  Station  is  equipped  with  a  Beebe-McLellan  self- 
bailing  surfboat  and  a  36-foot  seK-righting  and  self -bailing 
power  lifeboat.  The  Beebe-McLellan  self-bailing  power  surf- 
boat and  the  36-foot  self-righting  and  self-bailing  power  life- 
boat are  the  latest  developments  in  power  life-saving  boats,  and 
are  as  good  as  any  in  the  world.  A  constant  watch  is  kept  from 
the  lookout  towers  of  the  stations  and  a  beach  patrol  is  main- 
tained at  night,  and  during  the  day  when  the  weather  is  thick 
or  stormy. 

The  recent  instances  of  service  at  wrecks  by  the  Cape  Fear 
and  Oak  Island  Life-Saving  Stations  have  been  as  follows: 

On  December  8,  1912,  the  steamer  Aloha,  tonnage  42,  value 
$16,000,  with  four  persons  on  board,  was  rendered  assistance 
by  the  Life-Saving  Station  at  Oak  Island;  also  on  December 
16,  1912,  the  schooner  Dohemo,  value  $7,500,  with  two  per- 
sons on  board,  and  in  the  same  day,  the  launch  Anerida  II., 
value  $1,700,  with  two  persons  on  board,  was  saved. 

On  December  27,  1912,  the  schooner  Savannah,  tonnage  584, 
value  $44,000,  which  was  a  total  loss,  with  nine  persons  on 
board,  and  on  March  26,  1913,  the  British  steamer  Strathardle, 
tonnage  4,377,  value  $120,000,  with  thirty-three  persons  on 
board,  were  rendered  assistance  by  the  Life-Saving  Stations  at 
Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island. 

On  October  10,  1913,  the  schooner  John  Twohy,  tonnage 

iSee  Note  on  Revenue-Cutter  Service,  page  525. 


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528  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

1,019,  value  $30,000,  which  was  a  total  loss,  with  ten  per- 
sons on  board,  was  rendered  assistance  by  the  Life-Saving  Sta- 
tion at  Cape  Fear. 

The  total  value  of  property  involved  in  the  above  disasters 
was  $218,200;  the  total  value  of  property  lost  was  $74,000, 
and  the  total  number  of  persons  on  board  was  sixty.  No  lives 
were  lost. 

The  rescue  of  the  crew  of  the  schooner  Savannah,  which  was 
stranded  on  the  western  edge  of  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  is  illustra- 
tive of  the  value  of  this  work.  It  is  indicative  of  the  service  of 
these  stations. 

On  December  27,  1912,  the  584-ton,  four-masted  schooner 
Savannah,  bound  from  Jacksonville,  Florida,  to  Portland, 
Maine,  with  a  cargo  of  pine  lumber,  and  carrying  a  crew  of  9 
men,  all  told,  stranded  about  noon  on  the  western  edge  of  Fry- 
ing Pan  Shoals,  in  a  westerly  gale  and  thick  weather.  The 
vessel  and  cargo,  valued  together  at  more  than  $40,000,  were 
totally  lost.  The  ship's  crew,  however,  were  saved  by  the  crews 
of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island  Stations. 

As  the  schooner  lay  on  the  shoals,  with  the  mountainous  seas 
dashing  against  her  and  over  her,  she  was  discovered  by  Keeper 
Brinkman  of  the  Cape  Fear  Station.  To  make  sure  that  she 
was  aground  the  keeper  climbed  the  tower  of  the  Cape  Fear 
Light  to  get  a  look  at  her  through  a  spyglass.  On  leaving  the 
tower  he  asked  the  lightkeeper  to  set  a  signal,  which,  according 
to  a  previous  understanding,  would  convey  to  the  station  crew 
at  Oak  Island  and  to  the  revenue-cutter  Seminole  the  informa- 
tion that  a  vessel  was  in  trouble  offshore. 

The  Cape  Fear  crew  put  off  the  beach  in  their  surfboat  with- 
out loss  of  time,  and  covered  the  eight  miles  to  the  schooner  in 
two  and  a  haK  hours.  The  Oak  Island  crew  also  appeared 
about  the  same  time  in  their  power  lifeboat.  It  was  agreed 
that  Keeper  Brinkman  should  undertake  the  work  of  rescue, 
a  boat  imder  oars  being  more  readily  and  safely  handled  than 
a  power  boat,  in  broken  water  about  a  wreck.  This  arrange- 
ment was  duly  carried  out,  the  Oak  Island  crew  standing  by, 
ready  to  assist  their  comrades  should  the  surfboat  meet  with 
misfortime  while  alongside.  "After  a  hard  battle  with  wind 
and  sea,"  says  Keeper  Brinkman  in  his  report,  "we  took  the 
captain  and  eight  men  off." 

The  rescue  accomplished,  the  sailors  were  transferred  to  the 
power  boat,  which  thereupon  proceeded  ashore  with  the  surf- 
boat in  tow. 


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Peace  Restored  529 

The  ship's  crew  were  cared  for  at  the  Oak  Island  Station 
until  the  following  morning,  when  they  were  placed  aboard  the 
Seminole,  which  had  appeared  off  the  station  during  the  night. 
The  cutter  and  two  tugs  attempted  to  float  the  schooner,  but 
without  success. 

The  total  approximate  cost  of  maintaining  the  Cape  Fear  and 
Oak  Island  Stations  and  for  salaries  during  the  fiscal  year 
which  ended  June  30,  1913,  was  $17,430,  the  expense  being 
about  evenly  divided  between  the  two  stations.  The  amounts 
expended  for  salaries  were  $7,089.10  and  $6,940.80  for  the 
Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island  Stations,  respectively.  The  expense 
for  maintaining  the  stations  averaged  about  $1,700  each  dur- 
ing the  year.  The  cost  of  rebuilding  the  Cape  Fear  Station, 
now  under  way,  will  amount  to  between  four  and  five  thousand 
dollars. 

USE  OF  OIL  TO  PREVENT  BREAEING  SEAS. 

About  the  year  1870  the  late  Alexander  Sprunt,  founder 
of  the  firm  of  Alexander  Sprunt  &  Son,  demonstrated  in  a 
magazine  article  published  abroad  the  efficacy  of  the  use  of 
oil  at  sea  in  stormy  weather.  He  subsequently  endeavored  to 
induce  the  British  Admiralty  to  provide  every  ship  with  his 
simple  device  for  protection  against  breaking  seas  while  lying 
to,  and  received  some  recognition. 

At  that  time,  in  the  winter,  he  loaded  a  small  brig  of  about 
two  hundred  tons  register  with  a  heavy  cargo  of  naval  stores 
for  Europe.  The  captain  was  induced  to  provide  a  barrel  of 
crude  oil,  two  canvas  bags  perforated  with  a  large  needle,  and 
a  twenty-foot  spar  with  block  and  tackle,  to  be  used  in  case  of 
need.  On  his  return  to  Wilmington  some  months  later,  he 
gratefully  acknowledged  that  his  ship  and  crew  had  been  provi- 
dentially saved  from  destruction  by  this  simple  and  effective 
provision. 

He  was  obliged  to  lay  to  for  several  days  in  a  hurricane. 
The  heavy  waves  smashed  the  boats  and  threatened  to  destroy 
the  vessel.  He  thought  of  the  oil  and  at  once  applied  it.  Run- 
ning the  spar  out  on  the  weather  side,  he  filled  the  bags  with 
oil  and  hauled  them  out  to  the  end  of  the  spar.  Immediately 
a  thin  covering  of  oil  spread  over  the  advancing  waves  and, 
although  the  brig  rose  and  fell  upon  the  moimtainous  seas,  the 
water  did  not  break,  and  the  little  vessel  rode  out  the  gale  in 
safety. 
34 


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530  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

In  the  Hydrographic  Bulletin  of  the  United  States  Navy, 
December  31,  1913,  the  following  reference  is  made  to  the  use 
of  oil  to  calm  seas: 

''Imperial  Transport  (Br.  ss.),  Capt.  E.  R,  Frankland: 

"On  November  25,  1913,  during  the  voyage  from  Narvik 
toward  Philadelphia,  a  hurricane  struck  the  vessel  from  the 
southwest,  gradually  shifting  to  the  westward.  The  hurricane 
was  of  such  force  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  steam  against 
it.  The  engines,  therefore,  were  stopped,  and  the  vessel,  losing 
headway,  fell  off  beam-on  to  the  sea.  During  this  operation  oil 
was  used  plentifully,  several  pints  being  thrown  on  the  deck, 
and  the  same  washing  overboard  to  windward  smoothed  the 
tops  of  the  seas,  thus  stopping  them  to  a  great  extent  from 
breaking  on  board.  When  the  vessel  was  drifting,  two  oil-bags 
were  hung  overboard  to  windward,  one  at  each  end  of  the  bridge 
deck,  each  bag  being  attached  to  fifteen  fathoms  of  line,  this 
usage  greatly  assisting  in  arresting  the  force  of  the  seas.  One 
oil-bag  was  hung  in  the  forward  lavatory  at  the  break  of  the 
forecastle  head,  and  the  flush  left  open,  tiie  oil  thus  coming  in 
contact  with  the  sea  without  being  blown  to  leeward.  The 
same  operation  was  repeated  in  the  lavatory  amidships.  A 
hand  was  stationed  in  each  of  these  places  replenishing  the  oil- 
bags.  During  the  squalls  a  little  oil  was  also  poured  down 
the  pipes  from  a  can.  The  seas,  although  breaking  heavily  to 
windward,  had  the  force  taken  out  of  them  when  coming  in 
contact  with  this  second  distribution  of  oil.  We  subsequently 
encountered  seven  hurricanes,  and  oil  was  used  in  the  same 
manner  and  with  the  same  effect.  The  oils  used  were  fish, 
colza,  engine,  and  linseed,  and  no  apparent  difference  in  effect 
was  noticed.  All  of  the  hurricanes  started  from  the  south  and 
veered  to  north  through  west,  and  then  backed  from  north  to 
south  through  west.  The  same  was  experienced  in  the  storms 
of  lesser  violence.  At  no  time  during  the  passage  was  the  wind 
from  the  eastward  imless  at  the  beginning  of  the  storm,  when 
sometimes  it  was  SSE.  I  might  add  that  the  vessel  came 
through  with  the  minimum  of  damage,  considering  the  terrific 
weather  encountered." 

A  more  recent  test  of  this  device  was  made  by  the  revenue- 
cutter  Seminole,  In  reply  to  my  inquiry,  Capt.  G.  L.  Garden 
says,  imder  date  of  January  11,  1914: 

"I  am  attaching  herewith  a  memorandum  relative  to  the  use 
of  oil  by  the  Seminole  when  working  on  the  schooner  Thom^as 


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Peace  Restored  531 

Winsmore.  As  a  further  proof  of  the  efficacy  of  oil,  I  had 
occasion  during  the  month  of  October,  1910,  when  command- 
ing the  Manning  in  the  Pacific,  to  have  recourse  to  it.  We 
had  left  Kodiak  Island  for  a  run  across  to  the  Alaska  coast, 
shaping  for  Cape  Ommaney.  It  had  been  blowing  a  gale  of 
wind  for  three  days  from  the  northwest  and,  not  long  after 
clearing  the  lee  of  Kodiak,  I  encoimtered  a  tremendous  sea. 
Nothing  like  it  had  been  seen  during  the  entire  past  five  months 
in  the  far  North.  The  Manning  was  put  before  the  seas,  but 
it  seemed  as  if  every  moment  they  must  break  aboard.  In  the 
mouths  of  the  forward  closet  bowls,  on  either  side  of  the  bow, 
canvas  bags  filled  with  oakum  were  placed.  The  bags  were 
pimctured  with  ordinary  sail  needles,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of 
fish  oil  was  poured  into  the  oakum-filled  bags.  The  closet  traps 
were  then  raised  and  very  soon  a  thin  film  of  oil  was  seen  to 
reach  out  on  either  side  of  the  ship  for  a  distance  of  about  ten 
feet,  spreading  out  fan-tail  fashion  as  it  worked  aft.  At  a 
distance  of  twenty  feet  abaft  the  stem,  I  should  say,  the  width 
of  the  oil  space  was  fully  fifty  feet.  The  effect  was  marvelous. 
The  big  seas  would  come  up  right  to  the  edge  of  the  oilfield 
and  then  dive  under  the  ship  and  pass  away  forward.  The 
film  of  oil  alongside  kept  the  seas  from  slapping  aboard.  I  ran 
the  Manning  very  slowly  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the 
night,  but  towards  morning  the  wind  and  sea  abated  and  we 
were  able  to  head  up  on  our  regular  course.  During  the  entire 
night  I  do  not  believe  we  used  over  ten  gallons  of  oil." 

^^ Memorandum: — The  American  8<5l;iooner  Thomas  Winsmore 
was  foimd  at  7.30  a.  m.,  January  4,  1914,  close  to  the  breakers 
on  Lookout  Shoals.  The  Seminole  at  the  time  was  in  charge 
of  First  Lieut.  Eben  Barker.  A  fresh  westerly  gale  was  blow- 
ing. The  Thomas  Winsmore  was  displaying  her  ensign  union 
down.  The  seas  were  breaking  completely  over  the  schooner. 
The  Seminole  anchored  to  windward  of  the  Winsmore,  veering 
down  chain  so  as  to  bring  the  cutter  near  the  schooner.  Efforts 
to  shoot  a  line  aboard  by  means  of  a  line-firing  gun  proved 
abortive.  Oil  was  used  freely  through  the  closets .  forward. 
The  oil  formed  a  slick  astern  of  the  Seminole  and  prevented  the 
seas  from  breaking.  After  a  plentiful  use  of  the  oil,  a  pulling 
boat  was  lowered  and  a  four-inch  line  was  run  to  the  Winsmore. 
By  means  of  the  four-inch  line  a  ten-inch  hawser  was  later 
gotten  aboard  the  distressed  craft.  The  Winsmore  was  then 
towed  into  the  lee  of  Lookout  Bight" 


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632  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

VISITS  OF  THE   CRUISER  RALEIGH  TO   THE 
CAPE   FEAR. 

Soon  after  the  United  States  steamship  Raleigh  went  into 
commission,  in  1895,  she  came  into  the  Cape  Fear  River  to 
receive  a  service  of  silver,  which  was  presented  to  her  on  be- 
half of  the  State  by  the  Hon.  Elias  Carr,  then  governor  of 
North  Carolina. 

Later,  after  our  war  with  Spain,  about  the  first  of  May, 
1899,  the  Raleigh,  returning  from  the  Philippines,  conMuanded 
by  Captain  Coghlan,  again  visited  the  Cape  Fear  for  the 
purpose  of  delivering  to  the  city  of  Raleigh  some  trophies  of 
war,  including  several  Spanish  cannon,  which  were  formally 
received  by  a  delegation  sent  from  Raleigh  on  behalf  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina. 

The  cniiser  and  her  officers  and  men  were  honored  by  an 
enthuiastic  welcome  to  Wilmington,  and  Captain  Coghlan  was 
deeply  touched  by  his  cordial  reception.  The  Raleigh,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Coghlan,  had  joined  in  the  attack 
upon  the  Spanish  forts  and  war  vessels  in  Manila  Bay,  and  our 
people,  desiring  to  mark  this  incident  by  a  special  compliment, 
presented  another  very  handsome  and  valuable  service  of  silver 
plate  to  Captain  Coghlan  and  the  ship.  Mr.  William  Calder 
made  the  presentation  speech,  and  the  conMuander  responded 
in  a  felicitous  address  which  was  long  remembered  by  those 
who  were  present. 


FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT  IMPROVEMENTS  ON 
UPPER  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER. 

The  present  project  for  the  improvement  of  the  upper  Cape 
Fear  River  was  adopted  by  Congress  in  the  River  and  Harbor 
Act  of  June  25,  1910.  This  project  contemplates  an  improve- 
ment by  canalization  and  dredging  to  obtain  a  navigable  depth 
of  water  between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville,  a  distance  of 
115  miles,  of  eight  feet.  To  accomplish  this  it  is  planned  to 
put  in  two  locks  and  dams.  The  first  lock  and  dam,  known  as 
"Lock  and  Dam  No.  1,"  is  imder  construction  at  King's  Bluff, 
39  miles  above  Wilmington ;  and  the  second,  or  "Lock  and  Dam 
No.  2,"  is  to  be  located  at  Brown's  Landing,  near  Elizabeth- 


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Peace  Restored  533 

town,  72  miles  above  Wilmington.  The  8-foot  channel  between 
Wilmington  and  King's  Bluff  has  already  been  obtained  by 
dredging,  and  it  is  only  necessary  now  to  maintain  it.  The 
locks  will  be  of  concrete,  with  pile  foundations  and  steel-miter- 
ing  gates.  The  lock  at  King's  Bluff  will  be  about  294  feet  long 
over  all,  with  a  maximum  width  at  the  base  of  about  84  feet. 
The  walls  will  be  28  feet  high,  and  the  chamber  will  take  vessels 
about  200  feet  long  and  40  feet  wide.  The  dam  will  be  of  the 
timber-crib  type  filled  with  stone,  with  sheet-piling  above  and 
below.  It  will  be  about  275  feet  long  and  50  feet  wide,  and 
will  raise  the  water  eight  feet  above  that  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  river.  The  abutment  for  the  dam  on  the  side  of  the  river 
opposite  the  lock  will  be  of  reinforced  concrete  pile  construc- 
tion, and  will  have  the  same  height  as  the  lock  walls.  As  the 
dam  is  low,  in  comparison  with  the  river  banks,  it  will  be  sub- 
merged, and  its  effect  as  an  obstruction  in  the  river  will  dis- 
appear by  the  time  the  river  rises  to  the  top  of  the  bank,  so 
that  the  area  of  land  covered  by  water  during  flood  times  will 
be  practically  the  same  after  the  dam  is  put  in  as  it  is  now. 
As  the  lock  walls  are  much  higher  than  the  dam,  vessels  may 
use  the  Jock  during  a  considerable  rise  in  the  river,  and  when 
the  river  drowns  out  the  lock,  there  will  be  no  fall  over  the  dam 
and  vessels  will  pass  directly  over  it. 

The  cofferdam  is  constructed  of  steel  interlocking  piling  made 
by  the  Lackawanna  Steel  Company,  and  is  of  the  same  general 
type  as  was  used  in  the  cofferdam  for  raising  the  battleship 
Maine.  The  piling  is  45  feet  long,  and  was  driven  through 
from  23  to  28  feet  of  compact  sand  and  thin  layers  of  rock. 
This  piling  is  anchored  back  by  heavy  steel  wire  cables  to  pile 
anchorages  52  feet  from  the  wall.  In  addition  to  the  above 
work  on  the  cofferdam,  the  dredging  inside  of  the  cofferdam  and 
of  the  approaches  has  been  completed.  This  dredging  involved 
the  removal  of  33,000  cubic  yards  of  material.  Inside  the 
cofferdam  a  level  bottom  was  secured  about  18  feet  below  water. 
Driving  the  foundation  piles  is  now  in  progress;  this  requires 
the  driving  of  1,850  piles  with  a  penetration  of  about  23  feet. 
When  it  is  completed,  concrete  will  be  deposited  around  the 
heads  of  the  piles,  the  cofferdam  wiU  be  pumped  out,  and  the 
lock  walls  built  in  the  dry.  Work  on  the  abutment  will  be 
started  shortly  and  carried  on  simultaneously  with  the  construc- 
tion of  the  lock,  and  as  soon  as  these  are  completed  the  dam  will 
be  built  in  place. 


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534  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

The  same  general  type  of  construction  is  being  used  for  Lock 
and  Dam  No.  2,  at  Brown's  Landing  as  at  King's  Bluff.  Here, 
however,  the  dam  will  raise  the  water  12  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  water  between  King's  Bluff  and  Brown's  Landing,  thus 
requiring  heavier  construction  throughout. 

This  work  is  being  rapidly  prosecuted  and  its  completion  in 
1917  is  dependent  only  upon  sufficient  congressional  appropria- 
tions and  favorable  stages  of  water  for  sinking  the  dams.  The 
amount  expended  on  locks  and  dams  to  June  30,  1915,  was 
$647,635.79;  on  other  improvements,  $183,654.10. 

The  advantages  to  be  derived  from  this  improvement  are 
obvious  and  are  those  which  would  naturally  result  from  certain 
all-the-year-round  navigation  with  8-foot  navigable  depth.  It 
will  benefit  the  cities  of  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville,  at  the 
two  ends  of  the  improved  channel,  in  a  commercial  way,  acting 
as  it  will  as  a  steady  and  increasing  feeder  to  their  business 
activities.  Li  addition  to  this,  not  the  least  important  result 
will  be  that  this  stream,  with  its  cheap  transportation  facilities 
close  at  hand,  will  act  as  a  constant  incentive  to  the  development 
of  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  country  through  which  it 
flows. 


DISASTROUS  FIEES. 

The  following  account  of  a  great  conflagration  on  the  night  of 
April  30,  1864,  taken  from  the  Daily  Journal,  is  of  particular  in- 
terest, as  it  gives  us  a  glimpse  of  the  city  during  the  war — ^the 
value  of  cotton,  $1,000  a  bale;  the  interest  of  the  Ck)nfederate 
Government,  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  of  the  blockade  runners 
in  cotton,  and  the  quantities  stored  in  Wilmington,  with  other 
details  of  the  war. 

'TTesterday  morning  at  20  minutes  to  one  o'clock,"  says  the 
Journal,  "a  fire  broke  out  in  a  warehouse  or  shed  on  the  west- 
em  side  of  the  river,  some  200  feet  south  of  the  ferry,  which  is 
opposite  to  the  Market  Dock.  From  this  point  it  spread  with 
amazing  rapidity,  and  in  an  inconceivably  short  space  of  time, 
every  building  on  the  western  side  of  the  river  south  of  the 
depot  of  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester  Railroad  was  envel- 
oped in  flames. 

'^When  we  arrived  at  the  dock  the  whole  western  bank  of  the 
river  for  several  squares  was  one  line  of  flame,  and  it  was  feared 
that  the  railroad  depot,  with  the  workshops  of  the  company. 


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Peace  Restored  635 

would  also  be  destroyed.  The  destruction  of  property  is  very 
great.    We  sum  it  as  nearly  as  possible  as  follows : 

"The  Confederate  Government  lost  800  bales  of  cotton 
burned,  of  which  about  200  bales  were  Sea  Island,  say 
$800,000.  It  lost,  also,  in  materials  and  work  in  progress  at 
Beer/s  ship-yard,  about  $100,000.  T.  Andrea  lost  2,500  bales 
of  cotton,  300  of  it  Sea  Island,  say  $2,430,000.  The  Nash- 
ville and  Chattanooga  Railroad  Company  lost  187  bales;  J.  W. 
Thomas,  thirty-seven  bales,  say  $200,000.  In  Captain  Hallet's 
sheds  there  were  850  bales  of  cotton,  forty-seven  of  it  Sea 
Island,  belonging  to  the  State  of  Virginia  and  sundry  other  par- 
ties. Also,  rope  and  bagging  to  the  amount  of  $100,000.  All 
burned.  Loss,  about  $900,000.  Eankin  and  Martin's  Bosin 
Oil  Works,  about  $70,000.  Insurance  to  the  amount  of  $7,000. 
B.  Hallet's  loss  in  shed,  about  $25,000.  Insurance,  $3,000. 
The  Southern  Express  Company  lost  two  cars  with  merchan- 
dise, also  some  merchandise  in  a  small  warehouse.  Loss,  about 
$100,000.  John  A.  Taylor,  shed,  etc.,  at  ferry,  $10,000.  The 
damage  to  the  machinery  and  tools  at  B.  W.  &  W.  L.  Beery's 
ship-yard  is  comparatively  light.  Most  of  the  workmen's  tools 
were  saved.  They  expect  to  be  able  to  resume  work  in  about 
three  weeks.  The  sheds  and  sawmill  machinery  in  rear  of  ship- 
yard is  the  principal  loss.  Estimated  loss,  $25,000.  The  Wil- 
mington &  Manchester  Railroad  Company  lost  the  small 
wooden  building  in  which  the  president,  treasurer,  and  superin- 
tendent had  their  offices.  All  the  contents  were  saved.  The 
building  was  of  little  value.  The  chief  loss  of  railroad  prop- 
erty was  twenty-five  freight  cars,  fifteen  of  them  belonging  to 
the  Georgia  Central  Road,  eight  to  the  Wilmington  and  Man- 
chester Road,  and  two  to  the  Southern  Express  Company. 
Total  loss  in  cars,  $150,000. 

"Thus  far  we  have  a  summing  up  of  about  $4,800,000,  but 
this  does  not  include  the  injury  to  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  wharf- 
ing,  mainly  ruined,  nor  the  loss  of  the  sheds  and  buildings  be- 
longing to  the  Confederate  Government  and  to  the  other  par- 
ties, nor  the  injury  to  the  cotton-press.  These  and  other  things 
not  necessary  to  mention  can  hardly  be  estimated  at  the  present 
time,  since  it  may  be  impossible  to  replace  them  and  difficult  to 
do  without  them.  We  are  happy,  indeed,  to  learn  that  the 
cotton-press  itself  is  expected  to  be  in  operation  again  in  a 
short  time.  It  is  probable  that,  when  the  whole  loss  is  known, 
and  the  wharves,  buildings,  etc.,  have  been  included,  it  will  fall 
little,  if  anything,  short  of  six  millions  of  dollars. 


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536  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

"The  usual  doubts  are  expressed  as  to  whether  this  tremen- 
dous fire  was  accidental  or  the  result  of  incendiarism.  It  may 
have  been  either.  We  have  not  been  able  to  discover  anything 
that  will  warrant  us  in  saying  that  it  was  the  one  or  the  other, 
if  we  except  the  astonishing  rapidity  of  its  spread,  which  does 
look  as  though  it  were  too  rapid  to  be  merely  accidental,  and 
gives  rise  to  suspicions  of  foul  play,  although  tiie  combustibility 
of  the  materials  the  fire  had  to  work  upon  could  hardly  have 
been  increased.  We  doubt  whether  any  human  power  could  have 
arrested  the  progress  of  the  fire  when  it  had  once  gotten  under 
way,  still  we  could  not  but  remark  upon  the  fact  that  even  if 
the  fire  had  been  within  reach  of  control  by  the  exertions  of  the 
fire  department,  there  was  no  fire  department  to  be  found  by 
which  such  exertions  could  be  made.  This  struck  us  the  more 
forcibly  because  of  our  having  noticed  the  activity  and  zeal  of 
the  firemen  on  several  occasions  during  the  present  year — ^we 
had  seen  that  they  were  practicing  with  their  engines,  and  we 
know  that  the  town  authorities  had  been  making  exertions  to 
increase  the  efficiency  of  the  department  and  to  have  its  appa- 
ratus put  in  the  b^t  order.  We  believe  they  succeeded  in 
accomplishing  both  these  objects.  We  inquired  why  the  present 
state  of  things  exists,  and  were  told  that  the  white  companies 
are  on  duty  as  Home  Guards  and  that  the  colored  companies, 
mustering  180  men  in  all,  mainly  free  n^roes,  have  had  their 
members  either  impressed  or  scared  off  by  the  fear  of  impress- 
ment. Whether  incendiaries  are  abroad  or  not,  we  shudder  at 
the  thought  of  a  fire  breaking  out  in  the  closely  built  part  of  the 
town,  filled  as  every  place  seems  to  be  with  cotton — cotton  is 
our  next  door  neighbor — cotton  is  everywhere." 

On  Saturday  night,  April  11,  1880,  a  store  building  on  Front 
Street,  between  Market  and  Dock  Streets,  occupied  by  George 
A.  Peck,  was  burned.  During  this  fire  a  volunteer  fireman 
named  William  EUerbrook  entered  the  building,  followed  by  his 
dog,  a  large  Newfoundland.  After  the  fire  was  over,  his  body 
was  found  crushed  by  the  walls  and  timbers  of  the  building,  and 
by  his  side  was  found  the  body  of  the  faithful  dog.  The  dog 
had  hold  of  his  master's  coat  and  was  evidently  trying  to  drag 
him  out  of  danger  when  the  crash  came.  Man  and  beast  were 
buried  together  in  Oakdale  Cemetery,  and  a  stone  was  erected 
by  the  volunteer  fire  company,  of  which  EUerbrook  was  a  mem- 
ber, and  by  his  friends. 

About  1880  fire  was  discovered  at  Colville  &  Taylor's  saw- 


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Peace  Restored  537 

mill,  at  the  foot  of  Walnut  Street.  The  fire  bell  rang  about 
twelve  o'clock  Friday  night,  and  the  fire  companies  were  dis- 
missed at  six  o'clock  Sunday  afternoon,  but  while  the  sawmill 
was  destroyed,  a  large  part  of  the  lumber  was  saved.  The 
Champion  Compress,  near  by,  was  saved  after  a  hard  fight. 

In  the  early  part  of  1886  a  Fayetteville  steamboat,  while 
drifting  down  the  river,  caught  fire.  Her  tiller  ropes  burned  in 
two  and  she  landed  at  the  Clyde  Steamship  wharf,  which  is  now 
used  by  the  Springer  Coal  Company.  From  this  wharf  the  fire 
started  about  two  o'clock,  February  25,  1886,  and  swept  up  to 
the  Champion  Compress  and  destroyed  that  and  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  warehouses;  burned  the  Methodist  Church,  on  the 
comer  of  Front  and  Walnut  Streets,  and  everything  on  that 
block  except  the  Methodist  parsonage.  Everything  on  the  block 
west  of  that  was  also  destroyed.  The  fire  crossed  Red  Cross 
Street  and  burned  Mr.  Henry  Nutt's  handsome  residence,  and 
sparks  jumped  to  Brooklyn,  where  several  frame  houses  were 
burned.  The  fire  department  was  dismissed  the  next  day,  and 
the  military  placed  in  charge  to  keep  thieves  from  looting  every- 
thing that  had  been  put  in  the  street. 

FiEB  Companies. 

The  first  Wilmington  fire  company  was  organized  in  1847 
and  chartered  in  1867,  under  the  name  of  the  Wilmington  Hook 
and  Ladder  Company.  In  1857  the  Howard  Eelief  Fire  En- 
gine Company  was  organized  and  was  chartered  two  years  later. 
The  third  company  was  chartered  in  1869,  and  called  the  Wil- 
mington Steam  Fire  Engine  Company. 

On  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  February,  1869,  a  very  fierce 
and  destructive  fire  occurred  in  Grant's  public  stables  on  the 
southwest  comer  of  Princess  and  Third  Streets.  The  Wilming- 
ton Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  of  which  Col.  Koger  Moore  was 
chief,  rendered  excellent  service  by  tearing  down  the  connecting 
buildings,  thus  arresting  the  progress  of  the  fire  towards  struc- 
tures of  greater  importance.  Unhappily,  however,  several  mem- 
bers of  the  company  who  ventured  too  far  were  caught  under  the 
falling  walls.  In  this  accident  Mr.  John  T.  Eankin  suffered  in- 
juries which  it  was  feared  would  be  fatal.  He  recovered  slowly, 
however,  but  with  a  permanent  lameness.  Shortly  after  this 
fire,  and  during  the  convalescence  of  Captain  Rankin,  the  first 
steam  fire  engine  used  in  Wilmington  was  purchased  by  popu- 


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538  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

lar  subscription  and  named  "John  T.  Rankin."  This  belonged 
to  the  Wilmington  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company.  All  of  these 
companies  were  volunteer  organizations,  and  the  apparatus  for 
each  was  purchased  and  maintained  by  subscriptions  from  the 
business  men  of  the  city  and  by  the  dues  of  the  members. 

In  addition  to  the  above  named  volunteer  companies,  there 
was  a  fire  company  composed  entirely  of  negroes,  and  about 
1870,  with  the  assistance  of  the  city,  it  was  furnished  with  a 
steam  fire  engine.  This  company,  from  its  inception,  was  sup- 
ported almost  entirely  by  the  city ;  it  was  a  very  good  company, 
and  did  splendid  work  under  the  command  of  Valentine  Howe, 
who  was  an  exceptionally  fine  negro. 

About  1878  the  first  appropriation  was  made  by  the  city  for 
the  support  of  these  companies,  and  this  was  gradually  in- 
creased until  1898,  when  the  city  took  over  the  property  of  the 
entire  fire  department,  since  which  time  it  has  been  under  the 
efficient  leadership  of  Chief  Schnibben. 


THE  EARTHQUAKE  OF  1886. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  1886,  I  was  a  passenger  in  mid-ocean 
on  the  Cunard  steamer  Etruria,  bound  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York,  in  company  with  the  Hon.  William  A.  Courtenay,  who 
was  then  mayor  of  Charleston.  These  were  the  days  before  the 
Marconi  wireless  system  of  conmiunication  with  vessels  at  sea, 
and  we  had  no  thought  of  the  fearful  earthquake  of  that  date 
which  shook  Wilmington  to  its  foundations  and  nearly  de- 
stroyed the  city  of  Charleston. 

At  the  quarantine  station  in  New  York  Harbor  we  were 
handed  several  telegrams,  and,  looking  up  in  dismay  from  the 
reading  of  one  addressed  to  me,  I  saw  that  Mr.  Courtenay  had 
suddenly  vanished  without  a  word.  Panic-stricken  by  the  terri- 
fying news,  he  had  hurried  ashore  to  catch  the  first  train  to 
Charleston. 

On  my  arrival  at  Masonboro  Sound,  where  my  family  was 
residing,  I  heard  with  great  thankfulness  that  my  household 
had  escaped  injury.  My  wife  had  retired  early  with  the  two 
children,  and  she  was  awakened  by  the  upheaval  of  the  bed 
and  the  falling  of  glassware  from  the  mantel.  Terrified  by  the 
thought  that  the  door  would  be  jammed  by  the  twisting  frame- 
work, she  pulled  it  open  with  desperate  effort  and,  with  a  child 


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Peace  Restored  539 

under  each  arm,  ran  to  the  open  ground,  on  which  were  soon  as- 
sembled neighbors  and  servants  in  a  panic,  intensified  by  the 
screams  of  the  horses  confined  in  the  stables  and  by  the  loud 
lamentations  of  the  negroes,  who  thought  the  day  of  judgment 
had  come. 

Several  days  later  our  office  building  was  so  greatly  shaken 
by  a  second  earthquake  that  we  quickly  sought  safety  in  the 
street. 

The  newspapers  of  the  day  made  the  following  references  to 
this  exciting  episode. 

The  Morning  Star  of  Wednesday,  September  1,  1886,  in  its 
account  of  the  earthquake,  reported  that  "It  was  exactly  ten 
minutes  to  ten  o'clock  p.  m.  when  the  first  shock  occurred.  It 
lasted  about  thirty  seconds  and  was  accompanied  by  a  long  rum- 
bling soimd,  like  the  passage  of  a  railway  train  over  a  bridge. 
The  river  seemed  to  be  violently  agitated,  and  washed  against 
its  banks  as  if  a  storm  were  raging.  The  first  shock  was  followed 
ten  minutes  afterwards  by  a  second  shock,  and  this  by  a  third 
ten  minutes  later,  neither  of  them  of  as  great  severity  as  the 
first.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  alarm  that  pervaded  the 
commimity.  People  thronged  the  streets  and  many  of  them  were 
greatly  agitated.  A  great  crowd  centered  around  the  telegraph 
office,  anxiously  inquiring  as  to  news  from  other  places. 

"As  far  as  Imown,  the  damage  caused  by  the  shock  was  slight. 
Plastering  was  dislodged  and  fell  in  the  Conmiercial  Hotel  and 
other  houses,  and  bricks  were  shaken  from  chimneys  and  from 
the  walls  of  buildings  in  the  process  of  erection,  among  the  num- 
ber the  chimney  of  a  house  on  the  comer  of  Second  and  Prin- 
cess Streets.'' 

The  shock  was  quite  severe  at  other  places.  At  Smithville  the 
Signal-Service  observer  reported  as  follows:  "A  severe  earth- 
quake shock  felt  here  at  9.50  p.  m.,  lasted  about  ten  seconds, 
came  from  northwest.  Ten  minutes  after  the  first  shock  an- 
other came  from  the  west,  lasting  about  three  seconds." 

The  Star  mentioned  the  wide  extent  of  territory  in  which  the 
earthquake  made  itself  evident,  with  varying  degrees  of  vio- 
lence, as  far  north  as  New  York  and  west  to  Chicago.  The  dis- 
turbance was  greatest  at  Charleston,  and  at  Laurinburg  also  the 
shock  was  extremely  severe. 

The  Daily  News  had  a  very  graphic  account  of  the  earth- 
quake, and  enlarged  upon  the  terror  and  awe  of  the  occasion, 
but  differed  slightly  from  the  Star  in  a  few  comments.     The 


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540  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

first  and  most  violent  shock  was  claimed  to  have  lasted  forty- 
five  seconds,  followed  by  two  more  at  short  intervals,  and  others 
at  one  o'clock,  four  o'clock,  and  eight-thirty  the  next  morning 
(September  1).  The  Review  of  September  2,  1886,  reported 
shocks  after  the  above,  occurring  at  5.12  p.  m.  and  about  mid- 
night of  the  1st  of  September. 

The  terrible  disaster  to  Charleston  cast  a  deep  gloom  over  our 
citizens,  and  generous  assistance  was  immediately  organized  in 
the  form  of  a  contribution,  and  a  relief  committee  composed  of 
a  number  of  prominent  people  was  dispatched  to  the  stridden 
city  as  soon  as  the  journey  could  be  made. 


THE  VISIT  OF  PRESIDENT  TATT. 
Bt  IbsdeUj  Meabes. 

William  Howard  Taft,  the  twenty-seventh  President  of  the 
United  States,  visited  Wilmington  on  the  9th  day  of  November, 
1909.  The  occasion  was  a  notable  one  in  the  annals  of  the  city. 
The  Governor  of  the  State,  with  his  staff  officers,  United  States 
Senators  and  Congressmen,  the  representative  editors  of  the 
State  press,  and  a  large  concourse  of  visitors  from  all  parts  of 
the  State  did  honor  to  the  occasion.  The  city  was  beautifully 
decorated.  The  day  was  ideal  in  its  sunshine  and  balmy  air. 
The  spirit  of  the  people  who  crowded  the  streets  was  splendid. 
Not  an  incident  occurred  to  mar  the  great  reception. 

On  his  arrival  on  the  early  morning  train,  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  citizens'  organization  escorted  the  President  and 
his  suite  in  automobiles  from  the  depot  to  the  elegant  residence 
of  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  where  a  breakfast  was  given  in  honor 
of  the  President  by  that  hospitable  gentleman  and  his  wife. 
The  home  was  tastefully  and  appropriately  decorated.  The 
approaches  to  it  were  guarded  by  the  United  States  Coast  Artil- 
lery from  Fort  Caswell,  the  band  of  which,  during  the  break- 
fast, played  patriotic  airs.  Breakfast  was  served  in  the  con- 
servatory, which  had  been  transformed  into  an  arbor  of  green 
foliage,  with  vines  trailing  overhead,  from  which  himg  clusters 
of  real  grapes.  The  hostess  served  a  breakfast  prepared  in  the 
old-fashioned  Southern  style.  There  were  seated  at  the  table 
fifty-two  guests.  On  the  right  of  Mr.  Sprunt,  the  host,  sat  the 
President,  and  on  his  left,  Hon.  W.  W.  Kitchin,  governor  of 
the  State;  on  the  right  of  the  President,  United  States  Senator 


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Peace  Restored  541 

Lee  S.  Overman  was  seated.  Others  of  the  distinguished  guests 
were  Gen.  J.  F.  Armfield,  the  adjutant  general  of  the  State,  and 
members  of  the  Governor's  staflF;  Capt.  Archibald  B.  Butt, 
United  States  Army,  who  afterwards  lost  his  life  in  the  wreck 
of  the  Titanic;  Dr.  J.  J.  Richardson,  a  prominent  throat  and 
ear  specialist  of  Washington,  D.  C,  physician  to  the  President ; 
Lieutenant  Whitney,  of  the  United  States  revenue-cutter  Sem- 
inole, and  Captain  Hancock,  of  the  United  States  Coast  Artil- 
lery; Representatives  John  H.  Small,  R.  N.  Page,  Charles  R. 
Thomas,  and  H.  L.  Godwin,  all  members  of  the  United  States 
Congress;  and  Hon.  Walter  G.  MacRae,  mayor  of  the  city. 
The  rest  of  the  party  consisted  of  the  Citizens'  Executive  and 
Reception  Committees. 

After  breakfast,  the  presidential  party  was  conveyed  under 
the  escort  of  the  local  military  and  the  Naval  Reserves  to  the 
comer  of  Market  and  Third  Streets,  where  all  the  school  chil- 
dren of  the  county  of  New  Hanover  were  assembled  in  a  most 
beautiful  flag  formation,  and  as  the  President,  with  bared  head, 
witnessed  the  scene,  they  sang  the  national  anthem.  He  was 
then  driven  to  St.  Stephen's  Church,  where  he  reviewed  the 
colored  school  children  of  the  county,  and  made  them  a  short 
address.  Next,  he  was  escorted  to  the  United  States  revenue- 
cutter  Seminole  for  a  cruise  down  the  Cape  Pear  as  far  as 
Southport.  Accompanying  him  on  the  trip  were  the  Governor 
and  his  military  staff,  the  Senator  and  Congressmen  men- 
tioned, Mr.  H.  C.  McQueen,  chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Execu- 
tive Committee,  the  late  Hon.  Alfred  M.  Waddell,  ex-member 
of  Congress,  and  a  large  number  of  representative  editors  of  the 
State  press  and  citizens  of  Wilmington.  Luncheon  was  served 
on  the  boat,  and  the  President  held  an  informal  levee. 

On  the  return,  the  Seminole  was  met  at  the  Dram  Tree,  the 
entrance  to  the  harbor,  by  all  the  river  craft  and  steamers  in 
port,  with  colors  flying,  and,  formed  in  parade  line,  the  pictur- 
esque fleet  preceded  the  Seminole  to  the  dock.  On  landing,  a 
procession  was  formed  consisting  of  the  United  States  Coast  Ar- 
tillery, detachments  from  the  revenue  cutter,  and  companies  of 
the  State  Guard  and  Naval  Reserves,  including  a  detachment 
of  Confederate  veterans  and  some  twenty-odd  different  organi- 
zations of  the  city.  The  President  was  then  escorted  to  the  City 
Hall,  where  from  a  platform  he  reviewed  the  military  parade 
of  Federal  and  State  troops  and  the  citizens'  organizations.  He 
was  introduced  to  the  vast  audience,  estimated  from  fifteen  to 


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542  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

twenty  thousand  people,  by  Governor  Kitchin  in  cordial  and 
spirited  remarks,  and  delivered  a  notable  address  to  the  people. 
After  a  rest  in  the  afternoon,  a  banquet  was  served  to  the  Presi- 
dent in  the  Masonic  Temple,  at  which  representative  citizens  of 
the  city  and  State  were  present.  The  menu  was  prepared  and 
served  under  the  inmiediate  supervision  of  the  Ladies'  Commit- 
tee and  in  all  respects  could  not  have  been  excelled.  The  Presi- 
dent made  a  short  address  after  the  dinner,  and  then  repaired 
to  his  private  car  at  the  depot  and  proceeded  to  Richmond,  at 
which  place  he  ended  the  tour  he  had  made  of  the  Western  and 
Southern  States. 

On  the  same  evening  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  there  was 
given  a  "smoker"  to  visiting  members  of  the  press,  at  which 
many  fine  and  eloquent  speeches  were  made,  and  this  consti- 
tuted one  of  the  conspicuous  entertainments^  of  the  occasion. 
The  local  papers  of  the  city  and  State  printed  elaborate  accoimts 
of  the  reception  and  illustrated  cuts  of  the  scenes  which  fea- 
tured the  doings  of  the  day. 


WOODEOW  WILSON'S  YOUTH  IN  WILMINGTON.^ 

In  the  autumn  of  1873,  when  Woodrow  Wilson  was  just 
reaching  his  seventeenth  year,  and  while  his  parents  were  re- 
siding at  Columbia,  he  entered  Davidson  College.  After  finish- 
ing his  examinations  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  however,  lie 
fell  ill  and  was  taken  to  his  home,  then  in  Wilmington,  his 
father  having  just  been  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  that  city.  He  remained  in  Wilmington 
throughout  the  year  1874-75.  It  had  been  determined  that  he 
should  go  to  Princeton,  and  he  spent  the  year  being  tutored  in 
Greek  and  a  few  other  studies  which  it  was  thought  might  be 
necessary  for  entrance  to  Princeton. 

In  truth,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  play  done  that  year,  too. 
The  boy  had  grown  too  fast,  and  was  hardly  fit  for  the  rigid 
schedule  of  college.  So  he  "took  it  easy"  in  a  city,  the  first 
in  which  he  had  ever  lived  that  possessed  any  particular  local 
charm.  Wilmington  was  an  old  historic  place.  It  was  a  sea- 
port; for  the  first  time  Woodrow  saw  a  ship  and  caught  the 
smell  of  the  sea.     Foreign  shipping  floated  in  the  noble  river 

1  Based  on  Hale's  Life  of  Woodrow  Wilson. 


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Peace  Restored  543 

or  lay  at  the  docks.  Wilmington  was  a  great  depot  for  naval 
stores;  its  lower  streets  were  redolent  of  the  deep.  Talk  also 
was  still  full  of  adventures  of  the  blockade  runners  of  the  war 
lately  ended.  What  imaginative  youth  from  the  interior  but 
would  have  haunted  the  docks  and  made  an  occasional  trip  down 
to  the  cape,  to  return  with  the  pilot  of  an  outgoing  ship  ?  Here, 
too,  for  the  first  time,  the  young  man  began  to  take  part  in  the 
social  life  which  is  so  important  an  element  of  existence  in  the 
South.  He  was  really  too  young  for  the  associations  into  which 
he  was  now  thrown.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  inmiediately  achiev- 
ing devoted  popularity,  the  manse  swiftly  becoming  a  social 
rendezvous  of  the  city — a  city  of  gentlemen  of  good  company 
and  women  who  would  have  been  esteemed  brilliant  the  world 
over.  It  was  a  young  man  very  different  from  the  raw  youth 
of  Davidson  who,  one  day  in  September,  1875,  took  the  Wil- 
mington and  Weldon  train  for  the  North. 

During  his  senior  year  at  Princeton  he  concluded  that  the 
best  path  to  a  public  career  lay  through  the  law.  In  the  autunm, 
therefore,  he  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia,  that  seat  of  liberal  learning  organized  by 
Thomas  Jefferson. 

Just  before  Christmas,  1880,  he  returned  to  Wilmington,  and 
devoted  himself  to  reading  law  and  otherwise  preparing  himself 
for  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  It  was  not  till  May, 
1882,  that  he  finally  determined  where  to  locate,  and  then  he 
opened  an  office  in  Atlanta.  His  father  continued  to  reside  in 
Wilmington  until  April,  1885,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of 
professor  of  theology  in  the  Southwestern  University,  at  Clarks- 
ville,  Tennessee.  In  the  fall  of  1898,  Dr.  Wilson  made  Wil- 
mington his  winter  home  until  his  death,  January  21,  1903. 
In  1905  a  tablet  was  imveiled  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  as  a 
memorial  to  'TRev.  Joseph  E.  Wilson,  D.D.,  Faithful  and  Be- 
loved Pastor  of  This  Church.'' 


SOUTHPOKT  ON  THE  CAPE  PEAR 

This  charming  little  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Pear 
Eiver  was  known  in  colonial  days  as  Port  Johnston.  It  was  a 
mere  hamlet  then,  and  its  only  importance  pertained  to  the  gar- 
rison of  a  fort,  which  mounted  twenty-four  cannon,  named  in 
honor  of  Gabriel  Johnston,  colonial  governor.     In  1792  it  was 


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544  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

laid  off  as  a  town,  and  called  Smithville,  in  honor  of  Governor 
Benjamin  Smith,  and  it  retained  that  name  until  1887  when  it 
began  to  be  called  Southport.  Southport  has  been  the  home  of 
most  of  the  Cape  Fear  pilots  for  nearly  a  hundred  years.  Its 
salubrious  climate  and  kindly  inhabitants  make  it  one  of  the 
most  attractive  and  wholesome  winter  and  summer  resorts  in 
our  country.  Its  harbor  is  spacious  and  its  deep  water  would 
float  the  largest  battleship  of  our  navy.  Its  possible  importance 
as  a  coaling  station  for  steamers  from  the  south  outward  bound, 
and  its  prospective  usefulness  to  the  Panama-Canal  traffic  in 
that  respect,  is  attracting  attention  to  it  as  a  convenient  port 
of  call. 

Of  this  interesting  town  our  venerable  ex-president  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  Hon.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  has  said : 

"Near  the  mouth  of  the  beautiful  Cape  Fear  River,  on  its 
right  bank,  is  a  pleasant  little  town.  It  is  fanned  by  the  deli- 
cious sea  breezes ;  huge  live  oaks  gracefully  shade  its  streets.  In 
its  somber  cemetery  repose  the  bodies  of  many  excellent  people. 
Its  harbor  is  good.  It  is  on  the  main  channel  of  the  river. 
From  its  wharves  can  be  seen  not  far  away  the  thin  white  line 
of  waves  as  they  break  on  the  sandy  beach.  But  the  ships  to 
and  from  its  neighbor,  Wilmington,  pay  little  tribute  as  they 
pass  and  repass.  Its  chief  fame  is  that  it  contains  the  court- 
house of  the  county  of  Brunswick.    Its  name  is  Smithville. 

"Opposite  the  good  old  town  is  a  desert  island  composed  of 
undulating  sand-hills,  with  here  and  there  occasional  green  flats 
and  dwarfed  pines  to  relieve  the  general  monotony.  It  is  ex- 
posed to  the  full  fury  of  the  Atlantic  storms.  New  Inlet  once 
poured  a  rapid  stream  between  the  island  and  the  mainland. 
But  daring  and  industrious  man  now  seeks  to  force  by  walls  of 
stone  the  impetuous  floods  through  the  river  channel  to  the  west, 
to  float  larger  ships  up  the  river  to  the  port  of  Wilmington.  Its 
southern  end  forms  the  dangerous  cape  which  Mr.  George  Davis 
so  eloquently  describes. 

"The  University  of  North  Carolina  has  amid  its  group  of 
buildings  one  in  its  shape  and  portico  and  columns  imitating  a 
Greek  temple.  Its  basement  was  until  recently  the  home  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  which  has  done  so  much 
to  protect  our  farmers  from  fraud,  but  now  it  is  the  laboratory 
of  the  professor  of  chemistry.  Above  is  a  long  and  lofty  room 
containing  the  library  of  the  University.  On  its  shelves  are 
many  ancient  books  of  great  value,  but  vacant  spaces  plead 


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Peace  Restored  545 

piteously  for  new  books  in  all  the  departments  of  literature  and 
science.    The  name  of  this  building  is  'Smith  Hall/ 

'What  member  of  the  widely  spread  family  of  Smith  has 
thus  given  his  familiar  name  to  a  county  town,  an  island^  and  a 
university  hall  ?  His  Christian  name  was  Benjamin.  He  was 
an  active  officer  of  the  Revolution,  a  governor  of  our  State,  and 
the  first  benefactor  of  the  State  University. 

"Governor  Smith  had  many  vicissitudes  of  fortune.  In  his 
youth  he  was  aide-deK5amp  to  Washington  in  the  dangerous  but 
masterly  retreat  from  Long  Island  after  the  defeat  of  the  Amer- 
ican forces.  He  behaved  with  conspicuous  gallantry  in  the  bril- 
liant action  in  which  Moultrie  drove  the  British  from  Port 
Royal  Island  and  checked  for  a  time  the  invasion  of  South  Caro- 
lina. A  Charleston  paper  of  1794  says :  'He  gave  on  many  occa- 
sions such  various  proofs  of  activity  and  distinguished  bravery 
as  to  merit  the  approbation  of  his  impartial  country.'  After 
the  strong  Union  superseded  the  nerveless  Continental  Confed- 
eration, when  there  was  danger  of  war  with  France  or  England, 
he  was  made  general  of  militia,  and  when  later,  on  account  of 
the  insults  and  injuries  of  France,  our  goyernment  made  prepa- 
rations for  active  hostilities,  the  entire  militia  of  Brunswick 
County,  officers  and  men,  roused  to  enthusiasm  by  an  address 
from  him  full  of  energy  and  fire,  volunteered  to  follow  his  lead 
in  the  legionary  corps  raised  for  service  against  the  enemy.  The 
confidence  of  his  countrymen  in  his  wisdom  and  integrity  was 
shown  by  their  electing  him  fifteen  times  to  the  Senate  of  the 
State.  From  this  post  he  was  chosen  by  the  General  Assembly 
as  our  chief  executive  in  1810,  when  war  with  England  was  con- 
stantly expected,  and  by  large  numbers  earnestly  desired. 

"The  charter  of  the  University  was  granted  in  1789.  The 
trustees  were  the  great  men  of  that  day — ^the  leaders  in  war 
and  peace.  Of  this  band  of  eminent  men  Benjamin  Smith  was 
a  worthy  member.  He  is  entitled  to  the  signal  honor  of  being 
the  first  benefactor  of  the  infant  institution,  the  leader  of  the 
small  corps  of  liberal  supporters  of  education  in  North  Caro- 
lina. For  that  reason  alone  his  name  should  be  revered  by  all 
the  long  line  of  students  who  call  the  University  their  Alma 
Mater  and  by  every  one  who  desires  the  enlightenment  of  our 
people." 

The  communication  between  Southport  and  Wilmington  in 
olden  times  was  by  a  sloop  which  carried  passengers  and  prob- 
ably the  United  States  mails.    The  daily  schedule  was  protected 

35 

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546  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

by  the  saving  phrase  "wind  and  weather  permitting."  Within 
the  memory  of  our  citizens  in  middle  life,  not  to  say  of  old  age, 
the  daily  steamers  to  and  from  Charleston,  already  referred  to, 
afforded  the  passengers  at  Smithville  and  Wilmington,  and  also 
the  planters  along  the  river,  who  boarded  them  from  small 
boats,  comfortable  and  speedy  service.  Later,  on  the  completion 
of  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester  Railroad,  the  steamer  Spray 
plied  regularly;  but  none  of  these  conveyances  was  more  satis- 
factory to  the  general  public  than  the  steamer  Wilmington, 
owned  and  commanded  by  Capt.  John  W.  Harper,  who,  after 
many  years  of  excellent  service,  still  controls  and  regulates  the 
river  trade  and  traffic. 

The  new  railroad  between  Wilmington  and  Southport,  called 
the  Wilmington,  Brunswick,  and  Southport  Railroad,  runs  a 
daily  passenger,  mail,  and  freight  schedule  between  Southport 
and  Navassa,  where  it  connects  with  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
and  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railroads  for  Wilmington  or  for 
other  points  on  these  trunk  lines. 

The  railroad  is  thirty  miles  long,  and  was  completed  in  1911. 
The  capital  stock  is  $165,000.  Its  officers  are:  President, 
M.  J.  Corbett;  vice  president,  H.  C.  McQueen;  general  man- 
ager, M.  W.  Divine,  and  traffic  manager,  H.  E.  Godwin. 

In  view  of  the  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal  and  of  the  mani- 
fest destiny  that  the  United  States  will  have  closer  commercial 
relations  with  the  countries  of  South  America,  whose  develop- 
ment is  now  progressing  with  such  rapid  strides,  the  admirable 
location  of  Southport  for  a  government  coaling  station  is  appar- 
ent, and  it  will  surely  become  a  commercial  entrepot  of  impor- 
tance. Business  is  quick  to  avail  itself  of  superior  advantages, 
and  the  facilities  offered  by  Southport  are  imrivaled.  Its  land- 
locked harbor,  ranging  from  thirty-five  to  forty-nine  feet  in 
depth,  and  five  miles  long,  with  a  width  varying  from  one- 
quarter  to  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  affords  a  commodious  and 
secure  anchorage  for  the  fleets  of  conmierce  and  the  navies  of 
war,  while  the  frowning  ramparts  of  Fort  Caswell  assure  ample 
military  protection.  Its  bar  is  almost  perfectly  protected  from 
the  heaviest  gales;  for  twenty-five  years  the  hurricane  signals 
have  been  hoisted  at  Southport  only  twice,  and  no  hurricane 
wave  can  possibly  enter  the  port.  Safety  of  all  shipping  is 
thus  assured. 

While  possessing  these  advantages,  Southport  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  on  the  direct  line  between  the  vast  coal  fields  of 


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Peace  Restored  547 

the  interior  and  the  points  where  the  coal  will  be  wanted — 
Colon  and  Guantanamo  Bay.  It  is  as  near  Panama  as  Charles- 
ton, and,  being  south  of  Hatteras,  has  evident  advantages  over 
Norfolk.  No  other  Atlantic  port  is  so  near  to  the  ports  of  the 
Caribbean  Sea  or  to  the  ports  on  the  east  coast  of  South  Amer- 
ica. Its  climate  is  remarkably  fine ;  it  has  a  constant  sea  breeze 
and  fogs  are  almost  unknown.  Its  temperature  is  free  from  ex- 
tremes. For  twenty-nine  years  the  mean  temperature  during 
the  months  of  June,  July,  and  August  has  been  79  degrees,  and 
for  December,  January,  and  February,  44.8  degrees.  And  its 
water  supply  is  excellent. 

Located  upon  the  system  of  inland  waterways  now  in  process 
of  construction,  and  connected  with  the  great  southern  railway 
lines,  it  has  every  facility  for  conamerce,  and,  directly  connected 
with  the  vast  coal  fields,  it  offers  advantages  for  a  government 
coaling  station  second  to  no  other  port  on  the  coast. 


FOKT  CASWELL  AT  THE  PKESENT  TIME. 

In  reply  to  my  request  through  Senator  Overman  for  particu- 
lars of  the  present  defenses  at  Fort  Caswell,  which  has  been 
made  one  of  the  most  important  military  posts  on  our  coast,  the 
Assistant  Secretary  of  War  says : 

"Fort  Caswell  is  situate  in  Brunswick  County,  North  Caro- 
lina, about  two  miles  from  Southport  and  twenty-two  miles  from 
«  Wilmington.  The  military  reservation  includes  Oak  Island  and 
contains  an  area  of  2,325  acres.  It  is  the  headquarters  of  the 
coast  defenses  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  is  garrisoned  by  three  com- 
panies of  the  Coast  Artillery  Corps.  It  is  commanded  by  Col. 
Charles  A.  Bennett,  Coast  Artillery  Corps. 

"The  armament  of  the  post  consists  of  mortars,  direct  and 
rapid-fire  gims,  and  includes  a  mine  defense. 

"The  batteries  have  been  named  in  honor  of  Richard  Caswell, 
a  distinguished  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  an  officer 
of  the  Revolutionary  Army,  and  first  governor  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina ;  of  the  late  Capt.  Alexander  J.  Swift,  Corps  of 
Engineers,  who  was  employed  upon  the  construction  of  Fort 
Caswell,  and  who  died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  field  during 
the  Mexican  War;  of  the  late  Ensign  Worth  Bagley,  United 
States  Navy,  of  North  Carolina,  killed  in  action  at  Cardenas, 
Cuba,  May  11,  1898 ;  of  the  late  First  Lieut.  William  E.  Shipp, 


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548  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Tenth  Cavalry,  killed  at  the  Battle  of  San  Juan,  Cuba ;  of  Sur- 
geon William  S.  Madison,  Third  United  States  Infantry,  who 
was  killed  May  14,  1821,  in  action  with  the  Indians  near  Fort 
Howard,  Wisconsin ;  of  First  Lieut.  Patrick  McDonough,  Corps 
of  Artillery,  United  States  Army,  who  was  killed  August  15, 
1814,  at  the  Battle  of  Fort  Erie,  Canada ;  and  of  Capt.  Henry 
McKavett,  Eighth  United  States  Infantry,  who  was  killed  Sep- 
tember 21,  1846,  at  the  Battle  of  Monterey,  Mexico." 


THE  PROPOSED  COASTAL  CANAL. 

A  great  coastal  canal  system  ultimately  connecting  Boston 
with  the  Rio  Ghrande  entirely  through  inland  waters  would  be 
of  importance  to  the  conmaerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  as  to 
all  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coast.  Such  a  project  has  received 
the  approval  of  many  of  the  most  thoughtful  statesmen  of  the 
coimtry,  and  a  beginning  has  already  been  made  towards  its 
accomplishment.  The  Cape  Cod  Canal,  constructed  by  private 
means,  is  already  finished,  and  it  shortens  the  distance  by  water 
from  Boston  to  New  York  seventy  miles,  while  it  eliminates 
many  of  the  dangers  of  the  old  route.  The  government  has  de- 
termined to  secure  possession  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware 
Canal  with  the  purpose  of  converting  it  into  a  ship  canal  con- 
necting the  two  great  bays.  A  government  ship  canal  has  been 
opened  from  Norfolk  to  Beaufort,  and  at  various  points  along 
the  coast  canals  are  either  in  course  of  construction  or  have  been 
surveyed  by  the  Board  of  Engineers  and  recommended  to  Con- 
gress for  construction. 

The  link  from  the  Cape  Fear  River  to  the  northward,  it  was 
hoped,  might  start  above  Wilmington,  but  the  surveys  showed 
difficulties  that  were  avoided  by  a  sea-level  canal  through  the 
sounds,  reaching  the  river  by  TeHord's  Creek. 

R.  A.  Parsley,  J.  A.  Taylor,  Hugh  MacRae,  and  M.  W. 
Divine,  among  others,  have  been  active  and  prominent  in  pre- 
senting the  arguments  in  favor  of  the  construction  of  the  link 
from  the  Cape  Fear  River;  and  we  can  reasonably  expect  that 
at  no  distant  day  this  important  aid  to  the  conmaerce  of  Wil- 
mington will  be  determined  upon  by  the  Federal  Grovemment, 
and  when  opened  its  advantages  will  be  of  immense  benefit  to 
the  city. 

While  the  senators  and  representatives  in  Congress  from  the 


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Peace  Restored  549 

State,  especially  the  members  from  this  section,  have  been  keenly 
alive  to  the  advantages  that  will  accrue  from  the  construction  of 
this  inland  waterway,  the  work  of  Hon.  John  H.  Small,  the 
member  from  the  First  District,  has  been  of  unexcelled  impor- 
tance. He  has,  indeed,  been  the  genius  and  guardian  spirit  of 
the  inland-waterway  improvement  from  its  inception,  and  he 
is  entitled  to  first  distinction  in  the  acknowledgments  of  all 
patriotic  people  who  recognize  public  service  unselfishly  and 
effectively  rendered.  He  piloted  the  project  through  the  shoals 
and  snags  of  increasing  and  innumerable  difficulties  with  untir- 
ing zeal  and  discretion,  and  this  tribute  is  paid  with  a  grateful 
sense  of  appreciation  and  admiration.  He  conceived  a  project 
national  in  scope,  and  has  been  actuated  by  no  considerations  of 
local  advantage;  his  honors  will  grow  with  the  progress  of  the 
work  until  his  name  will  be  known  and  his  worth  recognized 
from  the  North  Atlantic  to  the  Gulf. 


MUNICIPAL  GOVERNMENT  IN  WILMINGTON. 

The  development  of  the  port  and  city  of  Wilmington  during 
the  last  decade  has  been  in  line  with  the  general  progress  of  the 
coimtry  at  large,  and  perhaps  somewhat  ahead  of  it.  The  im- 
provement of  the  streets  and  the  building  of  tall  structures  along 
the  principal  thoroughfares  denote  a  new  era  for  the  old  colonial 
town,  which  emerged  so  slowly  from  the  shadows  of  the  War 
between  the  States. 

Prior  to  the  year  1877,  the  city  of  Wilmington  had  been  for 
years  governed  by  a  Board  of  Conmiissioners  or  a  Board  of 
Aldermen,  elected  by  the  people.  In  the  year  1877,  for  finan- 
cially important  reasons,  the  General  Assembly  provided  for  a 
Board  of  Audit  and  Finance,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Qt)vemor, 
giving  the  body  so  named  and  constituted  almost  exclusive  con- 
trol of  the  revenue  and  expenditures  of  the  city.  Under  this 
dual  system,  which  worked  with  very  little  friction,  and  always 
in  the  line  of  economy,  the  affairs  of  the  city  were  managed 
until  1907,  when,  in  authorizing  an  issue  of  $900,000  in  bonds 
for  water  and  sewerage  and  for  street  improvements,  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  established  two  additional  boards,  a  Water  and 
Sewerage  Commission  and  a  Street  ConMnission.  In  1909  still 
another  was  added,  a  Police  and  Fire  Commission.  Under  this 
state  of  affairs  there  were  four  separately  constituted  boards 


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550  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

managing  different  departments  of  the  municipality,  with  re- 
sulting clash  of  authority  and  responsibility.  Over  them  all, 
the  Board  of  Audit  and  Finance  held  control  of  the  purse 
strings. 

The  inconvenience  of  transacting  business  with  so  many  de- 
partments managing  the  affairs  of  the  city  without  coordination, 
and  naturally  therefore  with  lack  of  economy,  became  so  appar- 
ent that  at  an  election,  when  the  question  was  submitted,  the 
people  almost  unanimously  adopted  the  commission  form  of 
government.  In  1911,  a  coimcil  of  five  members  superseded  all 
of  the  boards  previously  existing,  and  for  nearly  five  years  the 
city  has  been  under  this  form  of  government.  Although  some 
good  has  been  accomplished  by  simplifying  governmental  meth- 
ods, much  more  might  be  done,  it  is  believed,  by  the  employment 
of  a  municipal  manager,  as  is  being  done  in  some  other  cities, 
and  by  following  more  closely  the  methods  adopted  by  business 
corporations. 

The  commission  form  of  municipal  government  has  not 
proved  a  success,  except  in  cases  where  notorious  graft  prevailed, 
and  the  tendency  of  municipal  reform  seems  to  be  upon  the 
lines  adopted  successfully  by  the  Germans  of  having  trained 
managers  and  concentrated  control.  As  Price  Collier  says: 
"No  State  can  make  men.  No  State  can  produce  wealth  and 
worth.  These  three — ^men,  and  wealth,  and  worth — are  pro- 
duced, and  produced  only,  where  men  measure  themselves 
against  men  for  the  mastery  over  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  with- 
out adventitious  aids  of  any  kind  and  under  the  protection  of 
laws  that  all  make  and  all  obey.  Our  mistakes  and  our  political 
troubles  have  mostly  arisen  from  a  wrong  interpretation  of 
^government  by  the  people.'  It  has  never  meant,  and  can  never 
be  successful  when  it  is  interpreted  as  meaning,  that  each  indi- 
vidual shall  take  an  active  part  in  government.  This  is  the 
catch-penny  doctrine  preached  from  the  platform  by  the  dema- 
gogue. The  real  spirit  of  'government  by  the  people'  is  merely 
that  they  should  at  all  times  have  control,  and  keep  control,  of 
their  governors." 

Arthur  J.  Brinton,  in  the  Dispatch,  says:  ''When  James 
Bryce,  late  British  Ambassador  to  the  United  States,  a  keen, 
acute,  brilliant  observer  of  American  affairs,  wrote  a  quarter  of 
a  century  ago  that  the  Americans  knew  how  to  do  some  things 
well,  but  did  not  know  how  to  run  their  city  governments,  the 
observation  hurt.    Here  is  Mr.  Bryce's  exact  language:   'There 


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is  no  denying  that  the  government  of  cities  is  the  one  conspicu- 
ous failure  of  the  United  States.  The  deficiencies  of  the  Na- 
tional Government  tell  but  little  for  evil  on  the  welfare  of  the 
people.  The  faults  of  the  State  governments  are  insignificant 
compared  with  the  extravagance,  corruption,  and  mismanage- 
ment which  mark  the  administration  of  most  of  the  great  cities. 
There  is  not  a  city  with  a  population  exceeding  two  hundred 
thousand  where  the  poison  germs  have  not  sprxmg  into  a  vigor- 
ous life.  In  some  of  the  smaller  ones,  down  to  seventy  thousand, 
it  needs  no  microscope  to  note  the  results  of  their  growth.' 

"Such  criticism  stung.  American  cities,  feeling  the  wound, 
have  sought  a  soothing  salve  for  their  hurt  feelings  in  revolu- 
tionizing the  form  of  their  city  governments.  Mayors  have 
served  them  ill;  municipal  officials  have  been  corrupt.  Away 
with  them!  Let  us  get  our  city  governments  on  a  business 
basis ;  let  us  run  them  as  we  run  our  private  business." 

The  present  mayor  of  Wilmington,  Parker  Quince  Moore,  is 
a  worthy  descendant  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the  colonial  Cape 
Fear  described  by  the  British  Governor  Burrington  in  his  offi- 
cial dispatches  to  the  Home  Government  as  the  "pestiferous 
Moore  family,"  who  vexed  the  Royal  Government  at  Brunswick 
by  their  revolutionary  tendencies,  and  later,  on  the  19th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1766,  advocated  the  first  armed  resistance  on  the  Ameri- 
can continent  to  the  authority  of  their  Sovereign  Lord,  King 
George. 

Mayor  Moore  is  not  only  to  the  manner  bom,  but  his  busi- 
ness training,  his  patriotic  spirit,  and  the  charm  of  his  pleasing 
personality  have  established  him  in  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  classes  of  our  people.  To  my  request  for  an  expression 
of  his  observations  of  municipal  government  he  has  kindly  re- 
sponded as  follows : 

"For  some  years  there  has  been  an  increasing  demand  in  this 
country  for  better  municipal  government,  and,  if  the  views 
attributed  to  an  eminent  statesman — that  we  had  the  worst- 
governed  municipalities  in  the  world — is  even  approximately 
correct,  there  is  need  for  change.  While  we  may  not  be  quite 
prepared  to  accede  to  so  severe  an  arraignment,  many  of  us  are 
fully  convinced  that  the  ordinary  government  of  our  cities  and 
towns  is  very  far  from  being  noticeable  for  the  effective  and  eco- 
nomic management  usually  prevailing  in  other  corporations. 

"The  first  move  made  in  the  direction  of  advantageous  change 
was  in  Galveston,  where  what  has  been  popularly  called  the  com- 


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552  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

mission  form  of  government  was  first  instituted.  Several  hun- 
dred cities  have  since  undertaken  this  method,  and  as  a  step 
forward  in  the  betterment  of  conditions  it  is  to  be  highly  ap- 
proved. While  not  all  cities  or  towns  had  so  wide  a  margin  as 
Galveston,  between  corruption  and  extravagance  on  the  one 
hand  and  honest  administration  on  the  other,  upon  which  to 
work,  and  while  therefore  the  changes  made  elsewhere  have  not 
indicated  the  same  tremendous  improvement,  it  is  imquestion- 
ably  true  that  there  has  been  a  general  and  decided  tendency 
towards  a  higher  standard  in  municipal  government  That  the 
commission  form  of  government  is  not  in  itself  a  panacea  for 
all  ills  of  municipalities  has  been  ascertained  and  is  admitted, 
but  the  method  permits  of  more  opportunities  for  improvement, 
and  offers  a  better  basis  upon  which  to  promote  the  interest  of 
taxpayers,  who  may  be  likened  to  stockholders  in  a  corporation, 
except  that  they  secure  dividends  through  savings  rather  than 
from  profits. 

"In  our  own  city,  the  new  government  had  a  small  field  for 
accomplishment,  as  the  previous  ones  had  been  economic  and 
conservative — possibly  a  little  too  conservative.  It  was  the 
result  of  the  infliction  on  the  city  of  too  many  commissions, 
though  the  establishment  of  these  was  due  to  a  desire  for  the 
abolition  of  harmful  politics,  and  was  attributable  to  an  effort 
in  the  direction  of  better  things.  The  form  as  we  now  have  it 
was  intended  to  simplify  and  improve.  This  it  has  done,  but 
there  is  more  to  be  accomplished.  We  should  advance  further 
by  making  our  coamcil  more  of  a  legislative  and  less  of  an  execu- 
tive body,  and  by  consolidating  departmental  management  un- 
der one  responsible  head,  following  the  method  forced  by  expe- 
rience on  all  commercial  corporations.  The  appointment  of  a 
city  manager,  having  charge  of  executive  and  administrative 
work,  subject  to  the  legislative  control  of  the  council,  would,  in 
my  judgment,  unify  the  work  of  the  government,  promote  har- 
mony of  operation,  secure  economy  and  effectiveness  (which  is 
practically  the  same  thing),  and,  while  not  interfering  with  the 
right  of  the  people  to  select  their  own  rulers,  would  secure  man- 
agement which  would  approve  itself  in  lower  taxes,  higher  effi- 
ciency, less  deference  to  selfish  interests.  Several  cities  are  try- 
ing out  the  manager  plan,  already  successful  in  other  coimtries, 
and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  all  will  adopt  it  eventually." 

J.  Allan  Taylor,  Esq.,  one  of  our  most  eminent  publicists  and 
logicians,  whose  experience  as  an  alderman  of  the  city  of  Wil- 


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mington  in  former  years  increases  the  weight  of  his  excellent 
opinion,  has  expressed  to  me  his  view  of  municipal  government 
in  the  following  words : 

"Among  the  expedients  tried  for  the  betterment  of  city  gov- 
ernment is  the  commission  form,  but  the  principle  of  this  form 
of  administration  is  only  indifferently  understood  and  worse 
.  applied.  The  principle  proceeds  upon  the  true  conception  of 
municipal  government — that  the  nearer  government  comes  to 
the  control  of  the  citizen  in  both  life  and  property  the  more 
closely  it  should  approach  industrial  corporate  management, 
and  the  expedient  has  proved  successful  just  in  the  degree  that 
its  true  conception  has  been  appreciated  and  its  true  principle 
applied.  The  political  element  is  so  ever-present  and  persistent 
that  capable  administration  can  obtain  only  under  conditions  of 
civic  pride  and  sense  of  property  responsibility,  and  when  it  is 
remembered  that  of  our  municipal  electorate  only  about  four 
per  cent  represent  real  property  owners,  the  difficulty  of  admin- 
istering city  government  on  a  business  basis  would  seem  an  all 
but  insoluble  problem. 

"In  regard  to  our  local  government,  we  have  never  had  the 
commission  form  except  in  name,  and  the  opportunity  for  giv- 
ing the  theory  a  practical  test  was  lost  when  political  pressure 
proved  strong  enough  to  dictate  the  terms  of  legislative  enact- 
ment, so  that  the  present  system  is  distinguishable  from  our  old 
form  of  aldermanic  government  only  as  respects  the  payment 
of  salary  to  councilmen  and  the  shearing  of  the  mayor  of  all 
magisterial  power.  Ward  lines  still  mark  the  political  influ- 
ence that  shaped  the  system,  a  condition  thoroughly  inconsistent 
with  the  choosing  of  coimcilmen  with  the  single  idea  of  fitness, 
and  this  is  the  rock  on  which  our  experiment  has  been  wrecked. 
With  ward  lines  abolished,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it 
would  be  possible  to  elect  men  at  large  qualified  to  administer 
the  government  on  business  principles,  provided  the  duties  of 
councilmen  were  made  directorial  and  the  salary  eliminated. 

"The  ability  of  the  city  to  pay  salaries  commensurate  with 
the  imdivided  services  of  capable  men  is  obviously  impossible, 
and  the  only  practical  alternative  is  the  making  of  the  office  of 
councilman  an  honorarium.  The  commission  form  of  govern- 
ment thrives  just  in  proportion  as  the  politician  is  absent  and 
the  business  man  present." 


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554  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


THE  KEVOLUTION  OF  1898.^ 

"The  year  1898  marked  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  North 
Carolina,  and  especially  of  the  city  of  Wilmington.  Long  con- 
tinued evils,  borne  by  the  community  with  a  patience  that  seems 
incredible,  and  which  it  is  no  part  of  my  purpose  to  describe, 
culminated,  on  the  10th  day  of  November,  in  a  radical  revolu- 
tion, accompanied  by  bloodshed  and  a  thorough  reorganization 
of  social  and  political  conditions.  It  is  commonly  referred  to 
as  the  Wilmington  Riot,  and  legally  and  technically  it  may  be 
properly  so  termed,  but  not  in  the  usual  sense  of  disorderly  mob 
violence,  for,  as  was  said  by  an  army  officer  who  was  present 
and  witnessed  it,  it  was  the  quietest  and  most  orderly  riot  he  had 
ever  seen  or  heard  of.  A  negro  printing  office  was  destroyed  by 
a  procession  of  perfectly  sober  men,  but  no  person  was  injured 
until  a  negro  deliberately  and  without  provocation  shot  a  white 
man,  while  others,  armed  and  defiant,  occupied  the  streets,  and 
the  result  was  that  about  twenty  of  them  were  killed  and  the  rest 
scattered.  It  constituted  an  interesting  chapter  in  the  public 
history  of  the  country,  and  therefore  I  will  not  enlarge  upon 
it  further  than  to  say  that  it  was  the  spontaneous  and  imani- 
mous  act  of  all  the  white  people,  and  was  prompted  solely  by 
an  overwhelming  sense  of  its  absolute  necessity  in  behalf  of 
civilization  and  decency." 

Conditions  in  Wilmington  were  somewhat  similar  to  those 
described  by  Woodrow  Wilson  in  his  History  of  the  American 
People  as  existing  in  the  South  in  Reconstruction  days :  "Ad- 
venturers swarmed  out  of  the  North,  as  much  the  enemies  of  one 
race  as  of  the  other,  to  cozen,  b^uile,  and  use  the  negro.  The 
white  men  were  aroused  by  a  mere  instinct  of  self-preserva- 
tion." The  city  government  had  long  been  controlled  by  parti- 
zans  dependent  upon  the  negro  vote  and  was  not  at  all  responsive 
to  enlightened  opinion.  The  ills  attending  that  deplorable  con- 
dition had  operated  to  check  enterprise,  arrest  development,  and 
produce  stagnation.  The  city  had  ceased  to  make  industrial  and 
commercial  progress.  Whatever  increase  there  was  in  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  was  mainly  due  to  the  influx  of  indolent  and 
undesirable  negroes,  whose  attitude  towards  the  whites  had  be- 
come imbearable.  Hope  of  better  days  had  almost  faded  away 
when  a  vile  publication  in  a  negro  newspaper  aroused  the  whites 

iBased  in  part  on  Ck)lonel  Waddell's  Memories. 


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Peace  Restored  555 

to  action  and  determined  them  to  rid  the  city  of  the  pests  that 
had  been  a  menace  to  its  peace  and  an  incubus  on  its  prosperity. 
It  was  resolved  to  purge  the  city  and  to  displace  the  inefficient 
government. 

At  11  o'clock  on  Wednesday,  November  9,  a  remarkable 
meeting  of  the  leading  citizens  was  held  at  the  courthouse,  at 
which  Col.  A.  M.  Waddell,  chairman  of  the  meeting,  under 
resolutions  adopted,  appointed  a  committee  composed  of  twenty- 
five  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  the  city  to  adopt  meas- 
ures to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  the  meeting. 

It  was  demanded  that  the  offending  negro  editor  leave  the 
city  within  twenty-four  hours,  never  to  return,  and  that  the 
press  on  which  his  paper  was  published  be  shipped  away.  A 
number  of  negro  ministers  and  other  reputable  members  of  the 
race  were  asked  to  use  their  influence  to  see  that  these  demands 
were  met  peaceably  and  to  respond  within  a  given  time.  Owing 
to  the  failure  on  the  part  of  a  negro  to  deliver  the  reply  within 
the  specified  time,  the  white  citizens,  after  waiting  far  beyond 
the  appointed  hour,  marched  to  the  office  of  the  paper  and 
destroyed  the  printing  press  and  other  equipment.  By  acci- 
dent and  not  by  intention,  fire  resulted,  and  the  building  was 
destroyed,  to  the  regret  of  the  white  people.  Bloodshed,  as 
Colonel  Waddell  stated  in  the  foregoing  quotation  from  his 
Memories,  was  begun  by  the  negroes,  it  being  the  purpose  of 
the  white  people  to  avoid  all  bloodshed  and  needless  violence. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  of  this  revolution,  the  mayor  and 
board  of  aldermen  then  in  charge  of  the  city  of  Wilmington 
resigned,  and  their  successors  were  nominated  and  elected. 
Thus  there  was  an  entire  change  in  the  city  government,  and 
the  order  of  things  then  instituted  has  continued  uninterrupted 
ever  since.  The  effect  of  the  change  upon  the  prosperity  of 
Wilmington  was  most  happy,  and  the  cily  then  took  a  start  in 
progress  which  has  never  ceased. 

It  was  only  imder  stem  necessity  that  the  action  of  the  white 
people  was  taken,  and  while  some  of  the  incidents  were  de- 
plored by  the  whites  generally,  yet  when  we  consider  the  peace- 
able and  amicable  relations  that  have  since  existed,  the  good 
government  established  and  maintained,  and  the  prosperous, 
happy  conditions  that  have  marked  the  succeeding  years,  we 
realize  that  the  results  of  the  Revolution  of  1898  have  indeed 
been  a  blessing  to  the  commimity. 


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556  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


CAPE  FEAE  NEWSPAPERS. 

If  we  may  believe  the  historian  Williamson,  the  Lords  Pro- 
prietors and  the  royal  governors  during  their  administration  of 
affairs  were  extremely  hostile  to  the  establishment  of  news- 
papers in  the  colony.  Doubtless  they  knew  well  the  power  of 
an  imf ettered  press,  and  dreaded  its  influence  upon  the  minds 
of  the  people.  Nor  did  the  circumstances  and  conditions  of  the 
early  times  offer  any  financial  inducement  for  establishing  a 
printing  house.  It  was  not  until  1749  that  a  press  was  set  up 
in  the  colony.  In  that  year  James  Davis  erected  one  at  New 
Bern;  and  in  1755,  some  post  offices  being  then  established  by 
which  newspapers  could  be  distributed,  Davis  b^an  the  publi- 
cation of  a  paper  in  that  town.  It  was  called  the  North  Caro- 
Una  Gazette,  and  was  printed  on  a  small  sheet,  and  issued 
weekly. 

The  second  press  set  up  in  North  Carolina  was  at  Wilming- 
ton, in  1763,  by  Andrew  Stewart,  who  printed  a  paper  called 
the  Cape  Fear  Gazette  and  Wilmington  Advertiser.  That 
paper  was  discontinued  in  1767,  but  was  succeeded  the  same 
year  by  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury,  published  by  Adam  Boyd. 
Boyd  was  a  man  of  versatile  talents,  an  Englishman,  but  a  true 
friend  to  the  colonies.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  town  of  Wilmington,  in  1775,  and  was  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence.  In  1776 
he  entered  the  ministry  and  was  appointed  a  chaplain  of  the 
Continental  Line. 

We  have  no  means  of  knowing  how  long  the  Mercury  existed, 
nor  have  we  been  able  to  find  copies  of  any  other  publications 
prior  to  1818.  In  that  year,  Mr.  David  Smith,  jr.,  father  of 
the  late  Col.  William  L.  Smith,  formerly  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Wilmington,  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Cape  Fear  Re- 
corder, which  continued  under  his  management  until  1835, 
when  Mr.  Archibald  Maclaine  Hooper  succeeded  him.  Mr. 
Hooper  had  fine,  scholarly  attainments  and  was  fond  of  the 
classics.  He  had  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  and  his  style  was 
characterized  by  ease  and  elegance.  He  was  felicitous  in  ex- 
pression, and  clothed  his  ideas  in  language  chaste  and  beauti- 
ful. He  was  a  near  relative  of  William  Hooper,  the  signer  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  he  was  the  father  of 
Johnson  Hooper,  in  his  day  so  well-known  to  fame  as  the  author 


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Peace  Restored  557 

of  Simon  Suggs,  Talcing  the  Census,  and  other  humorous  works. 
For  a  number  of  years  the  Recorder  was  the  only  paper  pub- 
lished in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  next  paper  established 
was  the  Wilmington  Advertiser. 

About  the  year  1832,  Mr.  Henry  S.  Ellenwood  came  to  Wil- 
mington, and  assumed  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Advertiser. 
He  was  an  educated  gentleman,  and  fitted  for  the  duties  of  a 
journalist.  He  courted  the  muses  with  considerable  success, 
and  much  of  his  work  gave  ample  evidence  of  wit  and  fancy 
and  belles-lettres  culture.  His  connection  with  the  paper  was, 
however,  very  brief,  as  he  died  suddenly  a  short  time  after 
taking  charge.  After  his  death  the  paper  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Joshua  Cochrane,  of  Fayetteville,  and  conducted  by  him 
imtil  the  summer  of  1836,  when  he  died  and  Mr.  F.  C.  Hill 
became  the  editor  and  proprietor,  and  continued  its  publication 
imtil  about  the  year  1842,  when  it  ceased  to  exist. 

Contemporary  with  the  Advertiser  was  the  People's  Press, 
a  paper  published  by  P.  W.  Fanning  and  Thomas  Loring,  the 
latter  being  the  editor-in-chief,  which  position  he  held  for  some 
time,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  and  purchased  the  Stand- 
ard, the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  State,  issued  at 
Kaleigh,  and  he  removed  to  that  city.  There  he  brought  to  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  great  energy,  perseverence,  marked 
ability,  and  a  thorough  familiarity  with  political  history.  He 
was  a  man  of  sanguine  temperament  and  a  warm  partisan,  and 
in  the  excitement  of  controversy  often  indulged  in  expression 
towards  his  political  opponents,  which,  in  his  calmer  moments, 
his  judgihent  condemned.  He  wielded  at  one  time  a  political 
influence  second  to  but  few  men  in  the  State,  and  was  an  ac- 
knowledged leader  of  his  party;  but,  differing  from  them  in 
1842  in  regard  to  their  course  towards  the  banks  of  the  State,  he 
retired  from  the  position  he  held  rather  than  continue  to  hold 
it  at  the  sacrifice  of  his  independence.  Returning  to  Wilming- 
ton, he  established  the  Commercial,  which  he  conducted  for  a 
number  of  years,  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  discon- 
tinue it. 

The  Wilmington  Chronicle  was  established  about  the  year 
1838,  by  Asa  A.  Brown.  It  was  an  exponent  of  the  principles 
of  the  Whig  party,  and  advanced  them  with  great  zeal  and 
ability.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  capable  editor,  a  good  writer,  and  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  In  1851,  he  disposed  of 
the  paper  to  Talcott  Burr,  jr.,  who  changed  its  name  to  the 
Wilmington  Herald. 


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558  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Under  Mr.  Burr's  management,  the  Herald  became  one  of 
the  leading  papers  in  the  State,  and  but  for  his  imtimely  death 
in  1858,  would  have  taken  rank  with  any  in  the  South. 

Mr.  Burr's  peculiar  characteristics  as  a  writer  were  his  ready 
wit  and  sparkling  humor,  overlaying  a  deep  vein  of  strong, 
impulsive  feeling.  Quick,  vivid,  and  flashing,  never  missing 
its  point,  yet  never  striking  to  wound,  abounding  in  gay  and 
pleasant  fancies,  and  always  warm  and  genial  as  the  summer 
air,  his  wit  and  humor  touched  the  commonest  topic  of  everyday 
life,  and  imbued  it  with  new  and  charming  attractiveness.  He 
was  struck  down  by  the  shaft  of  the  Great  Destroyer  in  the 
prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  an  active,  useful,  and  honor- 
able career.  After  his  death,  his  brothers,  C.  E.  and  R.  Burr, 
carried  on  the  paper  for  a  year  or  two,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  A.  M.  Waddell,  and  ceased  to  exist  on  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war. 

The  Wilmington  Journal:  In  the  year  1844,  Alfred  L. 
Price  and  David  Fulton,  imder  the  firm  name  of  Fulton  & 
Price,  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Wilmington  Journal,  a 
paper  destined  to  exercise  a  controlling  influence  for  many 
years  upon  the  political  questions  of  the  day.  The  editorial 
department  was  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Fulton,  and  was  very 
ably  conducted  imtil  his  death,  which  occurred  a  year  or  two 
after  the  establishment  of  the  paper,  when  his  brother,  James 
Fulton,  took  charge  of  its  management. 

James  Fulton  was  no  ordinary  man.  He  possessed  a  vigor- 
ous intellect  and  a  clear  judgment,  was  quick  at  repartee,  and 
prompt  to  take  advantage  of  any  point  exposed  by  an  adver- 
sary ;  but  he  was  always  courteous,  and  rarely  indulged  in  per- 
sonalities. He  wrote  with  great  ease,  and  his  style  was  chaste, 
graceful,  and  vigorous.  He  had  humor,  too,  and  it  bubbled  up 
continually — ^not  that  keen,  pungent  wit  that  stings  and  irri- 
tates, but  that  which  provokes  merriment  by  droll  fancies  and 
quaint  illustrations.  He  read  much,  and  remembered  what  he 
read,  and  could  utilize  it  effectively. 

The  Journal  quickly  became  a  power  in  the  State.  In  this 
section  particularly,  its  influence  was  unbounded.  Mr.  Fulton 
died  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1866,  and  was  succeeded  as 
editor  by  Maj.  J.  A.  Engelhard,  who  sustained  the  high  repu- 
tation the  paper  had  acquired.  Upon  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Alfred  L.  Price,  about  1873,  Col.  William  L.  Saunders  became 
connected  with  the  pdper,  the  editors  being  Engelhard  and  Saim- 


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ders,  an  intellectual  combination  in  jonmalism  seldom  sur- 


Dnring  the  troublous  times  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the 
utterances  of  the  Journal  were  manly,  outspoken,  and  fearless 
in  condemnation  of  measures  regarded  as  oppressive  to  our 
people.  The  editors  practiced  no  temporizing  policy,  but 
boldly  uttered  what  their  convictions  prompted  them  to  declare. 
The  paper  continued  thus  imtil  1876,  when  adverse  circum- 
stances caused  its  suspension  as  a  daily.  It  was  then  pub- 
lished as  a  weekly,  the  name  Wilmington  Journal  being  re- 
tained by  Joshua  T.  James,  the  new  editor  and  proprietor. 

But  few  copies  of  the  earlier  papers  published  in  Wilming- 
ton are  now  in  existence.  Of  some,  not  a  copy  can  be  foimd, 
hence  there  may  be,  and  doubtless  are,  omissions  in  the  present 
list. 

The  Wilmington  Post,  a  Eepublican  paper,  was  established 
in  1866,  but  about  1872  was  discontinued. 

The  North  Carolina  Presbyterian,  weekly,  was  first  estab- 
lished in  Fayetteville,  January  1,  1858,  the  Rev.  George 
McNeill  and  liie  late  Bartholomew  Fuller  being  the  editors.  It 
was  removed  to  Wilmington  in  November,  1874,  John  McLau- 
rin  becoming  the  editor  and  proprietor.  Mr.  McLaurin,  who 
was  one  of  our  most  exemplary  Christian  citizens  and  a  gentle- 
man of  fine  attainments,  continued  its  publication  in  Wilming- 
ton for  about  twenty-five  years,  when  he  sold  it  to  a  Charlotte 
publishing  company,  which  disposed  of  it  later  to  Dr.  A.  J. 
McKelway,  of  Charlotte,  where  it  is  published  as  the  Presby- 
terian Standard. 

The  Wilmington  Sun  had  a  place  in  the  morning  field  of 
Wilmington  journalism,  and  although  short-lived,  having  its 
beginning  in  September,  1879,  and  its  end  in  April,  1880,  it 
left  a  pleasing  memory  in  the  commimity,  which  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  its  able  editor,  Mr.  Cicero  W.  Harris,  and  his 
capable  staff,  Mrs.  Cicero  W.  Harris,  Mr.  Wade  H.  Harris, 
and  Mr.  Harry  P.  Russell. 

For  some  years  prior  to  1879,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris,  who 
were  of  Oxford,  N.  C,  were  conspicuous  in  Wilmington  for 
their  literary  attainments.  Mr.  Harris  was  for  some  time 
editor  of  the  Star,  and  Mrs.  Harris,  who  was  a  woman  of  most 
attractive  personality  and  of  remarkable  energy,  published  a 
magazine,  the  South  Atlantic,  which  might  have  prospered  but 
for  the  financial  depression  of  the  times. 


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560  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

CoL  Wade  H.  Harris,  the  present  editor  of  the  Charlotte 
Observer,  although  a  mere  youth  at  the  time,  served  as  local 
editor  of  the  Sun,  and  today  speaks  of  his  experience  and  train- 
ing in  Wilmington  in  the  warmest  terms  of  appreciation. 

Mr.  Harry  P.  Russell  shared  with  Mrs.  Harris  the  duties  of 
the  business  office.  He  was  a  young  man  of  fine  attainments, 
and  later  was  prominently  connected  with  the  New  York  Sugar 
Exchange  and  amassed  a  comfortable  fortune.  He  died  in 
Orange,  N.  J.,  some  six  years  ago. 

The  Sun  was  printed  by  Messrs.  Jackson  &  Bell,  the  well- 
known  printers  of  Wilmington,  and  had  as  its  capable  fore- 
man, Mr.  Thomas  T.  Seeders,  whose  make-up  was  said  to  be 
the  best  in  the  State. 

The  Africo-American  Presbyterian,  published  in  the  interest 
of  the  colored  members  of  that  denomination  by  Rev.  D.  J. 
Saunders,  a  colored  man  of  remarkable  attainments,  lived  for 
several  years. 

The  North  Carolina  Medical  Journal  was  established  by  Dr. 
Thomas  F.  Wood  in  January,  1878.  It  was  a  monthly  publica- 
tion, ably  edited  and  of  great  value  to  the  profession. 

The  Morning  Star,  the  State's  oldest  daily  newspaper,  was 
founded  September  23,  1867,  by  William  H.  Bernard,  who 
came  from  his  home  in  Fayetteville  just  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
and,  on  October  1,  1865,  with  the  late  Col.  John  D.  Barry, 
began  the  publication  of  the  old  Wilmington  Dispatch,  a  morn- 
ing daily  newspaper,  with  its  offices  of  publication  on  the  south 
side  of  Market  Street,  between  Front  and  Second  Streets.  The 
copartnership  existing  between  Messrs.  Bernard  and  Barry 
lasted  but  a  few  months,  and  there  was  a  dissolution  of  the  firm, 
each  partner  assuming  his  share  of  the  liabilities.  Major 
Bernard  took  charge  of  the  job  printing  department  of  the 
business  and  Colonel  Barry  continued  the  publication  of  the 
newspaper,  which,  after  two  or  three  years,  suspended  publi- 
cation. 

The  job  office  included  in  its  equipment  the  first  press  on 
which  the  Morning  Star  was  printed.  Major  Bernard  removed 
his  part  of  the  business  to  a  room  over  a  grocery  store,  then 
conducted  by  Edwards  &  Hall,  on  Water  Street,  between  Mar- 
ket and  Dock.  He  did  job  printing  exclusively  for  several 
months,  but  on  September  23,  1867,  began  the  publication  of 
the  Star,  which  was  conducted  for  some  months  as  an  evening 
paper,  but  later  took  the  morning  field.     It  has  remained  in 


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Peace  Restored  561 

the  newspaper  firmament  of  the  State  as  a  morning  paper  until 
this  day,  while  other  papers,  started  at  intervals  since,  during 
all  these  years  have,  for  various  reasons,  one  after  another 
dropped  from  the  morning  constellation. 

The  installation  of  a  faster  press  necessitated  a  removal  of  the 
plant  to  what  is  now  known  as  Custom  House  Alley,  where 
it  was  published  for  nearly  ten  years.  In  1876  the  Star  was 
removed  from  that  location  to  Numbers  10  and  11  Princess 
Street,  once  an  inn  of  the  earlier  Cape  Fear  period.  The  build- 
ing at  one  time  housed  the  late  Joseph  Jefferson,  who,  with  his 
theatrical  company,  came  from  New  York  in  a  sailing  vessel, 
playing  in  the  local  theatre  and  making  trips  by  vessel  to  the 
larger  port  cities  of  the  two  Carolinas,  maintaining  permanent 
headquarters  in  Wilmington. 

The  predominant  characteristic  of  the  Star  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Major  Bernard  was  its  intense  loyalty  to  the 
Democratic  party.  Though  conservative,  it  was  not  unmind- 
ful of  the  need  of  party  reform  from  time  to  time.  Its  greatest 
service  was  perhaps  during  what  is  known  as  the  "White  Gov- 
ernment Campaign"  in  North  Carolina  in  1898,  culminating 
in  the  Wilmington  Revolution  in  the  same  year.  Major  Ber- 
nard never  sought  office,  though  for  twenty-seven  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Democratic  Executive  Committee,  and, 
for  a  part  of  the  time,  a  member  of  the  Advisory  Committee  of 
the  party  organization  in  the  State. 

On  May  1,  1909,  on  account  of  impaired  health  and  a  desire 
to  retire  from  active  journalism.  Major  Bernard  sold  the  paper 
to  the  present  owners,  the  Wilmington  Star  Company,  Inc., 
composed  of  some  of  the  leading  Wilmington  business  men,  the 
incorporators  being  James  Sprunt,  H.  C.  McQueen,  M.  J.  Cor- 
bett.  Col.  Walker  Taylor,  D.  C.  Love,  C.  W.  Yates,  William  H. 
Sprimt,  Capt.  John  W.  Harper,  J.  A.  Springer,  W.  E.  Springer, 
the  late  James  H.  Chadboum,  James  H.  Carr,  Joseph  E. 
Thompson,  Maj.  William  H.  Bernard,  and  his  son,  William 
Stedman  Bernard,  the  last  two  named  having  retained  a  small 
interest  in  the  business  largely  for  sentimental  reasons. 

Upon  the  purchase  of  the  property  by  the  new  owners,  in 
1909,  the  paper  was  moved  to  quarters  fitted  up  for  it  in  the 
Orton  Building,  a  perfecting  press  was  installed,  and  new  type- 
setting machines  were  added.  Within  the  next  four  years  the 
paper  about  doubled  its  circulation  in  Wilmington  and  tribu- 
tary counties  in  eastern  North  Carolina  and  upper  South  Caro- 

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562  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Una.  It  has  devoted  its  energies  for  the  most  part  since  that 
time  to  the  educational  and  moral  advancement  of  the  com- 
munity, to  advocacy  of  a  conmiission  form  of  government,  en- 
forcement of  law,  and  the  general  upbuilding  of  the  commimity. 
In  1914,  its  business  having  outgrown  its  former  quarters,  an 
eligible  site  was  purchased  from  the  Murchison  estate,  and 
the  paper  has  moved  into  a  home  of  its  own  on  Chestnut  Street, 
overlooking  the  United  States  post-office  groimds  and  in  close 
proximity  to  the  business  district  of  the  city.  With  the  removal 
into  its  new  home,  a  modem  perfecting,  stereotyping  press 
has  been  added  to  its  equipment  and  other  improvements  have 
been  made. 

Financially,  the  paper  has  prospered  and  was  never  upon  a 
sounder  basis.  The  outlook  for  the  future  is  all  that  could  be 
desired,  and  coming  years  are  expected  to  justify  fuUy  the 
faith  that  has  inspired  the  present  owners. 

The  Wilmington  Messenger,  which  was  founded  by  Julius 
A.  Bonitz,  was  removed  to  Wilmington  from  Qt)ldsboro  in 
May,  1887,  at  the  solicitation  of  a  number  of  Wilmington's 
most  influential  business  men,  and  the  first  issue  was  printed 
Jime  29  of  the  same  year  in  the  old  Journal  Building  on  Prin- 
cess Street.  Mr.  Bonitz  was  induced  to  move  to  Wilmington 
after  his  plant  had  twice  been  destroyed  by  fire  within  a  few 
years.  It  was  said  that  he  gave  Wilmington  the  most  progres- 
sive Democratic  daily  paper  of  its  period.  He  continued  as 
owner  and  editor  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  February  7,  1891, 
and  on  April  5  of  the  same  year  the  plant  and  good  will  were 
purchased  under  foreclosure  by  Messrs.  J.  W.  Jackson  and 
Benjamin  Bell,  and  the  paper  was  published  under  the  firm 
name  of  Jackson  &  Bell. 

The  Messenger  was  printed  without  missing  a  single  issue 
from  Mr.  Bonitz's  death  Until  it  was  taken  over  bv  the  new 
proprietors,  and  it  was  continued  as  an  eight-page  publication. 

The  paper  under  its  new  ownership  was  improved  from  time 
to  time,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  best  edited  and 
most  influential  newspapers  in  eastern  North  Carolina.  As  a 
leader  in  the  campaign  for  white  supremacy  in  1898,  imder 
the  editorship  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Kingsbury,  the  Messenger  did  com- 
mendable service  and  was  recognized  throughout  the  State  as 
a  powerful  factor  in  aiding  the  Democratic  party  to  accomplish 
the  political  reforms  of  that  period. 

Dr.  Kingsbury  was  succeeded  in  the  editorial  chair  by  Sam- 


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uel  T.  Ashe,  another  experienced  editor,  who  remained  with 
the  Messenger  until  its  suspension. 

The  Messenger  suspended  publication  June  5,  1907,  after 
serving  well  its  day  and  generation  for  twenty  years.  The  pro- 
prietors discontinued  the  paper  in  order  to  give  closer  attention 
to  the  job  department  of  the  plant,  this  feature  of  the  business 
having  greatly  increased  and  having  become  more  profitable 
than  the  newspaper. 

The  Evening  Review  was  published  in  Wilmington  for  sev- 
eral years  by  its  founder,  editor,  and  proprietor,  the  late  Joshua 
T.  James,  a  prominent  member  of  one  of  the  old  substantial 
families  of  the  Cape  Fear,  noted  for  its  intelligence  and  re- 
finement, its  public  spirit  and  unselfish  devotion  to  the  best 
interests  of  our  people.  Mr.  James  was  a  bom  journalist,  alert, 
intelligent,  with  the  old-time  urbanity  which  was  a  family 
characteristic.  Emerging  from  the  four  years'  war,  he  served 
for  years  on  the  old  Journal  staflF,  and  then,  without  the  neces- 
sary means,  he  bravely  undertook  a  task  beset  with  difficulties 
and  which  at  times  seemed  insurmountable — ^the  establishment 
of  an  evening  daily  newspaper. 

The  Review  was  a  clean,  dignified  newspaper,  ably  edited. 
It  had  the  good  will  of  our  community,  and  the  lamented  death 
of  its  proprietor  cut  short  the  honorable  career  of  one  of  the 
builders  of  a  better  Wilmington.  It  lived  from  December,  1875, 
until  July,  1898. 

The  Evening  Dispatch  was  begun  the  10th  of  January,  1895, 
upon  the  "conmionwealth  basis"  by  four  printers  with  very 
slender  pecuniary  means,  who  agreed  to  work  without  any  com- 
pensation until  the  venture  was  established  upon  a  paying  foun- 
dation. After  two  months'  struggle  one  of  the  four  partners 
died,  and  the  three  survivors  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  R.  K. 
Bryan  as  editor.  For  two  years  the  paper  had  a  precarious 
existence,  and  dire  necessity  forced  two  of  the  promoters  into 
more  remunerative  employment.  The  survivor,  Mr.  R.  P. 
McClammy,  became  the  sole  proprietor,  and  now  after  nine- 
teen years  of  changing  fortune  he  has  established  it  upon  a 
sound,  paying  basis,  with  a  competent  staff  of  enterprising  men 
under  his  efficient  leadership.  It  has  grown  from  a  mere  hand- 
bill of  local  items  to  its  present  respectable  dimensions,  and 
from  its  original  dingy  quarters  into  a  home  of  its  own  which 
was  specially  designed  for  larger  growth  and  influence.  Re- 
cently it  has  been  equipped  with  modem  facilities,   and  its 


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564  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

patronage  as  the  only  evening  daily  is  increasing  by  leaps  and 
bounds.  Mr.  R.  P.  McClammy  is  the  proprietor,  Mr.  James 
H.  Cowan  is  editor,  and  Mr.  William  E.  Lawson  is  city  editor. 

De.  T.  B.   Kingsbury. 

A  chapter  on  the  newspapers  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  in  these 
Chronicles  would  be  incomplete  without  particular   reference 
to  the  career  of  our  veteran  journalist  and  scholar,  the  late  Dr. 
Theodore  B.  Kingsbury,  whose  memory  is  venerated  by  those 
who  were  his  contemporaries  and  by  our  citizens  generally, 
who  regarded  him  with  great  respect  and  admiration.      We 
learn  from  Captain  Ashe's  fine  tribute  in  his  Biographical 
History  of  North  Carolina,  that  early  in  life  after  Mr.  Kings- 
bury left  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  he  published  a 
literary  weekly  at  Oxford,  North  Carolina,  under  the  name  of 
the  Leisure  Hour,  which  attracted  much  attention  and  drew 
high  conunendation  from  John  R.  Thompson,  editor  of  the 
Southern  Literary  Messenger,  then  the  most  meritorious  liter- 
ary magazine  published  in  the  South,  and  from  Paul  H.  Hayne, 
the  poet,  then  editing  Russell's  Magazine,  a  large  monthly  of 
genuine  merit,  published  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and 
from  other  gifted  editors.     In  June,  1859,  he  was  elected  to 
the  chair  of  literature  in  Trinity  College ;  but  his  thoughts  and 
religious  fervor  led  him  into  another  field,  and  he  entered  the 
ministry,  and  continued  in  that  calling  until  1869.     It  was 
about  that  time,  in  March,  1869,  that  he  was  employed  as  an 
associate  editor  of  the  Raleigh  Sentinel,  then  conducted  by  Hon. 
Josiah  Turner,  and  for  two  years  and  more  he  continued  in  that 
capacity.    While  on  the  Sentinel,  a  momentous  crisis  in  public 
affairs  was  precipitated  by  the  Republican  administration  of 
the  State,  and  Josiah  Turner,  with  unequaled  boldness,  made 
the  Sentinel  the  champion  of  free  government  and   of  the 
traditional  liberties  of  the  people.    No  greater  service  was  ever 
performed  by  any  press  than  that  rendered  to  the  people  of 
North  Carolina  by  the  Sentinel.    In  those  exciting  and  perilous 
times  Dr.  Kingsbury  wrote  much,  and  with  strength  and  pa- 
triotic fervor,  jfor  the  editorial  columns  of  the  paper,  and  he 
deserves  to  share  in  the  great  fame  that  is  so  justly  awarded 
Josiah  Turner  for  his  bold  and  resolute  editorial  work.     On 
three  occasions  Dr.  Kingsbury  declined  the  editorship  of  the 
Raleigh  Christian  Advocate;  but  he  edited  Our  Living  and  Our 


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Peace  Restored  565 

Dead  for  several  years,  a  publication  of  a  high  order  of  merit, 
begun  by  Col.  S.  D.  Pool;  and  he  also  edited  the  Educational 
Journal  in  1874  and  1875,  doing  much  to  advance  the  cause  of 
public  education  at  that  time  in  North  Carolina.  His  contribu- 
tions to  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead  were  noteworthy,  especially 
his  literary  criticisms.  About  that  time  he  was  offered  a  posi- 
tion as  editorial  writer  on  the  Wilmington  Star,  and,  accepting 
it,  began  a  long  career  of  journalism  that  gave  great  satis- 
faction to  his  friends  and  the  patrons  of  that  paper.  He  con- 
tinued with  the  Star  for  nearly  thirteen  years,  when  he  became 
editor  of  the  Wilmington  Messenger,  with  which  he  remained 
for  about  as  long  a  period,  having  had  an  experience  in  journal- 
ism in  Wilmington  of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  As  an 
editor,  Dr.  Kingsbury  brought  to  the  discussion  of  his  subjects 
a  large  store  of  varied  learning,  and  his  productions  were  read 
with  great  avidity  by  a  host  of  admirers  and  received  the  warm 
commendation  of  many  of  the  ablest  men  and  best  thinkers  of 
the  State.  In  particular  were  his  literary  articles  valued  by 
the  most  cultured  among  the  readers  of  his  papers.  The  teach- 
ers and  the  professors  of  the  various  colleges,  the  lawyers,  and 
the  ministers  of  every  denomination  were  generous  and  un- 
stinted in  their  praise,  while  his  work  was  not  without  the 
appreciation  of  the  editorial  fraternity.  His  style  was  clear 
and  perspicuous,  elegant  in  diction  and  remarkably  forceful, 
and  there  ran  through  all  his  editorials  a  strain  of  patriotism, 
a  love  of  North  Carolina,  an  appreciation  of  the  excellence  of 
her  great  men,  that  was  a  distinctive  characteristic  of  his  work. 
In  particular  was  he  as  an  editor  at  pains  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  the  great  feats  performed  by  the  North  Carolina 
soldiers  in  the  War  between  the  States,  and  to  instill  into  the 
minds  of  the  present  generation  a  correct  understanding  of  the 
causes  that  led  to  the  bloody  contest.  Indeed,  no  other  editor 
of  the  State  has  been  more  patriotic  than  Dr.  Kingsbury,  and 
none  has  excelled  him  in  elegance  of  diction  and  in  a  large 
vocabulary  and  literary  merit. 


THE   WILMINGTON  BAR 

The  Wilmington  Bar  has  always  been  one  of  strength  and 
power,  even  from  colonial  days.  Among  the  earlier  members 
who  stood  high  were  William  Hooper  and  Archibald  Maclaine ; 


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666  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

later,  the  eminent  Samuel  R.  Jocelyn,  famed  as  an  equity  law- 
yer, Judge  J.  G.  Wright,  William  Hill,  and  William  K  Hal- 
sey;  then  Joseph  Alston  Hill,  William  B.  Meares,  and  Owen 
Holmes,  followed  by  William  A.  Wright  and  Joshua  G. 
Wright.  Just  before  the  war,  in  addition  to  the  two  Wrights, 
were  Lucian  Holmes,  Thomas  Miller,  Adam  Empie,  Mauger 
London,  Eli  Hall,  John  L.  Holmes,  Oliver  P.  Meares,  Moody 
B.  Smith,  Griffith  J.  McRee,  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  Alfred  M, 
Waddell,  and  Fred  Poisson,  and  on  a  somewhat  different  level 
from  any  of  these  were  George  Davis,  Robert  Strange,  and 
Samuel  J.  Person. 

After  the  war  the  eloquent  voice  of  Joshua  G.  Wri^t  was 
heard  no  more,  but  his  mantle  fell  on  Charles  M.  Stedman. 
Other  accessions  were  the  brothers  William  S.  Devane  and 
Duncan  J.  Devane,  Judge  Robert  French,  Duncan  K.  MacRae, 
Eugene  S.  Martin,  and  Marsden  Bellamy.  While  Mr.  Wil- 
liam A.  Wright  was  accorded  a  particular  eminence,  Mr. 
Davis,  Colonel  Strange,  and  Judge  Person  were  without  supe- 
riors in  the  profession  anywhere  in  the  Union.  No  other  city 
of  only  twenty  thousand  inhabitants  oould  boast  of  a  bar  of 
equal  strength,  eloquence  and  learning.  And  there  was  never 
heard  any  suggestion  of  scandal  among  them.  The  shining 
lights  of  that  period  have  passed  away,  their  places  being  taken 
by  their  sons  and  kinsmen  and  others  of  excellent  learning, 
fine  attainments,  and  high  character. 

Members  of  the  bar  now  licensed  to  practice  in  New  Hanover 
County  are:  C.  C.  Bellamy,  E.  H.  Bellamy,  J.  D.  Bellamy, 
J.  D.  Bellamy,  jr.,  Marsden  Bellamy,  W.  J.  Bellamy,  W.  M. 
Bellamy,  L.  A.  Blue,  B.  H.  Bridgers,  E.  K.  Bryan,  K.  O. 
Burgwin,  E.  T.  Burton,  Robert  Branch,  W.  B.  Campbell,  C.  C. 
Cashwell,  J.  O.  Carr,  A.  C.  Chalmers,  T.  W.  Davis,  Rufus 
DeVane  Dickson,  George  B.  Elliott,  B.  G.  Empie,  S.  M.  Empie, 
W.  P.  Gafford,  Louis  Goodman,  R  G.  Grady,  L.  Clayton 
Grant,  Lee  Greer,  J.  F.  Head,  C.  D.  Hogue,  G.  H.  Howell, 
W.  F.  Jones,  Graham  Kenan,  Woodus  Kellum,  J.  C.  King, 
J.  W.  Little,  C.  C.  Loughlin,  E.  S.  Martin,  Iredell  Meares, 
Thomas  D.  Meares,  jr.,  H.  McClammy,  J.  G.  McCormick, 
W.  B.  McKoy,  J.  A.  McNorton,  George  L.  Peschau,  L.  J. 
Poisson,  A.  G.  Ricaud,  H.  E.  Rogers,  George  Rountree,  Robert 
Ruark,  P.  D.  Satchwell,  J.  H.  Scull,  K  C.  Sidbury,  J.  A. 
Smith,  W.  L.  Smith,  W.  P.  Stacey,  R  W.  Strange,  W.  A. 
Townes,  W.  P.  M.  Turner,  C.  D.  Weeks,  A.  S.  Williams. 


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Peace  Restored  567 


HONORABLE  GEORGE  DAVIS,  CONFEDERATE 
STATES  ATTORNEY  GENERAL. 

On  January  4,  1864,  Hon.  George  Davis,  then  in  the  Con- 
federate States  Senate,  was  appointed  by  President  Davis  At- 
torney General  of  the  Confederacy.  His  fine  attainments  gave 
him  high  eminence  in  the  Cabinet,  and  his  counsel  was  most 
helpful  in  determining  the  many  delicate  questions  that  pressed 
upon  the  President  for  decision,  involving  not  merely  the  con- 
stitutional powers  of  the  government,  but  also  matters  of  great 
import  in  international  law.  The  complications  of  the  war 
period  and  the  fact  thai  the  Confederacy  was  not  recognized 
as  a  sovereign  nation,  made  his  function  as  the  legal  adviser  of 
the  government  exceptional,  and  he  discharged  his  high  duties 
with  great  acceptability  and  distinction. 

The  high  esteem  in  which  Mr.  George  Davis  was  held  by 
his  devoted  chief  is  attested  in  the  following  letter,  addressed  by 
the  Confederate  President  to  his  faithful  Attorney  General 
after  the  evacuation  of  Richmond: 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  25th  April,  1865. 
Hon.  Geo.  Davis,  C,  8,  Attorney  Oeneral. 

Mt  Deab  Sir: — I  have  no  hesitation  in  expressing  to  you  my  opinion 
that  there  is  no  obligation  of  honor  which  requires  you,  under  existing 
circumstances,  to  retain  your  present  office.  It  is  gratifying  to  mc  to 
be  assured  that  you  are  willing,  at  any  personal  sacrifice,  to  share  my 
fortunes  when  they  are  least  promising,  and  that  you  only  desire  to 
know  whether  you  can  aid  me  in  this  perilous  hour  to  overcome  sur- 
rounding difficulties.  It  is  due  to  such  generous  friendship  that  I 
should  candidly  say  to  you  that  it  is  not  probable  for  some  time  to  come 
your  services  will  be  needful. 

It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  look  forward  to  being  separated  from 
you.  Tour  advice  has  been  to  me  both  useful  and  cheering.  The 
Christian  spirit  which  has  ever  pervaded  your  suggestions,  not  less 
than  the  patriotism  which  has  marked  your  conduct,  will  be  remem- 
bered by  me  when  in  future  trials  I  may  have  need  for  both. 

Should  you  decide  (my  condition  having  become  rather  that  of  a 
soldier  than  a  civil  magistrate)  to  retire  from  my  Cabinet,  my  sincere 
wishes  for  your  welfare  and  happiness  will  follow  you;  and  I  trust  a 
merciful  Providence  may  have  better  days  in  store  for  the  Confederacy, 
and  that  we  may  hereafter  meet,  when,  our  country's  independence 
being  secured,  it  will  be  sweet  to  remember  how  we  have  suffered  to- 
gether in  the  time  of  her  sorest  trial. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly  your  friend, 

Jefferson  Davis. 


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568  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Chaslotte,  N.  C,  April  26,  1865. 
Hon.  Geo.  Davis,  C,  8.  Attorney  O^neral. 

My  Dear  Sib: — ^Your  letter  dated  yesterday,  tendering  your  resigna- 
tion, has  been  received.  While  I  regret  the  causes  which  compel  you 
to  this  course,  I  am  well  assured  that  your  conduct  now,  as  heretofore, 
is  governed  by  the  highest  and  most  honorable  motives.  In  accepting 
your  resignation,  as  I  feel  constrained  to  do,  allow  me  to  thank  you  for 
the  important  assistance  you  have  rendered  in  the  administration  of 
the  government,  and  for  the  patriotic  zeal  and  acknowledged  ability 
with  which  you  have  discharged  your  trust. 

Accept  my  thanks,  also,  for  your  expressions  of  personal  regard  and 
esteem,  and  the  assurance  that  those  feelings  are  warmly  reciprocated 
by  me. 

With  the  hope  that  the  blessings  of  heaven  may  attend  you  and  yours, 
I  am  most  cordially  your  friend, 

Jeffebson  Davis. 

This  affectionate  regard  for  the  beloved  leader  of  the  Cape 
Fear  was  the  subject  of  repeated  conversations  in  late  years 
between  the  writer  of  the  Chronicles  and  the  distinguished  lady 
who  bore  the  honored  name  of  Jefferson  Davis,  and  who  was 
ever  faithful  and  true  to  him  and  to  the  people  whom  he 
loved. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  sad  intelligence  of  his  death,  she 
wrote  to  me  from  a  sick  bed  the  following  tender  and  sympa- 
thetic lines: 

"I  am  able  to  sit  up  a  little,  and  regret  that  I  am  not  strong 
enough  to  say  as  much  about  dear  Mr.  George  Davis  as  my 
heart  dictates. 

"He  was  one  of  the  most  exquisitely  proportioned  of  men. 
His  mind  dominated  his  body,  but  his  heart  drew  him  near  to 
all  that  was  honorable  and  tender,  as  well  as  patriotic  and 
faithful  in  mankind.  He  was  never  dismayed  by  defeat,  and 
never  dejected.  When  the  enemy  was  at  the  gates  of  Richmond 
he  was  fully  sensible  of  our  peril,  but  calm  in  the  hope  of  re- 
pelling them,  and  if  this  failed,  certain  of  his  power  and  will 
to  endure  whatever  ills  had  been  reserved  for  him. 

"His  literary  tastes  were  diverse  and  catholic,  and  his  anx- 
ious mind  found  relaxation  in  studying  the  literary  confidences 
of  others  in  a  greater  degree  than  I  have  ever  known  in  any 
other  public  man  except  Mr.  Benjamin.  Upon  being  asked  one 
day  how  he  was,  he  answered :  T.  am  very  much  comforted  and 
rested  by  Professor  Holcomb's  Literature  in  Letters/  one  of 
the  few  new  books  which  came  out  during  the  Confederacy. 


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Peace  Restored  569 

One  of  the  few  hard  things  I  ever  heard  him  say  was  when 
some  one  asked  him  if  he  had  read  Swinburne's  Laus  Veneris, 
and  added,  *You  know  it  is  printed  on  wrapping  paper  and 
bound  in  wall  paper.'  He  replied :  'I  have  never  thought  wall 
paper  wholesome,  and  am  sorry  to  know  there  is  enough  wrap- 
ping paper  on  which  to  print  it.' 

"He  was  fond  of  tracing  the  construction  of  languages,  and 
the  variants  from  one  root  were  a  favorite  subject  of  conversa- 
tion with  him. 

"When  he  fell  in  love  and  married  a  charming  woman,  the 
whole  of  Richmond  rejoiced  with  him,  and  expressed  no  doubts 
of  the  happiness  of  either.  Mr.  Davis'  public  life  was  as  irre- 
proachable as  his  private  course.  Once  when  my  husband  came 
home  wearied  with  the  divergence  of  opinions  in  his  Cabinet, 
he  said :  'Davis  does  not  always  agree  with  me,  but  I  generally 
find  he  was  right  at  last.' 

"I  can  not,  of  course,  tell  you  about  his  political  opinions, 
except  that  he  was  one  of  the  strictest  construers  of  the  Con- 
stitution, and  firmly  believed  in  its  final  triumph  over  all 
obstacles  to  freedom. 

"My  husband  felt  for  him  the  most  sincere  friendship,  as 
well  as  confidence  and  esteem,  and  I  think  there  was  never  the 
slightest  shadow  intervened  between  them." 


GEORGE  DAVIS— AN  APPRECIATION. 

Very  early  in  life  it  became  known  that  Mr.  George  Davis 
excelled  in  literary  attainments  and  in  oratory.  On  the  death 
of  Henry  Clay,  he  made  an  address  that  brought  him  an  en- 
viable reputation;  at  the  commencement  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity in  1855,  he  delivered  an  oration — "Olden  Times  on  the 
Cape  Fear" — that  was  pronounced  extraordinary ;  and  the  next 
year  his  address  before  the  Greensboro  Female  College  was  a 
most  remarkable  effort.  After  the  war,  he  delivered  in  Wil- 
mington a  masterful  oration  on  the  political  issues  of  that  day. 
A  similar  address,  delivered  in  Wilmington  in  1876,  is  thus 
described  by  Dr.  Kingsbury  in  the  Morning  Star: 

"The  speech  to  which  we  listened  is  a  very  memorable  one. 
It  will  long  abide  with  us  as  one  of  those  felicitous,  rounded, 
finished  efforts  of  a  highly  endowed  and  noble  intellect  that 
are  a  memory  and  a  joy  forever.    As  a  composition,  the  effort 


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570  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

of  Mr.  Davis  was  very  admirable.  There  was  humor,  there  was 
sarcasm,  there  was  exquisite  irony,  there  were  flashes  of  wit, 
there  was  an  outburst  of  corosive  scorn  and  indignation,  that 
were  wonderfully  artistic  and  effective.  At  times  a  felicity  of 
illustration  would  arrest  your  attention,  and  a  great  outburst 
of  high  and  ennobling  eloquence  would  thrill  you  with  the  most 
pleasurable  emotions.  The  taste  was  exceedingly  fine,  and, 
from  beginning  to  end,  the  working  of  a  highly  cultivated, 
refined,  graceful,  and  elegant  mind  was  manifest.  There  were 
passages  delivered  with  high  dramatic  art  that  would  have 
electrified  any  audience  on  earth.  If  that  speech  had  been 
delivered  before  an  Athenian  audience  in  the  days  of  Pericles, 
in  Kome  in  the  day  when  Cicero  thundered  forth  his  burning 
and  sonorous  eloquence,  or  in  Westminster  Hall,  with  Burke 
and  Fox  and  Sheridan  among  the  auditors,  the  speaker  would 
have  received  their  loudest  acclaims,  and  his  fame  would  have 
^ne  down  the  ages  as  one  of  those  rarely  gifted  men  who  know 
well  how  to  use  their  native  speech  and  to  play  with  the  touch 
of  a  master  on  that  grand  instrument,  the  human  heart. 

"We  could  refer  at  length,  if  opportunity  allowed,  to  the 
scheme  of  his  argument,  to  his  magnificent  peroration,  in  which 
passion  and  imagination  swept  the  audience  and  led  them  cap- 
tive at  the  will  of  the  magician;  to  the  exquisitely  apposite 
illustrations,  now  quaint  and  humorous,  and  then  delicate  and 
pathetic,  drawn  with  admirable  art  from  history  and  poetry  and 
the  Sacred  Truth — ^to  these  and  other  points  we  might  refer. 
But  how  can  words,  empty  words,  reproduce  the  glowing  elo- 
quence and  entrancing  power  of  the  human  voice  when  that 
voice  is  one  while  soft  as  Apollo's  lute,  then  resonant  as  the 
blast  of  a  bugle  under  the  influence  of  deep  passion  ?  How  can 
human  language  bring  back  a  forgotten  strain  or  convey  an 
exact  impression  made  by  the  tongue  of  fire  when  burdened 
with  a  majestic  eloquence  V^ 

From  time  to  time  Mr.  Davis  delivered  other  addressee  on 
literary,  historical,  and  political  subjects.  Especially  notable 
were  those  on  the  death  of  General  Lee  and  of  President  Davis. 

In  the  third  volume  of  Southern  Literature,  Dr.  Alphonso 
Smith,  a  competent  and  severe  critic,  attributes  to  Mr.  Davis 
the  rare  power  of  the 

"Choice  word  and  measured  phrase  above  the  reach 
Of  ordinary  men." 

"He  brought,"  says  Dr.  Smith,  "an  interpretative  imagina- 


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Peace  Restored  571 

tion  to  bear  upon  every  subject  that  he  discussed ;  he  visualized 
the  scenes  and  vitalized  the  events  he  sought  to  portray.  He 
had  that  rarest  of  gifts — the  feeling  for  the  right  V70rd  in  the 
right  place.  There  was  no  strained  after-effect,  but  his  style  was 
clear,  strong,  and  flexible.  He  could  be  dignified  without  being 
heavy,  and  playful  without  being  light."  According  him  great 
ability  as  an  orator.  Dr.  Smith  adds :  "His  power  over  an  audi- 
ence did  not  rest  merely  on  oratorical  gifts,  but  rather  upon 
the  high  moral,  social,  and  civic  ideals  which  he  exemplified 
in  his  daily  life." 

No  man  was  ever  more  revered  in  his  community  than  Mr. 
Davis.  He  was  regarded  as  the  most  illustrious  son  of  the 
Cape  Fear.  When  he  died  the  Wilmington  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce prepared  a  memorial  of  his  life  and  the  Daughters  of 
the  Confederacy  erected  the  monument  to  him  that  stands  in 
the  heart  of  the  city.  Though  he  declined  the  distinction  of- 
fered him  by  Governor  Vance  in  January,  1878,  of  being 
appointed  to  the  office  of  Chief  Justice,  his  memory  was  honored 
by  the  Supreme  Court  when,  on  the  19th  of  October,  1915,  it 
accepted  a  portrait  of  him.  The  occasion  of  the  presentation 
was  notable,  and  Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe  delivered  an  eloquent  and 
masterful  address  reviewing  Mr.  Davis'  life  and  work. 

Would  that  the  youth  of  the  rising  generation  who  daily  pass 
the  bronze  effigy  of  this  foremost  scholar  and  statesman  of  the 
Cape  Fear  knew  more  of  one  whose  wisdom  truly  illustrated 
the  principles  of  law  and  equity,  whose  eloquence  commanded 
the  admiration  of  his  peers,  who  was  beloved  for  his  stainless 
integrity,  and,  shining  in  the  "pure  excellence  of  virtue  and 
refinement,^'  exemplified  with  dignity  and  simplicity,  with 
gentle  courtesy  and  Christian  faith,  the  true  heart  of  chivalry 
in  Southern  manhood.  As  we  contemplate  his  lofty  qualities, 
we  can  not  repress  the  sigh  of  regret  that  such  greatness  is  no 
more.  The  soaring  thought,  the  brilliant  imagination,  the  bal- 
anced judgment,  the  profound  learning  we  do  not  expect  to  see 
every  day,  nor  in  every  generation.  The  stainless  honor,  the 
broad  patriotism,  the  noble  disinterestedness  of  his  public  serv- 
ice are  unhappily  too  little  seen  in  our  public  men.  But  it  is 
surely  not  too  much  to  hope  that  the  example  of  his  blameless 
life  will  not  be  lost  upon  the  people  among  whom  he  lived  so 
long  and  so  honorably.  How  well  he  exemplified  in  his  own 
career  the  beautiful  message  which  he  brought  in  his  early 
years  to  those  just  entering  upon  the  duties  of  life : 


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572  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"Rather  be  yours  the  generous  ambition  to  shine  only  in  the  pure  ex- 
cellence of  virtue  and  refinement.  ♦  ♦  ♦  Go  forth,  then,  into  the 
world  and  meet  its  trials  and  dangers,  its  duties  and  pleasures,  with  a 
firm  integrity  of  heart  and  mind,  looking  ever  onward  and  upward,  and 
walking  erect  before  the  gaze  of  men,  fearless,  because  without  reproach. 
When  the  glad  sunshine  is  upon  you,  rejoice  and  be  happy.  When  the 
dark  hours  come,  light  them  with  a  gentle  patience  and  a  Christian  faith. 

"♦  ♦  ♦  This  above  all:  To  thine  own  self  be  true,  and  it  must  fol- 
low as  the  night  the  day,  thou  canst  not  then  be  false  to  any  man/  " 


THE  GEORGE  DAVIS  MONUMENT. 

By  Mbs.  William  M.  Pabsley. 

Several  years  after  the  death  of  the  Hon.  George  Davis,  the 
Cape  Fear  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  erecting  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  this 
beloved  statesman  of  the  Cape  Fear.  It  was  not,  however,  until 
January,  1904,  that  the  financial  condition  of  the  chapter 
enabled  the  members  to  make  even  a  beginning  in  the  cherished 
undertaking.  At  that  time  a  small  balance  of  $50  in  the 
treasury  was  placed  in  bank  to  the  credit  of  the  George  Davis 
Memorial  Fund,  and  a  committee  of  five  ladies  was  appointed 
to  take  charge  of  the  matter.  The  members  of  this  committee 
were  Mrs.  William  M.  Parsley,  chairman ;  Mrs.  Martin  S.  Wil- 
lard,  president  of  the  chapter,  Mrs.  James  Carmichael,  Mrs. 
Gabriel  Holmes,  and  Miss  Mary  Calder.  Later,  the  number  of 
members  was  increased  to  ten,  and  Mrs.  Jane  D.  DeRosset  was 
elected  chairman,  with  Mrs.  John  C.  James,  secretary. 

The  first  action  of  the  committee  was  to  notify  all  chapters 
of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy  and  camps  of  Confeder- 
ate Veterans  throughout  the  State  of  the  plan,  inviting  their 
cooperation  and  support;  but  these  organizations  were  busy 
with  their  own  local  work,  most  of  them  with  inadequate  means, 
and,  though  expressing  the  heartiest  approval,  they  were  able 
to  contribute  but  little. 

The  first  voluntary  contribution — a  ten-dollar  gold  piece — 
was  made  by  Mrs.  Henry  Eehder,  who,  though  not  a  Daughter 
of  the  Confederacy,  admired  and  revered  Mr.  Davis.  Another 
lady  made  a  contribution  of  $50 — the  proceeds  from  work  by 
her  own  hands.  The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry  gave  a  dra- 
matic entertainment  for  the  benefit  of  the  fund  and  realized 
$90.     The  ever  loyal  and  faithful  George  Davis  Children's 


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Peace  Restored  573 

Chapter  sent  several  gifts  of  $10  each.  But  the  fund  grew 
slowly,  and  the  committee,  feeling  its  inability  to  cope  with 
the  matter,  had  almost  decided  to  return  the  amounts  subscribed 
and  abandon  the  hope  of  erecting  the  monument.  At  this  criti- 
cal time,  however,  one  of  our  leading  business  men,  whose  per- 
sonal admiration  for  Mr.  Davis  gave  him  enthusiasm  for  the 
cause,  subscribed  $1,000  and  persuaded  a  friend  to  contribute 
a  like  amount.  Later,  he  raised  the  remainder  of  the  $5,500 
needed,  and  the  committee  was  at  once  enabled  to  carry  out  its 
plans. 

The  design  of  the  memorial  is  a  portrait  statue  in  bronze  on  a 
base  of  North  Carolina  granite,  executed  by  Francis  H.  Packer, 
of  New  York  City — a  chaste,  beautiful  monument,  with  a  won- 
derfully accurate  likeness  of  Mr.  Davis,  standing  with  his  face 
towards  the  Cape  Fear  River  and  reaching  forward  in  a  charac- 
teristic gesture  of  the  right  hand,  while  the  left  rests  lightly 
upon  the  flag  to  which  he  was  true  to  the  end  of  his  life. 

On  October  14,  1909,  the  cornerstone  was  laid  with  imposing 
ceremonies.  Col.  A.  M.  Waddell  making  the  address;  and  on 
April  20,  1911,  the  monument  was  unveiled  by  four  of  Mr. 
Davis'  grandsons — ^Robert  Cowan  Davis,  Heiskell  Gouvemeur, 
George  Rountree,  and  Donald  MacRae,  jr. 

The  address  of  Judge  Henry  G.  Connor  in  presenting  the 
monument  to  the  city  was  heartily  enjoyed  by  every  one  in  at- 
tendance and  was  an  able  and  brilliant  review  of  the  life  of  Mr. 
Davis,  scintillating  with  touches  of  local  history  and  memories 
that  are  ever  dear  to  every  patriotic  Wilmingtonian.  Following 
Judge  Connor,  the  acceptance  on  behalf  of  Wilmington  was  by 
Mayor  MacRae,  who  spoke  in  his  characteristically  happy,  but 
brief  manner,  as  follows : 

Ladies  and  (Gentlemen  and  United  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy:  It 
is  my  duty  for  the  mayor  and  aldermen,  and  for  all  that  is  best  in  Wil- 
mington, to  receive  this  monument.  It  commemorates  the  virtues  of 
one  of  our  own  fellow-citizens  who,  through  a  long  life  as  a  great 
lawyer,  never  bowed  the  knee  to  Baal,  never  lowered  the  standard  of 
Right,  never  stood  for  anything  which  his  conscience  did  not  approve, 
never  permitted  any  motive  of  selfish  gain  or  advancement  to  move  him 
from  his  integrity.  Though  he  has  crossed  over  the  river,  he  still  sur- 
vives in  the  best  and  broadest  sense;  for  the  life  that  he  lived  is  an 
inspiration  to  all.  The  beauty  of  righteousness  is  still  crimson  in  his 
cheeks  and  on  his  lips  and  Death's  pale  flag  is  not  advanced  there. 

If  there  be  any  ambitious  young  men  who  feel  disheartened  and  dis* 
couraged  when  they  see  mean  men  promoted  and  base  actions  applauded, 
let  them  take  heart  again  and  go  forward  with  renewed  courage.    Be- 


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574  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

hold  this  statue  shall  be  a  witness  unto  you,  lest  ye  deny  your  God»  and 
say,  in  your  hearts,  that  crooked  ways  are  good  and  bad  methods  Justi- 
fiable. 

We  receive  the  statue  with  pride  and  shaU  count  it  among  the  city's 
most  precious  possessions. 


ALFRED  MOORE  WADDELL— AUTHOR. 

We  feel  grateful  to  the  State  press  for  many  graceful  tributes 
of  respect  to  the  memory  of  this  dead  statesman,  jurist,  scholar 
of  the  Cape  Fear;  but  I  think  that  these  generous  tokens  of 
admiration  have  not  sufficiently  emphasized  the  beautiful  ex- 
pressions of  his  pen.  Colonel  Waddell's  superior  talents,  his 
remarkable  power  of  speech,  his  pleasing  personality,  and  his 
courteous  address  were  known  to  all  men,  but  how  few  of  our 
people  know  of  his  generous  contributions  to  literature. 

I  have  read  and  reread  his  three  charming  books,  A  Colmiiai 
Officer  and  His  Times,  Some  Memories  of  My  Life,  and  The 
History  of  New  Hanover  County,  with  ever-increasing  pleas- 
ure and  profit. 

There  are  flashes  of  wit  and  humor  throughout  his  Memories, 
and  even  Mark  Twain  at  his  best  does  not  surpass  him  in  his 
description  of  Haynes  Gainey,  the  bleeding  to  death  of  James 
Dawson  in  the  railroad  accident,  or  the  Confederate  prisoner's 
estimate  of  the  damage  done  to  Fort  Fisher  by  Butler's  "powder 
ship" ;  nor  have  I  read  in  Clarke  Russell's  wonderful  sea  tales 
anything  comparable  to  Colonel  Waddell's  thrilling  story  Pilots 
in  a  Storm.  Its  descriptive,  dramatic  strength  reminds  one  of 
Victor  Hugo's  weird  "Story  of  the  Gun" ;  but  Colonel  Waddell's 
story  is  true  in  all  its  details,  as  it  tells  of  a  tragedy  in  which 
five  devoted  Cape  Fear  pilots  went  down  to  death,  and  how  five 
other  toilers  of  the  sea  in  the  same  gale  were  saved  at  the  risk 
of  a  life  freely  volunteered  for  theirs,  for  the  sake  of  their  wives 
and  children,  and  his  hero,  Joe  Arnold,  still  survives. 

The  poetic  principle  is  described  in  his  closing  reference  to 
St.  Philip's  Church,  and  to  Fort  Anderson,  which  enclosed  it, 
at  Old  Brimswick ;  and  as  we  read  the  lines  we  can  almost  hear 
the  sighing  of  the  pines  as  they  bend  gently  in  the  soft  south 
wind  to  the  call  of  the  sea:  "Since  then  it  has  again  relapsed 
into  its  former  state,  and  the  bastions  and  traverses  and  para- 
pets of  the  whilom  Fort  Anderson  are  now  clad  in  the  same  exu- 
berant robe  of  green  with  which  generous  nature  in  that  clime 
covers  every  neglected  spot.    And  so  the  old  and  the  new  ruin 


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Peace  Restored  575 

stand  side  by  side,  in  mute  attestation  of  the  utter  emptiness  of 
all  human  ambition,  while  the  Atlantic  breeze  sings  gently  amid 
the  sighing  pines,  and  the  vines  cling  more  closely  to  the  old 
church  wall,  and  the  lizard  basks  himself  where  the  sunlight 
falls  on  a  forgotten  grave.'' 

In  conclusion,  his  beautiful  verses  in  reply  to  Gen.  Albert 
Pike's  "Every  Year"  appeal  with  peculiar  tenderness  to  those 
of  us  who  were  in  sympathy  with  our  dear  friend,  and  who  are 
fast  following  his  footsteps  towards  "The  Better  Land." 

THE  BETTER  LAND. 
Bt  Alfrxd  Moobb  Waddbll. 

"Time,  fly  he  ne'er  so  fleetly 

Every  year, 
Only  tunes  your  harp  more  sweetly 

Every  year, 
And  we  listen  to  Its  ringing, 
And  the  minstrel  swan-like  singing, 
More  melodious  numbers  flinging, 

Every  year. 

"Sing  on,  0  grand  old  master, 

Every  year. 
Pour  thy  mellow  measures  faster 

Every  year; 
They  will  make  our  journey  lighter. 
And  our  weary  pathway  brighter. 
As  our  locks  grow  thin  and  whiter 

Every  year. 

'Tes,  our  loved  ones  go  before  us 

Every  year. 
And  the  living  more  ignore  us 

Every  year. 
It  is  well ;  what  need  for  sorrow 
If  the  dawn  of  each  tomorrow 
Brighter  tints  from  heaven  borrow 

Every  year." 


BISHOP  ROBERT  STRANGE. 

An  eminent  divine  has  said:  "Among  the  great  gifts  that 
God  has  given  to  men  is  the  gift  of  men;  and  among  all  the 
gifts  with  which  God  has  enriched  His  Church,  one  of  the 
greatest  has  been  the  gift  of  consecrated  men,  for  they  are  the 
instrumentalities  by  which  the  Church  has  been  moulded  and 
guided  and  prospered  in  all  the  generations  of  the  world." 


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576  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

As  we  contemplate  the  lofty  qualities  of  many  consecrated 
men  of  the  past  in  Wilmington,  whose  chief  end  was  to  glorify 
Gk)d,  whose  self-sacrificing  lives  were  devoted  to  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  welfare  of  our  people,  we  are  moved  to  emotions 
of  profound  thankfulness  that  God  has  given  us  such  Christ-like 
examples  of  His  people  who  through  faith  and  patience  have 
inherited  the  promises.  The  honor  roll  is  a  long  one,  hut  their 
record  is  on  high,  and  the  last  is  of  one  who  was  loved  with 
more  than  fraternal  affection  by  his  devoted  people. 

Those  of  us  who  had  known  Robert  Strange  from  his  boy- 
hood and  had  witnessed  the  generous  impulses  of  his  school  life ; 
who  had  later  watched  v^ith  affectionate  interest  the  moulding 
of  a  character  that  was  to  shine  in  the  reflected  glory  of  the 
King  in  His  beauty;  whose  life  was  to  expand  from  the  nar- 
rower to  the  widest  sphere  of  activity  and  usefulness,  were 
proud  of  this  prophet,  who  was  not  without  honor  in  his  own 
country,  for  we  believed  that  he  had  seen  the  vision  and  as  his 
Divine  Exemplar's  evangel  would  draw  many  men  from  world- 
liness  to  the  better  life.  His  gentle,  genial,  kindly  nature,  his 
exquisite  courtesy  of  manner,  his  loving,  sympathetic  devotion 
to  his  people  and  indeed  to  all  men,  for  he  had  an  intense  yearn- 
ing for  souls,  were  always  manifest;  but  I  think  from  the 
time  of  his  great  decision,  when,  like  Samuel  of  old,  he  humbly 
responded  to  the  call  of  Jehovah,  the  increasing  beauty  of  his 
personal  life  was  "the  fruit  of  the  Spirit — ^love,  joy,  peace,  long- 
suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  temperance.^' 
He  was  renewed  in  the  image  of  God  and  was  enabled  more  and 
more  to  die  unto  sin  and  to  live  unto  righteousness. 

His  humanities  were  manifold  and  found  expression  in  his 
constant  solicitude  for  the  health  and  happiness  of  the  children 
of  the  city.  Several  times  in  the  year  he  made  an  address  to 
the  pupils  of  the  public  schools,  and  he  never  went  unprepared ; 
there  was  a  charm  in  what  he  said  and  in  his  manner  of  saying 
it  that  greatly  pleased  his  eager  listeners,  and  his  appearance 
was  always  hailed  with  expressions  of  delighted  appreciation. 
He  gave  much  of  his  valuable  time  to  various  schemes  for  public 
playgrounds,  and  his  patience  and  forbearance  under  repeated 
disappointments  when  his  plans  were  almost  accomplished  are 
gratefully  remembered  by  those  who  strove  with  him  to  obtain 
these  benefits  for  the  boys  of  Wilmington. 

We  were  workers  together  in  the  Seamen's  Friend  Society 
of  this  port  at  a  critical  time  in  its  history,  when  the  forces  of 


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Peace  Restored  577 

evil  baffled  the  efforts  of  the  few  who  were  faithful  in  promoting 
the  welfare  of  the  toilers  of  the  sea,  and  it  was  largely  due  to 
his  sympathy  and  support  in  the  earlier  days  of  his  ministry 
that  this  important  service  was  brought  to  a  higher  degree  of 
efficiency. 

In  many  other  ways  he  was  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  the 
people  whom  he  loved  so  well,  and  his  constantly  increasing 
activities,  linked  with  the  larger  responsibilities  of  his  sacred 
office,  gradually  undermined  a  constitution  which  had  been 
greatly  overtaxed.  His  sudden  illness,  which  from  the  b^in- 
ning  filled  us  with  sad  forebodings,  seemed  for  a  time  to  yield 
to  medical  treatment,  but  the  joy  this  brought  to  many  hearts 
was  evanescent,  for  it  soon  became  apparent  to  those  who  dis- 
cerned a  change  that  the  frail  tenement  was  closing  up  its  win- 
dows, and  putting  out  its  fires ;  but  as  the  outward  man  failed, 
the  inward  man  was  renewed  day  by  day,  imtil  his  gentle  spirit 
took  its  flight  to  be  forever  with  the  Lord. 

It  jnay  be  said  of  him  in  the  dying  words  of  General  Have- 
lock,  while  his  devoted  son  held  him  in  his  arms,  "For  forty 
years  I  have  tried  so  to  live  as  to  meet  death  without  dismay.^^ 

One  of  Bishop  Strange's  rare  qualities  was  a  cheerful  coun- 
tenance and  an  abiding  spirit  of  cheerfulness.  "He  wist  not 
that  his  face  so  shone."  And  even  imder  the  inevitable  shadow 
of  clouds  and  darkness  which  sometimes  obscured  the  light,  he 
was  never  dismayed.  Nor  did  he  ever  protest  under  a  sense  of 
injustice  or  unfairness. 

"One  single  passion  held  his  heart  in  away; 

An  earnest  craving  for  the  pure  and  true. 
And  though  at  times  Ood's  face  felt  far  away 

His  earth-dimmed  eyes  so  deeply  yearned  to  view; 

"Still  in  the  dark  as  in  the  light  he  smiled. 
He  said  the  sun  was  shining  all  the  time; 
And  for  the  things  he  could  not  understand 
He  hoped  and  trusted  in  a  love  sublime." 


37 


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578  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY  OF  COLONIAL  DAMES 

OF  AMERICA. 

Bt  Rosa  Pendleton  Chues. 

"There  be  of  them  that  have  left  a  name  behind  them." 

"For  there  are  deeds  that  should  not  pass  away,  and  names  that  must 
not  wither." 

"Did  ever  a  man  a  yaliant  deed  but  a  woman  arose  to  sound  his 
praises?" 

"As  the  painter  puts  upon  canvas  the  images  and  fancies  of  his 
imagination,  making  them  real  and  tangible,  so  your  society  records 
upon  bronze  and  stone  the  deeds  of  a  brave  people." 

Organized  in  1894  by  the  initiative  and  largely  through  the 
enthusiastic  efforts  of  Mrs.  George  W.  Kidder,  the  North  Caro- 
lina Society  of  Colonial  Dames  of  America,  in  its  twenty-two 
years  of  patriotic  life,  has  accomplished  much  of  which  not  only 
the  society  but  the  State  may  be  justly  proud.  And  better  than 
tangible  achievement,  has  been  the  infusion  into  its  membership 
and  quietly  through  its  membership,  as  well  as  by  its  public 
acts,  into  the  life  of  the  State  an  increasing  love  of  the  work  for 
which  the  organization  exists — to  strengthen  patriotism  and  to 
preserve  in  visible  memorial  and  in  the  heart  of  an  age  whose 
sentiment  is  in  danger  of  becoming  dimmed  by  the  intensity  of 
its  practical  aims,  deepened  interest  in  that  heroic  past  when 
the  foundation  of  our  country's  greatness  was  laid  upon  a  rock- 
bed  of  lofty  purpose  and  valiant  deed. 

So  rich  is  North  Carolina  in  colonial  achievement,  that  the 
effort  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  it,  much  of  which  lay  buried 
in  unidentified  sites  and  in  unpublished  archives,  has  com- 
manded the  most  persistent  and  strenuous  activities  of  the  Co- 
lonial Dames  of  this  State.  Especially  has  this  been  true  of  the 
Dames  of  the  Cape  Fear,  where  local  traditions  abound  and  his- 
toric memories  are  associated  with  nearly  every  point  on  the 
river. 

The  State  membership  is  large — ^now  more  than  five  him- 
dred — and  among  the  leaders  many  have  come  from  the  Cape 
Fear.  Not  being  able  to  mention  all  who  have  aligned  them- 
selves with  the  highest  purposes  of  the  organization  and  through 
masterful  leadership  carried  those  purposes  to  fulfiUment,  con- 
sideration in  this  brief  account  will  be  given  only  to  the  work 
of  three  ladies  of  the  Cape  Fear  who  have  been  presidents  of 


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Peace  Restored  579 

the  society — ^Mrs.  George  W.  Kidder,  Mrs.  Gaston  Meares,  and 
Mrs.  James  Spnint. 

Mrs.  Kidder,  the  first  president,  is  a  descendant  of  William 
Hill,  whom  Josiah  Quincy  visited  at  Bnmswick  in  1773  and 
found  a  man  of  exalted  patriotism  and  warmly  attached  to  the 
cause  for  which  America  was  about  to  take  up  arms,  and  of  his 
son,  Capt.  John  Hill,  a  gallant  and  distinguished  Continental 
officer  of  the  Cape  Fear.  As  was  natural,  therefore,  she  brought 
to  the  North  Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames  of  America, 
together  with  the  lovely  characteristics  of  Cape  Fear  woman- 
hood, the  devoted  patriotism  of  her  forefathers. 

By  her  successful  initiative,  her  high  aims,  and  her  uncon- 
querable determination,  Mrs.  Kidder  accomplished  the  impor- 
tant work  of  organization  and  of  giving  definite  purpose  to  the 
labors  of  the  society.  In  the  start  she  emphasized  the  fact  that 
the  organization  should  not  exist  merely  for  the  gratification  of 
ancestral  pride  and  the  poetizing  of  patriotic  sentiment,  and 
imder  her  incumbency  one  of  the  principal  undertakings  of  the 
North  Carolina  Dames  was  begun — the  erection  of  a  monument 
to  Cornelius  Harnett  and  the  civic  and  military  heroes  of  the 
Revolution.  The  magnitude  of  this  task  was  such  that  thirteen 
years  were  spent  in  its  completion,  but  during  this  long  period 
there  was  no  lessening  of  steadfast  purpose,  no  diminution  of 
persistent  effort. 

Mrs.  Kidder  was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  Mrs.  Gaston 
Meares,  a  descendant  of  Moses  John  DeRosset,  mayor  of  Wil- 
mington when  the  men  of  the  Cape  Fear  successfully  resisted 
the  Stamp  Act  in  1766,  and  the  widow  of  the  lamented  Col. 
Gaston  Meares,  who  fell  at  Malvern  Hill  in  1862,  while  com- 
manding the  Third  Regiment  of  North  Carolina  Troops — a 
woman  whose  talent  and  eminent  position  imparted  strength  to 
the  society  and  energized  its  efforts.  Mrs.  Kidder  says  of  her 
that  she  gave  the  work  of  the  Monument  Committee  "fresh 
impetus,  for  she  brought  to  it  all  the  influence  of  a  masterful 
mind  and  a  strong  personality."  She  also  did  much  towards 
systematizing  the  work  of  the  society  throughout  the  State  by 
the  appointment  of  committees  of  research  in  the  counties  to 
cooperate  with  the  head  organization  in  Wilmington.  In  1906 
Mrs.  Meares  retired,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  James  Sprunt, 
who  for  some  time  had  been  vice  president. 

Mrs.  Sprunt  was  a  descendant  of  the  distinguished  William 
Bryan  and  his  wife.  Lady  Alice  Needham,  of  colonial  times,  and 


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580  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

of  the  Murchisons  and  other  heroes  of  the  Cape  Fear.  She  was 
Luola  Murchison,  and  throughout  an  honored  Christian  life  sus- 
tained the  virtues  implied  in  her  Indian  name — "a  true  woman 
and  good  to  look  upon,"  From  her  earliest  years  she  was  trained 
in  patriotism,  and  when  only  four  and  a  half  years  old  gathered 
in  her  grandfather's  bam  the  grains  of  com  from  which  her 
heroic  mother — the  most  beautiful  woman  in  Cumberland 
Coimty  and  a  devoted  patriot — ^made  gruel  for  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers  when  Sherman's  army  devastated  her  grand- 
father's plantation,  leaving  food  neither  for  the  family  nor  for 
the  disabled  Federals  and  Confederates  whom  they  abandoned 
to  their  fate.  She  brought  to  the  office  of  president  an  ampli- 
tude of  mind,  a  strength  of  personality,  a  forceful  energy,  a 
voluntary  activity,  an  imlimited  perseverance,  and  a  wealth  of 
initiative  that  bore  substantial  and  permanent  fruit.  During 
the  first  year  of  her  administration  the  Monument  Committee 
completed  its  work  for  the  Harnett  Memorial,  and  on  May  2, 
1907,  the  beautiful  shaft  was  unveiled.  The  ceremonies  upon 
this  occasion  were  imposing,  but  the  most  interesting  feature  of 
the  program  was  the  presentation  of  the  monument  to  the  city 
of  Wilmington  in  the  eloquent  sentences  of  Mrs.  Kidder  as  the 
first  monument  ever  erected  in  that  city  to  the  men  of  colonial 
times.  Too  much  can  not  be  said  in  praise  of  this  laudable 
undertaking — costly  in  time  and  effort  and  money — and  of  the 
ladies  who  gave  themselves  so  freely  to  its  accomplishment.  Of 
Mrs.  Sprunt's  part  in  carrying  the  work  to  completion,  Mrs. 
Kidder  has  recently  written: 

"The  memorial  to  the  ^en  of  the  Cape  Fear'  would  have  had 
no  existence  but  for  the  wonderful  brain,  energy,  and  foresight 
of  Luola  Murchison  Sprunt.  This  idea  which  I  su^ested  to 
the  society  as  its  specific  work  would  have  fallen  to  naught, 
languished,  and  died  but  for  her  zeal  and  untiring  work  for  its 
completion.  Through  all  her  life  she  was  my  tower  of  strength, 
and  without  her  I  could  have  accomplished  nothing.  Her  with- 
drawal from  the  presidency  of  the  North  Carolina  Society  of 
Colonial  Dames  on  accoimt  of  failing  health,  which  office  she 
filled  with  such  signal  ability,  grace,  and  tact  for  six  years,  was 
a  matter  of  deep  concern  to  tiie  society.  She  set  a  high  standard 
for  the  emulation  of  the  accomplished  Dame  who  succeeded  her, 
Mrs.  E.  P.  Bailey,  another  admirable  daughter  of  the  Cape 
Fear."  Mrs.  Bailey's  recent  death  is  greatly  deplored,  but  as 
president  of  the  society  she  is  ably  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Waddell, 
widow  of  Col.  A.  M.  Waddell. 


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Peace  Restored  681 

Mrs.  Spnint's  last  report  as  president  of  the  society  indicates 
the  active  work  of  the  organization  during  her  successful  admin- 
istration. The  following  account  embraces  a  part  only  of  that 
work.  The  report  itself,  in  its  clear  and  succinct  presentment, 
attests  the  personal  strength  and  ability  of  its  author.  After 
mentioning  the  Harnett  Memorial,  Mrs.  Sprunt  stated  that  the 
next  undertakings  were  a  contribution  of  the  North  Carolina 
Society  to  the  fund  to  restore  the  old  church  at  Jamestown, 
Virginia ;  the  collecting  of  relics,  including  such  valuable  speci- 
mens as  old  deeds  and  records,  personal  heirlooms,  rare  old  fur- 
niture, portraits  and  miniatures  for  the  Jamestown  Exposition, 
though  these  were  not  used,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  building 
intended  to  receive  them  was  not  completed  in  time ;  the  prepa- 
ration of  an  original  program  celebrating  the  three-hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  first  permanent  English  settlement  in  Amer- 
ica, and  the  personal  gift  of  these  programs,  which  were  very 
elaborate  and  compiled  by  prominent  men  of  North  Carolina, 
by  Mrs.  Sprunt  to  the  State  at  large. 

Following  this  work  was  the  carrying  out  of  a  recommenda- 
tion by  the  biennial  council  of  1906  to  the  State  societies  to 
bring  to  the  next  council  a  detailed  report  of  historic  spots  not 
marked  by  other  patriotic  organizations.  In  this  task  Mrs. 
Sprunt  brought  to  her  assistance  some  of  the  ablest  men  in  the 
State,  and  seventy-eight  such  spots  belonging  entirely  to  the 
colonial  period  were  found.  For  this  work,  as  well  as  for  her 
report  on  it,  the  whole  country  is  indebted  to  Mrs.  Sprunt  The 
report  was  so  complete  and  authoritative  that  it  was  published 
in  the  minutes  of  the  National  Society  of  Colonial  Dames,  and 
is  now  in  use  by  the  North  Carolina  Historical  Society  as  data. 

Then  came  tlie  unveiling  of  a  tablet  at  Russellborough,  com- 
memorating resistance  to  the  Stamp  Act  by  the  Cape  Fear 
patriots  of  1766,  the  base  of  which  was  built  of  stones  taken 
from  the  ruins  of  Tryon's  palace. 

The  next  eflFort  was  to  mark  the  site  of  Fort  Johnston,  the 
first  fort  in  the  colony,  built  by  act  of  the  Assembly  of  1748, 
completed  in  1764,  and  destroyed  by  the  patriots  July  18,  1776, 
when  the  province  of  North  Carolina  forever  laid  aside  the 
sceptre  of  royal  rula  For  authorization  to  mark  this  spot  Mrs. 
Sprunt  appealed  to  the  United  States  Government  through  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and,  the  appeal  being  granted,  the  tablet  was 
erected  in  May,  1911. 

In  addition,  a  tablet  to  Col.  Maurice  Moore,  founder  of  the 


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582  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

town  of  Brunswick  in  1725,  was  placed  in  St  Philip's  Churck 
This  was  the  gift  of  two  of  Colonel  Moore's  descendants — ^Ida 
N.  Moore  and  Selina  M.  Harvey.  The  Dames  of  the  Cape  Fear 
have  devoted  themselves  in  particular  to  the  care  and  preserva- 
tion of  the  ruins  of  this  old  church  at  Brunswick,  the  site  and 
grounds  of  which  were  conveyed  to  the  diocese  of  North  Caro- 
lina by  the  owners  of  Orton,  CoL  K,  M.  Murchison  and  Capt 
D.  R.  Murchison,  and  for  some  time  Mrs.  Sprunt  assumed  per- 
sonal supervision  of  them.  For  many  years  it  has  been  the  cus- 
tom of  the  Dames  to  make  an  annual  pilgrimage  to  this  hallowed 
spot,  and  there  by  addressee  and  religious  services  they  have 
awakened,  perchance,  a  deeper  patriotism  and  a  holier  reverence 
for  the  past  of  which  this  church  represents  so  large  a  part. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  work  undertaken  at  any  time  by 
the  society  was  the  movement  to  promote  original  research.  At 
the  biennial  council  in  Washington  in  1906,  Mrs.  Sprunt  was 
appointed  by  the  national  president  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  this  subject,  and  with  ardent  zeal  entered  upon  the  impor- 
tant task  of  promoting  interest  in  the  wealth  of  historical  mate- 
rial for  which  the  colonial  period  of  North  Carolina  is  especially 
noted,  but  much  of  which  has  not  been  compiled.  To  further 
this  effort  the  society  offers  prizes  for  competitive  essay  work, 
exclusively  from  original  sources  and  pertaining  only  to  the 
colonial  period  of  North  Carolina,  to  the  upper  classmen  of  the 
State  University  at  Chapel  Hill.  The  results  have  been  encour- 
aging and  the  amounts  of  the  prizes  have  been  increased.  Mrs. 
Spnmt's  report  on  this  subject  is  illuminating  and  valuable, 
and  with  her  interesting  report  on  old  silver  and  her  report  on 
necrology,  valued  for  its  depth  of  spiritual  perception  and  deli- 
cate beauty  of  thought,  has,  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Managers, 
been  published  by  the  society  as  literature. 

The  report  on  old  silver,  comprising  a  description  of  eccles- 
iastical silver  in  North  Carolina  prior  to  1825,  was  considered 
of  such  value  that  Mrs.  Sprunt  was  requested  by  the  national 
chairman  to  read  it  at  the  biennial  council  in  Washington.  To 
her  assistance  in  valuing  these  rare  old  specimens,  Mrs.  Sprunt 
brought  the  professional  knowledge  of  an  English  expert,  Mr. 
Jones,  who  came  to  North  Carolina  and  examined  the  pieces 
in  the  different  places  in  the  State  to  which  they  belonged. 

Space  fails  in  enumerating  the  full  activities  of  the  Colonial 
Dames  of  North  Carolina.  What  has  been  said  pertains  chiefly 
to  the  Cape  Fear,  but  a  brief  word  here  and  there  has,  I  trusty 


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Peace  Restored  583 

indicated  in  a  small  way,  at  least,  the  work  of  the  society  in  the 
State  at  large,  and  the  assistance  it  renders,  from  time  to  time, 
to  the  society  in  other  States,  and  to  the  national  society. 

The  expense  of  these  undertakings,  especially  of  the  Harnett 
Memorial,  has  been  large,  and  to  lighten  the  burden  of  it,  Mrs. 
Spnmt,  during  her  six  years  as  president,  entertained  the  Cape 
Fear  Dames  in  their  monthly  meetings  in  her  beautiful  homes 
in  Wilmington  and  at  Orton,  saving  the  rental  of  a  hall  for 
meetings.  Her  home  in  Wilmington,  built  for  the  first  governor 
elected  by  the  people  and  sheltering  since  so  many  distinguished 
guests,  including  President  Taft,  and,  before  his  election.  Presi- 
dent Wilson,  Secretary  Bryan,  and  Cardinal  Gibbons,  and 
beautiful  Orton,  one  of  the  finest  provincial  homes  in  America, 
in  historic  association  as  well  as  in  beauty  of  adornment,  were 
an  inspiration  to  the  work,  while  her  gracious  and  lavish  hos- 
pitality and  the  ardor  of  her  enthusiasm  made  every  effort  more 
delightful.  In  reference  to  her  resignation,  the  historian  of  the 
society,  Elizabeth  Stone  Strange,  widow  of  Bishop  Strange, 
said: 

"We  are  called  upon  to  bear  a  heavy  loss  in  the  resignation 
of  our  beloved  president.  By  her  ability,  her  breadth  of  view, 
her  untiring  devotion  to  the  cause,  her  gracious  personality,  and 
her  generous  hospitality,  she  has  carried  us  onward  and  upward 
as  a  society  and  linked  us  to  herseK  by  the  strongest  ties  of  love 
and  loyalty.  While  we  deplore  Mrs.  Spnmt's  resignation  as  our 
president,  we  can  but  show  our  appreciation  of  her  by  keeping 
ever  before  us  her  high  standard  of  duty,  fidelity,  and  patriot- 
ism.'' 

This  feeling  was  shared  by  all,  and,  as  the  recent  letter  of 
Mrs.  Kidder,  already  quoted,  indicates,  the  feeling  of  loss  of 
her  exceptional  service  in  the  office  she  filled  so  admirably  con- 
stantly increases.  Truly  was  it  said  of  her,  "Many  daughters 
have  done  virtuously,  but  thou  excellest  them  all." 

Places  op  Historic  Interest  in  North  Carolina  Relating 

TO  THE  Colonial  Period  Which  Are  Still 

Unmarked. 

In  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Council  of  1906,  in  which 
each  State  society  was  asked  to  present,  through  the  chairman  of  its 
delegation,  a  brief  and  concise  statement  of  any  localities  still  unmarked 
in  the  State  which  are  of  sufficient  historic  importance  to  come  within 
the  description  of  the  objects  of  the  society  in  Article  2  of  the  constitu- 


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584  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

tion,  the  dates  to  be  strictly  colonial,  I  have  to  report  the  following 
places  of  historic  interest  in  North  Carolina,  relative  to  the  colonial 
period  which  are  still  unmarked. 

(Signed)     LuoLA  Mubohison  Sprunt, 

President  North  Carolina  Society 
of  Colonial  Dames  of  America. 
Wilmington,  N.  C,  April  29, 1908. 

BTPLORATION  AND  SBTTLBMBNT. 

1.  Landing  place  of  Amadas  and  Barlowe,  Ballast  Point, 
Boanoke  Island. 

2.  Memorial  on  Boanoke  Island  of  the  first  Christian  rites 
celebrated  on  American  soiL 

3.  Memorial  at  Croatan  of  the  lost  colony. 

4.  Durant's  Neck,  at  the  junction  of  tlie  Perquimans  and 
Little  Bivers,  the  first  identified  permanent  settlement. 

5.  Site  of  Massachusetts  settlement  of  1660  on  the  Cape  Fear 
Biver. 

6.  Crane  Island,  in  the  Cape  Fear  Biver,  scene  of  the  treaty 
with  the  Indian  chief  Wat  Coosa  in  1663. 

7.  Hilton  Biver,  named  by  the  explorers  from  the  Barbadoes 
in  1663. 

8.  Bocky  Point,  named  by  the  explorers  from  the  Barbadoes 
in  1663. 

9.  Site  of  Charlestown  settlement  on  the  Cape  Fear  River  in 
1665. 

COLONLAX  FOBTS. 

10.  Fort  Johnston,^  at  Southport,  on  the  Cape  Fear  Biver. 

11.  Fort  at  Howe's  Point,  on  the  Cape  Fear  Biver. 

12.  Fort  Dobbs,  near  Barbour  Junction,  in  Bowan  County. 

13.  Old  Fort,  McDowell  County,  built  against  the  Catawba 
Indians. 

14.  Fort  Beading,  on  the  Pamlico  Biver,  near  Bath. 

15.  Bemains  of  the  fort  at  Bath. 

16.  Fort  Defiance,  in  Happy  Valley,  Caldwell  County. 

17.  Nahucke  Fort,  near  Snow  Hill,  in  Greene  County,  a  relic 
of  the  Tuscarora  War. 

18.  Fort  Barnwell,  on  the  Neuse  Biver,  in  Craven  County, 
a  relic  of  the  Tuscarora  War. 

19.  Scene^  of  the  execution  of  John  Lawson,  on  the  Neuse 
Biver,  in  Craven  County. 


^Marked  since  the  report  was  made. 

2A  monument  to  John  Lawson  has  been  erected  in  Goldsboro. 


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Peace  Restored  585 


BATTLE  GBOUNDB. 

20.  Sugar  Loaf,  opposite  Orton,  on  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver. 
Indians  defeated  by  "King"  Roger  Moore. 

21.  Eepulse  of  the  Spanish  at  Beaufort  in  1746. 

22.  Kepulse  of  the  Spanish  at  Brunswick  in  1748. 

CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS. 

23.  Memorial  at  Hertford  of  the  first  sermon  preached  in  the 
colony.  Preached  by  William  Edmundson,  a  Quaker,  at  the 
residence  of  Henry  Phillips,  where  Hertford  now  stands. 

24.  Memorial  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  or  near  Edenton, 
the  first  church  built  in  the  colony. 

25.  St.  Thomas'  Church  at  Bath. 

26.  Bethabara  Church,  in  Forsyth  Coimty,  first  Moravian 
settlement. 

27.  New  Garden,  early  Quaker  meeting  house  and  school,  in 
Guilford  County. 

28.  Shiloh  Church,  begun  by  the  first  Baptist  congregation  in 
the  colony,  organized  in  Camden  County. 

29.  St.  John's,  early  Baptist  Church,  in  Bertie  County. 

30.  Quanky  Church,  near  Halifax. 

31.  Site  of 'school  in  New  Bern.  First  incorporated  academy 
in  the  colony. 

32.  Site  of  Queen's  Museum,  later  Liberty  Hall,  in  Char- 
lotte. 

THE  BEGULATION. 

33.  Sandy  Creek,  Randolph  County,  place  of  meeting  and 
residence  of  Herman  Husband. 

34.  Site  of  courthouse  in  Hillsboro  where  Eegulator  uprising 
occurred. 

35.  Place  of  execution  of  the  Regulators  after  the  Battle  of 
Alamance,  in  Cameron  groimds,  at  Hillsboro. 

36.  Phifer's  Hill,  Eowan  County,  where  the  "Black  Boys" 
stopped  the  relief  expedition. 

COLONLOi  HOUSES  AND  LOCALITIES  OF  NOTE. 

37.  Eden  House,  on  Salmon  Creek,  opposite  Edenton. 

38.  Tower  Hill,  now  Snow  Hill,  Greene  County,  selected  for 
location  of  colonial  capital. 

39.  Site  of  Teach's  residence  at  Bath. 


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586  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

40.  Site^  of  Tryon's  residence  at  Brunswict 

41.  Tryon's  residence  at  Wilmington. 

42.  Tryon's  usual  residence  at  Hillsboro. 

43.  Site  of  Tryon's  Palace  at  New  Bern. 

44.  Site  of  Green  House,  in  Edenton,  where  the  "Tea  PartV' 
occurred. 

45.  Old  Government  House  at  Bath. 

46.  House  used  for  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  at  Edenton. 

47.  The  old  tavem  at  Hertford. 

48.  Site  of  old  courthouse  in  Charlotte. 

49.  Probable  place  of  meeting  of  the  first  Assembly,   on 
White  Plantation,  in  Perquimans  County. 

50.  Spratt's,  near  Charlotte,  where  the  first  court  in  Meck- 
lenburg was  held. 

51.  Point  where  Sam  Swann  came  out  of  the  Dismal  Swamp. 

52.  Quaker  Meadows,  Burke  County,  McDowell  home. 

53.  Swan  Ponds,  Burke  County,  Avery  home. 
64.  Orton,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

55.  Kendal,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

56.  Lilliput,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

57.  Hayes,  at  Edenton. 

58.  The  Grove,  Halifax  County,  the  Jones  home. 

59.  Sedgeley  Abbey,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

60.  Site  of  Buncombe  Hall,  Tyrrell  County. 

61.  Hilton  Park,  in  New  Hanover  County,  residence  of  Cor- 
nelius Harnett. 

BURIAL  PLACES. 

62.  Hugh  McAden,  famous  Presbyterian  minister,  at  Red 
Horse  Creek  Church,  in  Caswell  County. 

63.  Alexander  Craighead,  famous  Presbyterian  minister,  in 
Sugar  Creek  Cemetery,  Mecklenburg  County. 

64.  Gov.  Arthur  Dobbs,  on  his  plantation,  on  Town  Creek* 

65.  Gov.  Thomas  Pollock,  at  Edenton. 

66.  Chief  Justice  Eleazar  Allen,  at  Lilliput. 

67.  '^ing^'  Roger  Moore,  at  Orton. 

68.  Abner  Nash,  at  Pembroke,  opposite  New  Bern. 

69.  Edward  Moseley.     (To  be  located.) 

70.  Hugh  Waddell,  at  Castle  Haynes. 

71.  John  Baptista  Ashe,  at  Grovely,  the  Bellamy  place,  near 
Wilmington. 

^Marked  since  the  report  was  made. 


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Peace  Restored  587 

72.  Gen*  John  Ashe,  on  Colonel  Sampson's  plantation,  near 
Clinton. 

73.  Sam  Swann,  at  Swann  Point,  opposite  Castle  Haynes. 

74.  John  Swann,  at  Swann  Point,  opposite  Castle  Haynes. 

75.  Original  resting  place  of  William  Hooper,  at  Hillsboro. 

76.  Richard  Caswell,  in  Lenoir  County. 

77.  Thomas  Burke,  at  Tyaquin,  near  Hillsboro. 

78.  Col  Maurice  Moore,  at  Rocky  Point     (To  be  located.) 


LUOLA  MURCHISON  SPRUNT— AN  APPRECIATION. 

''Death  is  a  translaUon  into  life." 

"Those  we  caU  dead 
Are  breathers  of  an  ampler  day 
For  ever  nobler  ends." 

"All  the  gifts  that  were  in  her,  penetrated  as  they  were  by  spiritual 
significance,  told  of  immortality.  Such  a  presence  as  hers,  erect  and 
prophetic,  was  itself  a  pledge  that  its  life  can  not  be  spilt  as  water." 

Once  in  a  far  distant  time  God's  messengers  to  man  came  in 
glistening  white,  and  with  the  majesty  of  angelic  function  de- 
livered to  those  privil^ed  to  receive  them  the  commands  of  the 
great  I  Am.  Radiant  moment  I  Marvelous  privil^e !  Wonder- 
ful experience !  this  talking  face  to  face  with  one  of  the  heavenly 
host,  but  contact  no  more  vital  than  is  granted  many  now  who 
live  day  by  day  and  year  by  year  in  close  association  with  spirits 
as  truly  messengers  of  God  as  the  white-winged  multituda 
Human  are  they,  as  we,  and  yet  dwelling  on  sublimated  heights ; 
our  companions  and  intimates,  and  yet  exalted  above  the  incom- 
pleteness and  the  emptiness  that  mar  the  fast  fleeting  days  with 
most  of  us.  Such  was  Luola  Murchison  Sprunt.  Hers  was  a  life 
sent  from  God.  If  to  any  this  seems  a  statement  borrowed  too 
nearly  from  the  Sacred  Word,  let  them  consider  for  a  moment 
the  fruits  of  her  life  so  in  harmony  with  the  requirements  of 
the  Sacred  Word.  Now  that  the  Lord,  whose  she  was  and  whom 
she  served,  has  called  her  to  higher  tasks,  the  results  of  her 
labors  on  earth  are  finding  more  fully  the  acknowledgment  she 
endeavored  while  living  to  suppress.  Here  a  letter  from  a  fac- 
tory superintendent,  voicing  the  gratitude  of  himself  and  his 
employes  for  her  education  and  care  of  the  factory  children; 
here  a  memorial  service  in  China  expressing  the  deep  sense  of 
loss  in  one  whose  arm  of  usefulness  stretched  in  power  across 


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588  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  seas  to  uplift  and  train  the  heathen;  here  letters  from 
patriotic  societies  acknowledging  her  exceptional  service  in  fur- 
thering their  aims  and  in  administering  their  affairs ;  here  let- 
ters from  church  and  charitable  organizations  telling  of  the 
enlargement  given  their  efforts  by  her  personal  labors  and  liber- 
ality ;  here  messages  from  an  innumerable  company  whom  she 
housed,  clothed  and  fed,  comforted  and  gave  new  hope.  The 
intimate  testimony  of  her  friends  and  acknowledgments  from  an 
extended  acquaintance,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowliest,  all  are 
redolent  with  fragrant  memories  of  her  queenly  bearing,  her 
gracious  personality,  her  deep  spiritual  discernment,  her  mar- 
velous and  fruitful  service.  Her  activities  were  too  numerous 
to  be  recorded,  for  hers  was  a:  life  that  "translated  truth  into 
conduct,"  and  she  constantly,  though  unconsciously,  measured 
her  life  by  the  service  she  was  able  to  render  others.  Treading 
this  royal  pathway,  she  ever  traveled  heavenward  along  the  way 
her  Saviour  trod,  and  now  that  she  has  come  to  the  end  of  that 
glorious  way  and  the  great  white  portals  have  opened  to  admit 
her  to  the  presence  of  her  Lord,  marvelous  will  be  the  tasks  He 
has  reserved  for  a  spirit  so  harmoniously  related  to  heavenly 
requirements  while  oh  earth,  and  so  intimately  and  richly  pre- 
pared for  more  exalted  labors  in  heaven.  Sent  from  God  and 
returned  to  God ;  but  the  memory  of  the  sweetness  and  strength 
of  her  life,  the  beauty  and  depths  of  her  character,  the  great 
scope  and  marvelous  fertility  of  her  service  she  has  left  as  a 
gift  in  perpetuity  to  earth,  and  these  shall  bear  fruit  while  time 
shall  last.     Not  only  the  life  but  the  labors  and  the  influence  of 

the  saints  are  immortal.  ^^t  a  >i^  a 

Samuel  A'Ooubt  Ashk. 

Rosa  Pendleton  Chilbs. 


THE  BOYS'  BRIGADE. 
"How  far  that  little  candle  throws  its  beams." 

Company  A,  First  N.  C.  Regiment,  U.  B.  B.  A.,  the  first 
company  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  in  North  Carolina,  and  doubtless 
the  first  in  the  South,  was  organized  at  Wilmington  on  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1896,  by  CoL  Walker  Taylor,  then  commanding  the 
Second  Regiment  of  North  Carolina  State  Troops.  This  com- 
pany was  organized  in  the  bas^nent  of  Immanuel  Presbyterian 
Church,  a  mission  church  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the 


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Peace  Restored  589 

city,  and  subsequently  Companies  B  and  C  were  formed  to  pro- 
vide for  the  training  of  boys  between  the  ages  of  ten  and  seven- 
teen.    The  present  membership  totals  one  hundred  and  thirty. 

The  home  now  occupied  by  the  brigade  is  an  armory  given 
as  a  memorial  to  a  deceased  friend  of  the  organization,  Capt. 
William  Band  Kenan,  and  the  structure  is  an  ornament  to  that 
section  of  the  city.  The  building  is  thoroughly  equipped  for 
the  work,  and  the  organization  provides  most  effective  means 
for  physical,  mental,  moral,  and  religious  training. 

For  eight  years  the  home  of  the  brigade  was  in  the  small 
basement  room  of  the  church,  with  the  streets  as  drill  grounds ; 
and  here  weekly  meetings  were  held  every  Monday  night  and 
short  helpful  addresses  made  by  the  commander.  The  rule, 
most  faithfully  kept,  required  the  presence  of  every  mem- 
ber, unless  unavoidably  prevented,  and  the  commander  set  the 
standard,  which  has  been  lived  up  to  in  a  most  remarkable  de- 
gree by  even  the  youngest  members.  Erom  the  first  the  com- 
mander took  the  boys  into  his  confidence,  laid  his  plans  before 
them,  expressed  his  deep  interest  in  their  weKare  and  his  abid- 
ing faith  in  their  possibilities ;  and  from  this  humble  beginning 
has  grown  a  force  for  moral  uplift  than  which  nothing  greater 
has  ever  occurred  in  the  life  of  the  community.  The  organiza- 
tion is  on  a  strictly  non-denominational  basis ;  church  member- 
ship is  not  a  condition  precedent  to  membership  in  the  brigade, 
but  attendance  on  Sunday-school  is  a  condition  rigidly  exacted. 
Of  its  membership  fully  eighty  per  cent  are  communicant  mem- 
bers of  some  church,  and  the  light  that  has  gone  out  from  the 
organization  has  penetrated  into  many  forbidding  comers,  and 
brought  hope  and  courage  to  many  to  whom  the  best  prospects 
in  life  had  been  denied.  The  commander  is  a  leader  among 
men,  and  doubtless  his  experience  as  a  military  man  suggested 
this  form  of  organization  for  the  development  of  young  men  in 
whom  he  saw  latent  possibilities  but  to  whom  the  fortune  of 
position  had  not  offered  equal  opportunity  for  success  and  ad- 
vancement. So  thoroughly  grounded  has  been  the  work  among 
these  boys,  that  membership  in  the  organization  is  a  passport  to 
public  confidence.  In  a  most  pronounced  degree  has  there  been 
developed  among  them  a  spirit  of  loyalty,  self-respect,  ambition, 
industry,  sobriety,  and  propriety.  To  be  a  member  of  the  bri- 
gade imposes  a  duty,  as  it  offers  an  opportunity,  and  the  sense 
of  obligation  following  upon  privilege  is  deeply  ingrained  into 
the  spirit  of  the  organization. 


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690  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

An  account  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  has  been  prepared  by  Eev. 
Dr.  Wells,  as  follows : 

"In  connection  with  the  work  done  by  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Immanuel  Church,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city, 
there  has  been  established  one  of  the  most  useful  institutions 
in  Wilmington.  This  is  the  Boys'  Brigade,  now  quartered  at 
the  southeast  comer  of  Second  and  Church  Streets. 

"On  the  evening  of  February  14,  1896,  Col.  Walker  Taylor, 
then  the  commander  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  North  Carolina 
State  Troops,  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Immanuel  Presby- 
terian Simday-school,  met  with  fifteen  boys  and  organized  the 
first  company  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  in  the  South.  In  the  char- 
ter granted,  Col.  Walker  Taylor  was  commissioned  as  captain, 
E.  P.  Dudley  as  first  lieutenant,  and  J.  J.  Loughlin  as  second 
lieutenant  of  the  new  company.  While  growing  out  of  Imman- 
uel Church  and  connected  with  it,  the  work  in  its  scope  and  in- 
fluence has  been  largely  undenominational.  Every  member  has 
been  required  to  attend  a  Sunday-school.  The  brigade  has  been 
a  blessing  to  every  church  in  our  city,  and  in  return  has  received 
the  cordial  support  and  sympathy  of  them  all. 

"For  eight  years  the  brigade  continued  to  meet  in  one  of  the 
rooms  connected  with  Immanuel  Church.  Then  in  1904  a  splen- 
did armory  for  the  organization  was  erected  by  Mrs.  Henry  M. 
Flagler  as  a  memorial  to  her  father,  Capt.  William  Rand  Kenan, 
an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  who  had  been  a  sym- 
pathetic friend  and  wise  coiinselor  of  the  organization.  The 
building  is  of  concrete,  colored  to  represent  gray  sandstone.  The 
style  is  Norman,  and  the  building,  sixty  by  one  hundred  feet  in 
size  and  four  stories  in  height,  is  a  very  massive  and  handsome 
structure.  It  is  complete  in  every  detail,  with  large  gymnasium, 
ample  dressing-rooms  and  bathrooms,  library  and  reception 
rooms,  offices,  large  auditorium,  dining-room,  kitchen  and  pan- 
try, bowling  alleys,  and  rooms  for  guns  and  equipment.  The 
armory  was  completed  in  1905,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  opened  for  the  use  of  the  organization  on  June  22 
of  that  year.  On  that  occasion  the  principal  address  was  deliv- 
ered by  Hon.  R.  B.  Glenn,  then  governor  of  North  Carolina. 

"A  complete  and  useful  library  of  two  thousand  volumes  was 
shortly  after  presented  to  the  brigade  by  Mr.  James  Sprunt; 
and  this,  with  an  ample  supply  of  current  papers  and  maga- 
zines, has  served  to  make  the  library  of  the  brigade  an  attractive 
and  helpful  feature  of  the  work. 


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"In  September,  1905,  a  second  company,  B,  was  organized, 
and  in  1911  a  third  company,  C.  These  companies,  while  en- 
joying the  training  and  privileges  of  the  organization,  are  at  the 
same  time  ^feeders'  from  which  members  pass  into  the  senior 
company.  The  brigade  now  numbers  one  hundred  and  thirty 
members.  Mr.  Charles  Dushan  is  the  efficient  secretary  and 
physical  director. 

^^ible  classes,  weekly  addresses  by  prominent  business  and 
professional  men,  an  annual  ten-day  encampment,  athletic 
games  and  contests  of  all  kinds,  and  a  helpful  and  instructive 
winter  lyceum  course  are  all  employed  for  the  instruction  and 
amusement  of  the  members. 

"A  notable  constructive  work  has  been  done  by  the  brigade 
in  the  community.  The  little  room  and  the  wooden  guns  have 
developed  into  the  magnificent  building  and  the  complete  equip- 
ment. The  little  working  boys  have  developed  into  some  of  our 
city's  most  valued  business  leaders  and  professional  men.  The 
whole  tone  of  that  part  of  the  city  has  been  lifted,  and  the 
community  is  vastly  better  for  the  work  done  there.  And  this 
has  been  the  work  of  one  man — Col.  Walker  Taylor.  The  friend 
and  trusted  helper  of  the  boys  when  they  were  lads,  he  has  con- 
tinued to  be  their  adviser  and  confidential  friend  in  their  moral, 
religious,  civic,  and  business  life.  He  has  made  weekly  talks 
that  have  been  of  the  greatest  influence  in  moulding  their  char- 
acters. He  has  taught  them  in  his  Sunday-school  class  with 
vigor  and  power.  He  has  visited  them  in  their  homes  and  places 
of  business.  His  office  door  has  always  been  open  for  them  to 
tell  him  their  troubles  or  joys  or  to  seek  his  advice  upon  their 
problems.  And  all  the  while  he  has  been  stamping  the  influence 
of  his  strong  Christian  character  upon  their  plastic  lives.  He 
has  builded  well,  not  only  in  concrete  but  also  in  character.'' 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  IN  WILMINGTON. 

By  W.  B.  McKoy. 

The  first  public  building  erected  in  the  town  of  Wilmington 
was  situated  at  the  intersection  of  Market  and  Front  Streets. 
It  was  built  by  private  contribution,  and  was  called  the  Town 
House.  Under  the  act  incorporating  the  town,  1739,  this  build- 
ing became  the  coimty  courthouse.  I  have  been  informed  that 
it  was  a  brick  building,  with  an  open  area  below  paved  with 


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592  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

brick,  and  with  open  archways  approached  from  each  street ;  on 
the  second  floor  was  one  large  hall,  with  slate  roof.  The  build- 
ing was  of  oval  shape  and  is  said  to  have  resembled  somewhat 
in  appearance  the  old  market  house  which  still  stands  in  the 
streets  of  Fayetteville.  Here  town  meetings,  the  Superior 
Courts,  and  the  General  Assembly  of  the  province  were  held 
when  they  met  in  the  town. 

There  was  no  town  bell  for  some  time^  and  a  drum  was  used 
to  assemble  people  to  all  meetings.  In  1751  a  bell  was  pro- 
cured, and  Mrs.  Clay  was  in  the  employ  of  the  town  for  over 
ten  years,  to  sweep  the  courthouse  above  and  below,  to  keep  the 
windows  shut,  and  to  ring  the  bell  on  necessary  occasions. 

In  1790  the  building  was  in  bad  condition,  and  its  situation 
in  the  street  endangering  the  spread  of  fire  across  the  street,  an 
act  was  passed  requiring  that  it  should  be  rebuilt,  on  the  same 
spot,  of  brick  as  before,  of  the  same  size,  shape,  and  dimensions, 
and  that  it  was  to  be  used  for  no  other  purpose  than  a  court- 
house. 

In  1840  this  building  was  greatly  damaged  by  fire,  and  the 
public  records  were  damaged  by  water,  so  that  in  1845  they 
all  had  to  be  copied.  Many  of  the  deeds  and  papers  were  utterly 
lost  at  the  time,  as  blank  pages  of  the  records  now  testify. 

The  next  courthouse  was  built  on  what  was  then  called  the 
new  jail  lot,  on  the  north  side  of  Princess  Street,  between 
Second  and  Third  Streets.  To  the  west  of  this  new  building 
stood  the  "stocks  and  whipping  post,"  in  open  view  from  the 
street,  and  they  remained  there  till  removed  after  our  late  War 
between  the  States,  an  offensive  mark  of  the  barbarity  of  the 
times  to  our  now  squeamish  inhabitants,  but  no  honest  man  had 
fear  of  them. 

More  recently  a  new  courthouse  was  built  on  Third  Street, 
between  Princess  and  Market. 

The  first  jail  stood  where  the  McRary  house  now  stands,  and 
the  old  basement  walls  of  that  building  are  said  to  be  a  part  of 
that  structure,  which  gave  reason  for  the  local  gossip  that  imder 
that  house  are  dimgeons.  It  is  now  the  most  historic  building 
in  the  city,  having  been  the  headquarters  of  Lord  Comwallis 
and  Major  Craig  during  the  Revolution.  The  old  DeRosset 
house  opposite,  on  Market  Street,  with  its  quaint  chinmey 
stacks,  is  also  a  very  old  building,  and  this  was  the  Confederate 
headquarters  in  our  late  War  between  the  States. 

A  new  jail  was  built  in  the  forties,  at  the  northeast  comer  of 


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Peace  Restored  593 

Second  and  PrincesB  Streets.  This  building  still  stands,  but  is 
hardly  recognized  under  its  new  dress  and  modem  tasteful  ex- 
terior; should  one  ever  probe  its  massive  stone  walls,  however, 
he  will  find  that  the  heart  of  the  old  edifice  still  stands  there. 
I  recall  as  a  small  child  its  massive  doors,  its  cells,  and  the 
heavy  gratings  at  the  openings  and  at  the  steps  on  each  floor, 
the  heavy  trap-doors  on  a  level  with  the  floor,  the  timbers  and 
boards  thick  and  heavy.  In  my  mind  I  pictured  it  as  resem- 
bling the  keep  of  some  ancient  castle  or  fortress. 

About  1850,  a  new  jail  was  built  on  Princess  Street,  between 
Third  and  Fourth. 

The  market  house  where  meat  was  sold  (not  the  fishmarket, 
for  that,  known  as  ^^Mud  lylarket,"  was  at  Second  and  Market, 
along  Jacob's  Kun,  then  a  considerable  stream,  where  the  fish 
boats  came  up)  stood  in  the  middle  of  Market  Street,  halfway 
between  the  courthouse  and  the  river.  This  was  a  long,  one- 
story  brick  building,  standing  there  in  1766.  The  lower  end, 
towards  the  river,  was  rented  out  by  the  town  as  a  store,  and 
was  once  occupied  by  DeBosset  &  Brown.  It  was  from  the  roof 
of  this  building  that  the  people  of  Wilmington,  after  taking 
the  stamp  master  forcibly  from  Governor  Tryon's  residence,  on 
the  south  side  of  Market  Street,  immediately  opposite  the  mar- 
ket, placed  a  rope  around  his  neck  and  threatened  to  publicly 
hang  him  if  he  did  not  then  and  there  swear  not  to  distribute 
the  stamps,  and  publicly  to  resign  his  office  before  the  face  of 
royal  authority.^  This  building  was  taken  down  when  the 
courthouse  was  removed,  and  replaced  by  a  long  shed  in  the 
middle  of  Market  Street  extending  from  Front  Street  towards 
the  river,  supported  by  iron  pillars  and  open  on  all  sides.  It 
was  paved  with  brick  and  fitted  with  wooden  meat  stalls  and 
timber  sawed  into  chopping  blocks.  At  the  upper  end  was  a 
stairway  leading  to  a  bell  tower.  Before  the  war  the  bell  in  this 
tower  was  rung  at  nine  o'clo<A:,  one  o'clock,  and  seven  o'clo<A:; 
and  it  rang  the  nine  o'clo<A:  curfew,  which  required  all  slaves 
without  a  pass  to  leave  the  street 

Another  public  institution  was  at  Market  Dock,  the  ancient 
ducking-stool,  a  chair  attached  to  a  long  piece  of  timber  which 
could  be  swung  around  quite  easily  on  a  pivot  and  ducked  into 
the  river,  a  now  forgotten  instrument  of  authority,  where  the 
scolds  of  the  town  had  their  morals  r^ulated. 

iThis  tradition  does  not  seem  to  be  in  accord  with  contemporaneous 
publications. 


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594  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

There  was  but  one  more  building  that  I  can  recall  belonging 
to  the  public.  The  Innes  Academy,  later  known  as  the  Old 
Academy  Building,  was  a  great  brick  structure,  the  first  floor 
of  which  was  used  as  a  theatre  and  the  second  as  a  schoolroom. 
In  the  latter,  Ghost  Elliott,  a  famous  teacher  in  the  early  days, 
at  one  time  taught  It  was  in  this  building  that  the  comedian 
Joseph  Jefferson  partially  laid  the  foundation  of  his  distin- 
guished career  as  an  actor. 


The  New  Custom  House. 

The  first  government  building  in  Wilmington,  the  custom 
house,  was  built  in  1846.  It  contained  the  post  office,  the  room 
used  by  the  Federal  Court,  and  the  offices  of  the  collector.  In 
1891  a  new  post-office  building  was  erected.  Now  a  new  custom 
house  is  being  built. 

In  the  year  1902  a  bill  was  introduced  in  Congress  to  make 
New  Bern  the  principal  port  of  North  Carolina  and  Wilming- 
ton subsidiary  thereto.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  purpose 
of  this  action,  it  was  followed  by  an  immediate  revival  of  the 
commerce  of  Wilmington  as  the  chief  port  of  North  Carolina. 
One  of  the  arguments  in  favor  of  New  Bern  was  the  fact  that 
the  Wilmington  Custom  House  was  not  paying  the  cost  to  the 
government  of  its  expenses,  the  salary  of  the  collector,  Mr.  B.  F. 
Keith,  being  then  $1,000,  with  conmiissions  increasing  it  to 
$1,400  or  $1,500.  Now  the  salary  is  $2,500,  and  a  balance 
over  and  above  all  expenses  has  been  returned  to  the  Treasury 
Department  for  several  years. 

In  1903,  the  aggregate  receipts  of  the  Wilmington  Custom 
House  were  $4,760,  the  value  of  exports  $14,966,754  and  the 
imports  were  $290,822.  The  cost  to  the  government  to  collect 
$1.00  was  $1.41.  In  the  year  1913  the  aggregate  receipts  were 
$24,934,  the  value  of  exports  $19,510,926,  and  the  imports 
were  $3,460,419.  The  cost  to  the  government  to  collect  $1.00 
was  $0.26. 

From  the  above  it  appears  that  the  receipts  of  the  port  of 
Wilmington  increased  423  per  cent,  the  value  of  exports  in- 
creased 30  per  cent,  and  the  value  of  imports,  1,089  per  cent 
within  ten  years. 

The  following  official  table  illustrates  in  a  condensed  form 
the  commerce  of  the  port  of  Wilmington  during  the  years  from 


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695 


1899  to  1915  inclusive.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  European 
War  greatly  reduced  the  volume  of  trade  in  the  port  year  of 
1915. 


s 

Hi 

I 


I 


I 


I 

> 


s 


I 


•a 

> 


1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1908 
1904 
1905 
1900 
1907 
1906 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 


92 
85 
88 
83 

101 
95 
96 
96 

107 
88 
66 
60 
66 
75 
89 
75 
90 


107 
108 
102 


66 
65 
70 
78 
71 
71 
78 
78 
79 
78 
71 

100 
96 
90 
96 
93 

109 


33 
31 
85 
43 
28 
27 
23 
47 
61 
63 
84 
113 
156 
161 
154 
231 
153 


11.093 

8.846 

9,058 

7.836 

4.760 

8.933 

4.598 

9.588 

22.581 

22.686 

33.093 

32,684 

43.639 

41,372 

34.934 

38.814 

18,786 


7.586.526 
10.975.511 
12.013,669 
11.102,171 
14.966.754 
19,065.221 
17.481,566 
18.466.929 
18.566,468 
30.291,681 
30.479.726 
20,923.398 
38.804,785 
38.705.448 
19.510.926 
36.870,850 
11.308.535 


I  .631 
.754 
.773 
.893 

1.413 
.718 

1.416 
.663 
.304 
.399 
.327 
.208 
.169 
.172 
.25 
.252 
.39 


\      158.887 

109.614 

131.475 

258.358 

290.823 

364.550 

415.396 

381.890 

805,308 

878.952 

1.228,945 

2.355.253 

3.206.407 

3,159,043 

3.460.419 

4.174.746 

1.990.756 


The  collector  of  the  port  during  nearly  all  of  that  time  was 
Mr.  B.  F.  Keith,  who  has  recently  resigned,  and  his  successor, 
Col.  Walker  Taylor,  appointed  by  President  Wilson,  has  as- 
sumed charge.  A  good  acooimt  will  be  given  of  him,  for  he  is 
one  of  our  foremost  men  in  a  progressive  age.  Of  the  former 
incumbent  there  is  much  to  be  said,  particularly  with  respect 
to  his  sagacity  and  industry  in  carrying  to  a  successful  issue  his 
scheme,  supported  by  our  commercial  people,  for  a  new  Fed- 
eral building  and  extensive  grounds  in  keeping  with  the  dignity 
of  the  port  of  Wilmington. 

Collector  Keith  first  persuaded  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
to  purchase  the  adjacent  property,  from  the  present  custom 
house  building  to  Princess  Street  up  to  Wright's  Alley.  He 
then  showed  him  a  sketch  which  indicated  the  groimd  purchased 
surrotmded  by  dilapidated  buildings,  detracting  from  the  value 
of  the  location.  This  led  the  Secretary  to  send  several  special 
agents  to  Wilmington,  and  they  reported  favorably  upon  the 
collector's  suggestion  that  the  government  purchase  all  of  the 


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596  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

property  from  Princess  Street  to  Market  Street,  from  Wright's 
Alley  back  to  the  river  wharf,  including  a  portion  of  the  wharf 
owned  by  the  Kuck  and  the  Calder  estates,  which  gives  us  one 
of  the  most  desirable  plots  for  a  new  custom  house  at  the  very 
small  cost  of  $69,000,  the  present  value  of  which  is  estimated  at 
more  than  double  that  sum. 

When  this  ground  was  bought  the  appropriation  for  the  pur- 
chase and  for  a  new  building  was  $300,000.  To  secure  this 
amount  Collector  Keith  had  made  persistent  effort,  supported 
by  the  congressmen  and  senators  from  the  State.  Representa- 
tive H.  L.  Godwin,  of  the  district  in  which  Wilmington  is  situ- 
ated, and  Representative  Charles  R.  Thomas,  of  the  Third  Con- 
gressional District,  were  particularly  helpful,  Mr.  Thomas,  as 
a  member  of  the  House  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and 
Grounds  and  of  the  sub-committee  having  in  charge  all  authori- 
zations for  public  buildings  in  North  Carolina,  being  able  to 
write  into  the  section  of  the  bill  which  finally  became  a  law  the 
item  for  the  Wilmington  Custom  House  and  to  push  the  matter 
in  the  full  committee.  To  him  is  very  largely  due  the  credit 
for  securing  the  initial  appropriation  of  $300,000.  The  amoimt 
remaining  after  the  purchase  of  a  site,  however,  was  entirely 
inadequate  for  a  building  and  the  plans  for  one  were  withheld 
imtil  appeal  could  be  made  to  Congress  for  an  additional  appro- 
priation. At  a  hearing  before  the  House  Committee  on  Public 
Buildings  and  Grounds,  December  13,  1912,  Representative 
Godwin,  Collector  Keith,  and  Mr.  Joseph  W.  Little,  of  Wil- 
mington, testified  to  the  need  of  an  additional  amount,  and  the 
supervising  architect  of  the  Treasury,  Mr.  Wenderoth,  who  was 
present,  named  the  amount  required.  Mr.  Keith  gave  a  graphic 
description  of  the  old  building,  held  together  by  iron  rods  to 
keep  it  from  falling  down,  and  of  the  lack  of  facilities  for  han- 
dling the  business  of  the  port,  which  he  stated  had  probably  in- 
creased more  than  that  of  any  other  port  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 
His  remarks  included  the  very  pertinent  statement  that  many 
business  firms  wanted  to  come  to  Wilmington  to  make  it  a  dis- 
tributing point,  but  were  unable  on  account  of  inadequate  facili- 
ties. Some  difiiculty  was  experienced  later  in  securing  the  de- 
sired amount,  but  the  collector  and  others  kept  up  their  untir- 
ing efforts,  and  eventually,  on  March  4,  1913,  the  law  was 
passed  which  raised  the  appropriation  for  the  Wilmington  Cus- 
tom House  to  $600,000. 

In  retiring  to  private  life  with  clean  hands  Mr.  Keith  is 


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entitled  to  the  commendation  of  well  done  by  an  appreciative 
public. 

The  contracts  for  the  erection  of  the  new  custom  house  were 
awarded  April  15,  1916,  the  building  to  cost  $368,400  and  the 
mechanical  equipment,  $37,746.  These  contracts  call  for  com- 
pletion within  twenty-two  months  from  April  15,  1916.  The 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  states  that  the  plans  call  for  one  of 
the  most  complete  buildings  that  he  has  ever  had  the  pleasure 
of  approving,  and  it  is  stated  by  the  supervising  architect  that 
the  room  to  be  used  by  the  United  States  Court  will  be  one  of 
the  handsomest  in  the  entire  coimtry;  so  that  Wilmington  may 
justly  be  proud  of  the  building  when  completed. 

James  Walker  MsMosiAii  Hospital. 
By  Db.  Roboit  B.  Slocum. 

James  Walker,  stonemason,  contractor,  and  builder,  was  born 
at  Douglas,  Lenarkshire,  Scotland,  April  29,  1826.  He  came 
to  this  cotmtry  when  twenty  years  of  age  and  settled  in  Wash- 
ington, where  he  was  engaged  with  his  brother,  aged  22,  upon 
one  of  the  wings  of  the  Capitol  building,  later,  upon  the  old 
Smithsonian  building  and  other  important  public  structures. 
The  two  brothers  erected  several  public  buildings  in  Peters- 
burg and  other  cities  of  the  South,  where  they  were  engaged 
prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  War  between  the  States. 

In  1857  James  Walker  was  sent  from  Washington  to  erect 
the  United  States  Marine  Hospital,  which  is  still  a  prominent 
building  in  Wilmington,  after  which  he  made  his  home  here, 
and  during  the  war  was  engaged  in  erecting  salt  works  on  the 
sounds  near  Wilmington,  there  being  a  great  scarcity  of  this 
necessary  commodity  in  consequence  of  the  Federal  Blockade  of 
all  the  Southern  ports. 

He  became  a  useful  citizen,  and  was  regarded  as  a  quiet,  wise, 
and  capable  master  builder.  He  erected  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  the  D.  R.  Murchison  residence,  on  Third  Street,  and 
many  other  notable  buildings  in  Wilmington,  and  was  engaged 
for  nearly  ten  years  upon  that  model  State  institution  for  the 
insane  at  Morganton. 

A  year  or  two  before  his  death,  March  15,  1901,  he  conferred 
with  his  physician.  Dr.  W.  J.  H.  Bellamy,  and  with  other 
friends  in  reference  to  his  desire  to  establish  a  public  park  as 
a  gift  to  the  city  of  Wilmington,  but  he  was  induced  to  supply 


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598  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

a  still  greater  local  need,  that  of  a  public  hospital.  The  erec- 
tion of  this  building  employed  his  waning  powers  until  it  was 
nearly  finished,  and  when  the  summons  for  his  departure  came, 
he  entrusted  its  completion  to  his  two  friends,  James  Sprunt 
and  William  Gilchrist  It  was  accomplished  mainly  through 
the  wise  management  of  Mr.  Gilchrist,  who  gave  it  his  unceas- 
ing attention  to  the  end.  The  Wilmington  Star  alluded  to  the 
simple  transfer  of  the  property  known  as  the  James  Walker 
Memorial  Hospital  as  follows : 

"The  formal  transfer  to  the  city  and  coimty  of  the  James 
Walker  Memorial  Hospital  took  place  yesterday  morning  at 
10  o'clo<A:  on  the  groimds  of  the  new  building,  on  Dickinson 
and  Eankin  Streets. 

"The  exercises  attendant  upon  the  transfer  were  not  of  an 
elaborate  or  public  nature,  in  conformity  to  the  wish  of  the 
donor,  expressed  shortly  before  his  death,  but  there  were  as- 
sembled at  the  hospital  Mayor  A.  M.  Waddell,  members  of  the 
City  Council,  coimly  commissioners.  President  Elliott  and 
members  of  the  new  James  Walker  Memorial  Hospital  Board, 
and  Messrs.  James  Sprunt  and  William  Gilchrist,  executors  of 
the  estate  of  the  late  Mr.  Walker,  to  whom  the  municipalily  and 
county  are  indebted  so  much  for  the  munificent  gift. 

"After  an  informal  inspection  of  the  grounds  and  building, 
the  party  gathered  on  the  front  veranda  of  the  hospital  and  was 
called  to  order.  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  representing  the  executors, 
then  made  the  speech  of  presentation  as  follows,  paying  an 
eloquent  and  deserved  tribute  to  the  deceased  philanthropist, 
whom  he  represented. 

'''Mr.  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  Mr.  Chairman  and  Commis- 
sioners: 
"  The  devisor  of  this  fine  property,  bequeathed  to  our  city 
and  county  for  the  noble  purpose  of  relieving  suffering  human- 
ity, was  a  man  of  humility  and  reserve.  With  characteristic 
diffidence  he  laid  the  cornerstone  without  the  usual  ceremonies, 
and  it  was  his  expressed  wish  that  the  necessary  formalities  in 
the  transfer  of  the  completed  hospital  be  free  from  ostentation. 
We,  his  executors,  therefore,  in  simplicity  tender  you  the  keys 
of  the  James  Walker  Memorial  Hospital,  with  a  grateful  sense 
of  the  trust  which  he  reposed  in  us,  and  with  the  hope  that  it 
may  long  serve  the  humane  object  of  its  generous  donor.' 

"Mr.  William  Gilchrist  then  formally  handed  the  keys  of  the 


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Peace  Restored  699 

building  to  Mayor  Waddell,  who  responded  very  briefly  and 
read  the  deed  making  the  legal  transfer. 

"Mr.  Elliott  next  responded  with  a  speech  in  behalf  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  which  was  highly  fitting  the  occasion  and 
characteristic  of  the  speaker.^' 

From  the  date  of  its  opening  to  the  present  time  this  laud- 
able benefaction  has  increased  in  importance  until  its  benign 
influence  under  its  wise  and  beneficent  directors  has  extended 
with  our  increasing  population  to  a  d^ree  not  dreamed  of  by 
its  original  f oimder. 

The  James  Walker  Memorial  Hospital  is  governed  by  a 
Board  of  Managers  composed  of  nine  men.  The  institution  is 
intended  for  the  treatment  of  acute  disorders,  not  chronic  and 
incurable  diseases.  It  is  necessary  to  draw  the  line  between  a 
hospital,  on  the  one  hand,  and  such  eleemosynary  institutions 
as  the  county  home,  on  the  other,  as  Mr.  Walker's  intention  was 
to  care  for  persons  receiving  the  benefits  of  the  former  and  not 
of  the  latter. 

Both  pay  patients  and  charity  cases  are  admitted.  Any 
regular  physician  residing  in  New  Hanover  County  may  take  a 
pay  case  to  the  hospital  and  treat  it.  The  hospital  charges  are 
from  $7  per  week  in  the  wards  to  $35  for  private  rooms  (the 
rooms  vary  from  $17.50  to  $35).  The  resident  physician  and 
three  internes  act  as  assistants  in  these  cases.  Charity  cases  are 
admitted  upon  permit  from  the  coimty  superintendent  of  health, 
who  must  be  sure  that  the  patient  is  a  resident  of  New  Hanover 
County,  in  indigent  circumstances,  not  afflicted  with  a  chronic 
or  incurable  disease  nor  with  an  infectious  disease.  The  treat- 
ment of  all  charity  cases  is  in  the  hands  of  the  resident  physi- 
cian, with  the  assistance  of  the  internes,  and  the  hospital  is 
under  the  control  of  the  resident  physician.  In  1914  tiie  city 
and  county  appropriated  for  the  maintenance  of  the  hospital 
$15,249.99,  and  this  year  they  will  each  appropriate  $10,000. 
The  receipts  from  pay  cases  in  1914  were  $17,438.97. 

For  the  year  1914  there  were  admitted  1,407  patients,  767 
white  and  640  colored,  772  pay  cases  and  635  charity  cases. 
There  were  19,409  days'  treatment,  7,137  being  for  pay  cases 
and  12,272  for  charity  cases.  The  average  number  of  patients 
in  the  hospital  for  any  day  of  the  year  was  fifty-three.  The 
institution  can  accommodate  about  eighty  patients  if  they  are 
properly  apportioned  as  to  color  and  sex. 

The  hospital  is  composed  of  three  brick  structures,  the  prin- 


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600  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

cipal  one  being  used  for  white  patients  and  as  an  administration 
building.  The  kitchen  and  laundry  plants  are  in  the  basement 
of  this  building.  The  building  for  colored  patients,  which  cost 
$10,000,  was  given  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Sprunt.  The  first  floor  is 
used  for  patients  and  the  second  for  a  nurses'  home.  There  are 
twenty-eight  nurses  in  training,  with  a  superintendent  of  nurses 
and  one  assistant  The  course  of  training  is  three  years.  The 
building  for  infectious  diseases  was  given  by  Mr.  Sam  Bear,  jr., 
as  a  memorial  to  his  brother.  While  it  is  not  the  intention  of 
the  hospital  to  receive  such  cases,  they  get  in  sometimes  and 
have  to  be  cared  for. 

Recently  the  breadth  of  its  service  has  been  enlarged  beyond 
the  most  hopeful  expectations  of  the  management  by  a  generous 
benefaction  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Sprunt,  augmented  by  a 
trust  fund  left  for  this  specific  purpose  by  the  late  Edward 
Payson  George,  who  propose  to  build  as  a  memorial  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sprunt's  only  daughter,  Marion,  an  annex  to  the  James 
Walker  Memorial  Hospital  which  shall  be  devoted  to  the  treat- 
ment of  white  women  and  children.  The  quality  and  scope  of 
this  loving  service  to  the  community  command  not  only  the 
deepest  gratitude  of  the  hospital  and  of  those  who  may  share 
directly  in  its  benefits,  but  of  the  medical  profession  and  of  the 
public.  The  following  letter  explains  the  nature  and  high  pur- 
pose of  this  proposed  enlargement. 

November  11»  1915. 
Samuel  Beab,  Esq., 

President  James  Walker  Memorial  Hospital, 

Dear  Mr.  Bear:— In  August  of  the  year  1901, 1  visited  with  my  family 
a  80-called  health  resort  where  we  were  assigned  apartments  which 
we  ascertained  too  late  were  Infected  by  recent  cases  of  scarlet  fever, 
against  the  recurrence  of  which  no  precautions  had  been  taken  for  the 
protection  of  subsequent  occupants.  Our  only  daughter,  Marion,  aged 
thirteen  years,  almost  immediately  fell  a  victim  to  this  criminal  neg- 
lect and  died  after  a  very  brief  illness. 

For  many  years  since  then  my  wife  and  I  have  desired  in  testimony 
of  our  faith  in  a  covenant-keeping  God  and  in  loving  sympathy  with  His 
suffering  children,  to  erect  in  His  name  and  as  a  memorial  of  our 
lamented  daughter  a  hospital  for  the  care  of  maternity  cases  and  sick 
children,  where  their  suffering  might  be  alleviated  or  overcome  by  the 
employment  of  modern  scientific  appliances  and  expert  medical  treat- 
ment; and  while  our  desire  has  been  primarily  the  relief  of  suffering,  it 
was  also  hoped  that  the  whole  community  might  be  benefited  by  af- 
fording our  local  practitioners  the  opportunity  of  studying  cases,  which 
can  only  be  properly  done  in  a  well-regulated  hospital,  for,  after  all,  a 
good  hospital  is  in  the  highest  sense  an  educational  institution  of  the 


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Peace  Restored  601 

first  order.  As  Dr.  Osier  truly  says  in  one  of  his  addresses,  "It  makes 
of  the  hospital  a  college  In  which  ....  the  students  learn  for 
themselves  under  skilled  direction  the  phenomena  of  disease.  It  is  the 
true  method,  because  it  is  the  natural  one,  the  only  one  by  which  the 
physician  grows  in  clinical  wisdom  after  he  begins  practice  for  him- 
self." And  in  another  lecture  by  the  same  distinguished  authority  I 
read  years  ago:  "I  wish  to  plead  particularly  for  the  wasted  opportuni- 
ties in  the  smaller  hospitals  of  our  large  cities,  and  in  those  of  more 
moderate  size.  There  are  in  this  State  a  score  or  more  of  hospitals 
with  from  thirty  to  fifty  medical  beds  offering  splendid  material  for 
good  men  on  which  to  build  reputations." 

From  time  to  time  we  have  by  costly  experiments  attempted  to  find 
a  way  for  the  fulfillment  of  our  desire,  and  as  you  know  we  have  also 
made  overtures  to  your  board  to  that  end,  but  the  lack  of  your  means 
for  its  support  at  the  time  in  conjunction  with  your  general  hospital 
work  has  been  the  chief  obstacle. 

Believing  that  the  development  of  your  splendid  charity  will  now 
admit  of  Its  greater  extension  along  the  lines  of  our  endeavor,  we  pro- 
pose to  erect  as  an  annex  to  the  James  Walker  Memorial  Hospital  a 
modem  hospital  for  maternity  and  children's  cases  for  both  pay  and 
charity  patients,  to  cost  between  $25,000  and  $30,000,  completely  fur- 
nished, in  line  with  the  appliances  of  the  best  equipped  institutions  of 
the  United  States  and  with  the  advice  of  competent  medical  and  sur- 
gical authorities. 

The  institution  is  to  be  a  part  of  your  general  hospital,  supported 
and  maintained  under  its  rules  and  regulations  modified  to  meet  the 
purposes  already  defined,  to  be  free  from  any  and  all  political  infiuence 
or  control,  and  dedicated  and  restricted  to  the  benefit  of  white  women 
and  children. 

More  than  one-third  of  the  sum  which  we  propose  to  expend  in  this 
cause  has  been  left  to  James  Sprunt  and  William  H.  Sprunt,  in  trust 
for  this  specific  purpose,  by  our  daughter's  devoted  friend,  the  late 
Edward  Payson  George,  formerly  of  Wilmington.  The  remainder  will 
be  paid  by  James  Sprunt  and  his  wife,  Luola  Murchison  Sprunt,  and  the 
annex  is  to  be  designated  and  known  as  the  "Marion  Sprunt  Memorial." 

My  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Kenneth  M.  Murchison,  an  eminent  architect 
of  New  York,  who  drew  the  original  plans,  has  kindly  offered  to  con- 
tribute his  time  and  talents  in  this  cause,  and  I  respectfully  request 
that  you  will  convene  a  meeting  of  your  Board  of  Managers  at  your 
earliest  convenience  to  discuss  this  matter  with  him  and  with  us  and  in- 
spect the  plans  and  specifications  provided  for  your  approval. 

Very  truly  yours,  James  Spbunt. 

The  Board  of  Managers  responded  to  this  generous  offer  by 
the  following  resolutions  expressing  fitting  and  grateful  ac- 
knowledgment : 

Resolved,  That  this  board  accept  with  grateful  thanks  the  offer  of 
Mr.  James  Sprunt  and  Mrs.  Sprunt  to  erect,  equip,  and  furnish  com- 
plete an  annex  to  the  hospital  building  of  this  hospital  to  be  devoted  to 


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602  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  care  and  treatment  of  children  and  maternity  cases  and  to  he  known 
as  the  "Marion  Sprunt  MemorlaL" 

Resolved,  further.  That  this  hoard  express  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spmnt  a 
keen  and  sincere  appreciation  of  the  generous  spirit  and  Christian  pur- 
pose which  has  actuated  them  in  making  this  gift  to  the  James  Walker 
Memorial  Hospital,  and  through  that  means  to  suffering  women  and 
children  of  this  community,  and  that  this  hoard  further  express  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sprunt  its  purpose  and  determination  to  do  all  within  its 
power,  hoth  now  and  hereafter,  to  see  to  it  that  the  management  and 
administration  of  the  '^Marion  Sprunt  Memorial*'  shall  he  such  as  will 
in  fullest  measure  accomplish  the  high  purpose  for  which  the  gift  is 
made. 

Resolved,  further,  That  we  honor  the  memory  of  the  late  Edward 
Payson  George,  who,  before  his  untimely  death,  cherished  a  warm  af- 
fection for  his  old  home  in  Wilmington  and  gaye  it  expression  in  his 
deed  of  trust  to  James  Sprunt  and  William  H.  Sprunt  of  a  gift  of  money 
which,  with  its  increment  to  the  first  of  January,  1915,  was  to  be  Joined 
with  a  greater  siun  from  James  Sprunt  and  Luola  M.  Sprunt,  his  wife, 
in  the  cost  of  the  erection  and  equipment  of  a  children's  hospital  as  a 
mem(M*ial  of  his  friend,  Marion  Sprunt,  and  in  testimony  of  his  love 
for  the  people  of  Wilmington. 

Resolved,  further,  That  a  copy  of  this  resolution  of  thanks  be  fur- 
nished to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Sprunt 

This  extension  will  without  doubt  make  of  the  James  Walker 
Memorial  Hospital  one  of  the  best  equipped  institutions  of  its 
kind  in  the  South. 

Since  the  reception  of  this  generous  donation  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Sprunt  has  occurred,  and  more  recently  that  of  Mr.  Sam 
Bear,  jr.,  who  was  associated  with  the  hospital  from  its  organiza- 
tion to  the  end  of  his  life.  After  speaking  very  beautifully  of 
his  life  and  character  and  his  great  usefulness  as  a  citizen,  the 
Board  of  Managers  adopted  the  following  resolution  in  acknowl- 
edgment of  Mr.  Bear's  service  to  the  hospital : 

Samuel  Bear,  president  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  James 
Walker  Memorial  Hospital,  departed  this  life  in  the  sixty-third  year  of 
his  age,  on  March  3,  1916,  at  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Wilmington. 
Since  the  organization  of  this  hospital,  he  has  been  its  friend  in  act 
and  in  deed.  He  was  a  member  of  the  original  Board  of  Managers,  and 
during  the  years  that  have  followed,  gave  himself  unreservedly  to  its 
service.  His  interest  was  vital,  and  had  its  origin  in  a  heart  that  loved 
his  fellow-man  and  in  a  genuine  desire  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  suf- 
fering humanity. 

He  gave  of  his  time,  of  his  thought,  and  of  his  means  cheerfuUy  and 
unsparingly,  without  ostentation  and  without  desire  for  praise  or  ap- 
proval. He  was  elected  president  of  this  board  on  October  8,  1912,  and 
served  ably  and  efficiently  in  that  capacity  from  the  day  of  his  election 
until  his  death.    During  times  of  stress,  his  great  business  ability  was 


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Peace  Restored  603 

active  in  the  service  of  the  hospital,  and  the  administration  of  its 
affairs  was  given  his  close  personal  attention  and  study. 

His  personality  was  pleasing;  his  sense  of  humor  keen;  his  sympathy 
boundless,  and  his  hand  was  ever  ready  to  help  those  in  need.  He  had 
the  affection  and  respect  of  his  associates.  His  loss  will  be  felt  by  the 
entire  community,  but  especially  by  the  hospital  and  his  associates  on 
this  board.    His  works  will  live  after  him. 


WILMINGTON  CHUECHES. 

As  the  spiritual  evolution  of  any  section  constitutes  the  most 
vital  part  of  its  history,  no  local  history  would  be  complete 
without  some  record  of  its  churches.  It  is  with  distinct  satis- 
faction, therefore,  that  I  have  been  able  to  secure  from  some  of 
the  ministers  and  members  of  the  churches  with  which  Wil- 
mington is  blessed  the  following  sketches  of  the  various  Chris- 
tian bodies  represented  in  this  city.  These  sketches  all  show  the 
deep  religious  fervor,  the  holy  impulse  and  righteous  endeavor, 
the  unconquerable  faith  and  glorified  hope  with  which  the 
spiritual  l^ders  of  the  oonmnmity  from  early  times  imtil  now 
have  given  themselves  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  Master's 
work.  Trusting  in  a  great  transcendent  Cause,  an  omnipotent 
Energy,  a  guiding  Personality,  a  rewarding  Gk)d,  they  have 
taken  their  relation  to  Him  seriously,  and  with  deathless  loy- 
alty have  sought  to  work  in  harmony  with  His  eternal  purpose 
in  the  upbuilding  of  His  kingdom  on  earth. 

We  are  not  all  Presbyterians,  but  I  think  the  Shorter  Cate- 
chiran  furnishes  a  question  and  answer  to  which  we  can  all 
subscribe :  *^What  is  the  chief  end  of  man  ?"  "To  glorify  God 
and  to  enjoy  Him  forever."  No  wavering  philosophy,  no  un- 
certain groping  here,  but  prof  oimd  conviction  of  a  distinct  per- 
sonal relation  to  the  Infinite  whereby  the  purchase  of  eternal 
happiness  embraces  man's  glorifying  his  Creator.  And  if  man 
must  glorify  Him,  he  must,  within  the  measure  of  his  capacity, 
tmderstand  Him,  so  that  Pope's  dictum,  to  the  devout,  is  para- 
phrased to  read,  "The  proper  study  of  mankind  is  God."  The 
life  that  interprets  each  new  experience  as  a  revelation  of  God 
in  individual  existence,  each  new  movement  in  history  as  the 
unfolding  of  His  larger  plan ;  that  sees  each  day  more  and  more 
of  the  steadfast  purpose,  each  hour  more  and  more  of  the  in- 
finite love  and  sweetness  of  the  Eternal,  wiU  find  itself  so 
dominated  by  spiritual  verities  and  so  held  in  the  thrill  of 


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604  Chromcles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ever-enlarging  experience,  that  it  will  form  the  habit  of  the 
angels,  to  glorify  its  Maker  by  the  song  on  the  lips  sounding 
forth  the  cadence  in  the  soul,  and  in  this  conscious  exaltation 
go  forward  with  joy  doing  the  will  of  Him  who  is  chiefly  glori- 
fied by  faithful  service. 

The  people  of  the  Southern  States  throu^out  most  of  their 
history  have  been  more  homogeneous  than  those  of  the  ^orth 
and  West,  and  have  maintained  their  ancestral  faiths  with  a 
steadiness  almost  unknown  in  some  parts  of  our  country.  Th^ 
have  clung  tenaciously  to  the  great  essentials  of  the  Christian 
system,  have  been  quick  to  see  the  insufficiency  of  modem  sub- 
stitutes for  the  Grospel  of  God's  grace,  and  have  turned  a  deaf 
ear  to  the  exponents  of  mushroom  religions. 

The  churches  of  the  South  have  generally  maintained  the 
absolute  authority  of  the  Bible  as  the  word  of  Gk)d,  have  in- 
sisted upon  the  exclusively  spiritual  mission  of  the  church,  have 
refrained  from  handling  in  their  ecclesiastical  courts  political 
questions,  have  refused  to  follow  the  protean  theories  of  an  un- 
believing criticism,  have  declined  to  offer  men  the  stone  of 
mere  humanitarianism  instead  of  the  bread  of  divine  grace,  and 
as  a  consequence  have  enjoyed  a  rare  exemption  from  the 
vagaries  and  religious  fads  which  have  mo<^ed  the  spiritual 
hunger  of  many  of  our  people  in  other  parts  of  the  land.  It 
has  been  so  in  Wilmington.  We  are  profoundly  thankful  that 
no  fitful  religious  fancy,  no  form  of  higher  criticism  or  heresy 
has  invaded  the  counsels  of  our  churches  to  disrupt  them  or  to 
mar  the  usefulness  of  their  membership.  Our  people  '^ow 
in  whom  they  have  believed."  They  have  answered  the  ques- 
tion, ''Whom  say  ye  that  I  am?"  and  have  taken  hold  upon 
God  never  to  be  free,  we  trust,  to  consider  any  new  doctrine  that 
might  loosen  their  grasp.  They  follow  the  course  of  humanity 
and  sin  like  the  rest  of  the  world.  Held  in  the  rushing  tide  of 
modem  life,  their  energies  may  be  diverted  at  times  from  the 
main  purpose;  but  they  have  laid  hold  upon  real  values  and 
permanent  ideals  and  their  faith  maintains  its  integrity  in  the 
midst  of  an  age  too  largely  given  to  doubt.  May  it  ever  be  so ! 
Christian  orthodoxy  in  perpetuity  is  a  rich  heritage  for  any 
people. 

Not  only  have  our  people  maintained  the  faith  of  their 
fathers,  but  a  very  deep  spirituality  has  pervaded  our  churches, 
and  in  the  main  their  spiritual  life  and  activity  may  be  summed 
up  in  the  words  of  Dr.  Jowett : 


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Peace  Restored  605 

'^e  are  fighting  to  make  known  the  love  of  the  Father  in 
the  person  and  work  of  his  Son,  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ. 
We  are  fighting  to  disperse  the  darkness  of  ignorance,  to  break 
the  chains  of  evil  habits,  to  offer  a  solvent  for  the  bondage 
of  guilt,  to  make  an  end  of  cruelty,  to  dry  the  tears  no  other 
hand  can  touch,  to  transfigure  sorrow,  to  exalt  wedlock,  to 
glorify  the  home,  to  hallow  childhood,  to  beautify  age,  to  light 
up  death. 

"This  is  the  grand  commission  of  the  army  of  the  Lord.  Is 
it  worth  fighting  for — ^to  unveil  the  infinite  love  of  God,  to 
make  known  the  great  mother  bird  of  the  race,  to  uncover  the 
riches  of  forgiveness,  to  unseal  the  springs  of  freedom,  to  kindle 
the  inspiration  of  eternal  hope,  to  light  up  the  road  which  leads 
to  home  and  to  God  ?" 

St.  James's  Parish. 

The  early  history  of  St.  James's  parish,  in  the  town  of  Wil- 
mington, is  very  closely  interwoven  with  the  history  of  the  town 
itself.  The  settlement  of  the  colony  by  English  subjects  estab- 
lished the  ecclesiastical  law  of  England  as  the  law  of  the  Church 
in  the  colony.  The  bishop  of  London  was  made  the  diocesan 
of  the  colony,  and  the  province  of  North  Carolina  became 
thereby  a  part  of  the  See  of  London. 

Little  attention  seems  to  have  been  given  the  religious  needs 
of  the  colonists  by  the  Church  in  England  until  the  incorpora- 
tion of  The  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts  in  1701. 

It  is  in  the  records  of  the  Venerable  Society  that  we  find  the 
first  official  notice  of  St.  James's  parish.  In  1736  the  society 
records  note  that  "Mr.  Marsden  had  a  settlement  in  the  parish, 
and  being  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  had  officiated 
there  for  several  years  past."  We  know,  however,  from  local 
sources,  that  thirty  years  prior  to  this  entry  the  whole  province 
had  been  divided  into  twelve  parishes,  and  several  laws  had  been 
passed  by  the  colonial  Legislature  for  the  support  of  religion. 
We  also  learn  from  the  same  sources  that  the  parish  of  St. 
James  was  organized  in  the  year  1730,  and  that  in  1729  the 
Rev.  John  LaPierre,  "a  French  Huguenot,  who  had  been  or- 
dained by  the  bishop  of  London  in  1708,  and  for  many  years 
had  served  a  congr^ation  of  his  own  people  in  South  Carolina, 
called  St.  Dennis'  parish,"  came  into  the  Cape  Fear  region,  and 


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606  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

served  St  James's  and  St.  Philip's,  Brunswick,  until  about 
the  year  1735.  Mr.  Marsden  served  only  about  one  year,  when 
his  appointment  as  missionary  was  withdrawn  by  the  Vener- 
able Society,  and  Mr.  Moir  was  made  missionary  to  the  parish. 
Mr.  Moir's  labors  were  arduous,  but  his  service  was  most  suc- 
cessful He  served  the  entire  parish,  from  the  Cape  Fear 
to  the  Neuse  River,  and  during  his  first  year  baptized  210 
persons,  in  his  second  year,  baptizing  316  others.  In  1742  he 
was  placed  in  charge  of  St.  Philip's,  Brunswick,  in  addition  to 
St.  James's,  and  between  1742  and  1745  he  reported  1,316 
persons  taken  into  the  church  through  baptism.  It  will  be  seen, 
therefore,  that  his  labors  bore  much  fruit  This  good  man 
served  the  parish  until  1747,  when,  because  of  ill  health,  he 
removed  to  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  near  Tarboro,  in  Edgecombe 
County,  where  we  find  record  of  his  further  faithful  and  loving 
service  as  late  as  1765. 

Prior  to  the  year  1751  the  congregation  of  St.  James's  had 
no  church  building,  and  used  the  county  courthouse  as  a  place 
of  worship.  In  Dr.  Drane's  Historical  Notices  of  St.  James's 
parish,  it  is  stated  that  the  lot  for  the  original  church  was  given 
by  Michael  Higgins,  "a  tried  and  true  churchman."  It  is 
recited,  however,  by  Colonel  Waddell,  in  his  History  of  New 
Hanover  County,  that  the  lot  was  conveyed  by  Higgins  to 
James  SmaUwood,  in  Jime,  1745,  in  consideration  of  200 
pounds,  and  that  Smallwood  conveyed  it  to  John  Rutherford 
and  Lewis  DeRosset,  wardens,  together  with  the  adjoining  lot, 
the  following  year.  The  lot  secured,  located  near  the  comer  of 
Fourth  and  Market  Streets,  was  not  sufficient  in  size  for  a 
church  and  burying  ground,  and  to  remedy  the  situation  an 
act  was  secured  from  the  colonial  Legislature,  in  1751,  author- 
izing the  church  to  use  thirty  feet  of  Market  Street  for  its 
purposes. 

There  were  three  commissioners  appointed  by  the  act  to  build 
the  church.  Evidently  great  difficulties  were  encountered,  for 
it  was  nineteen  years  after  the  passage  of  the  act  before  the 
church  was  completed,  in  1770. 

The  church  as  built  could  lay  no  claims  to  architectural 
beauty.  It  was  of  brick  and  extended  thirty  feet  into  Market 
Street — a  large  square  building,  with  neither  steeple  nor  belfry. 
There  were  three  entrances,  one  fronting  the  river,  one  open- 
ing on  Market  Street,  and  another  leading  into  the  graveyard. 
The  aisles  were  wide,  paved  with  large  square  brick,  and  the 


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Peace  Restored  607 

pews  were  of  the  old  English  style — "double  pews"  that  would 
seat  a  large  family,  though  compeUing  some  to  sit  with  their 
backs  to  the  chancel.  The  furniture  was  plain,  with  a  high 
reading  desk  and  higher  pulpit,  surmoimted  by  a  sounding 
board.  It  was  used  by  the  parish  until  1839,  and  was  endeared 
to  the  parishioners  by  its  sacred  character  and  associations. 

It  has  been  noted  that  Mr.  Moir  left  St.  James's  in  1747-48. 
After  an  interval  of  about  seven  years,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Mr.  McDowell,  who  served  the  parish  until  1763,  the  year 
of  his  death.  In  1765  the  Venerable  Society  sent  Rev.  Mr. 
Bamett  to  serve  St.  James's  and  St.  Philip's.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1766  by  Rev.  Mr.  Wills.  An  extract  from  the  con- 
tract made  with  Mr.  Wills  by  the  vestry  throws  a  side-light  on 
the  times  and  the  work  of  the  parish.  His  stipend  was  185 
pounds  proc.  money,  and  he  agreed  to  officiate  at  St  James's 
eighteen  Sundays  during  the  year,  at  Rocky  Point  six  Sundays, 
at  the  sound  six  Stmdays,  at  Long  Creek  six  Sundays,  at  Black 
River  six  Simdays,  and  at  Welsh  Tract  six  Sundays — ^the  re- 
maining four  Sundays  to  be  at  his  disposal. 

Another  incident,  noted  in  the  records  of  the  vestry,  throws 
an  interesting  side-light  and  shows  the  temper  of  the  times. 
Under  the  English  law,  the  Crown  had  the  right  of  presentation 
and  induction  of  a  rector  in  those  cases  where  a  church  or  chapel 
was  built  or  endowed  at  the  expense  of  the  Crown.  In  1770, 
four  years  after  Mr.  Wills's  ministry  b^an.  Governor  Tryon 
wrote  the  vestry  that  he  proposed  giving  him  letters  of  presenta- 
tion and  induction  into  the  parish  of  St.  James.  The  vestry 
replied  courteously  that  they  esteemed  Mr.  Wills,  and  were  well 
satisfied  to  employ  him,  but  they  denied  that  the  power  of  pre- 
sentation and  induction  existed  within  the  province,  and  would 
not  agree  thereto.  Governor  Tryon,  thereupon,  for  the  time 
withdrew  the  proposition.  Mr.  Wills  served  the  parish,  and 
had  the  respect  and  affection  of  the  people,  until  1775-76,  when 
he  resigned.  He  was  the  last  rector  under  the  colonial  gov- 
ernment. 

The  Revolution  of  1776  put  an  end  to  the  activities  of  the 
parish  for  fully  twenty  years.  Clergymen  of  the  Church  of 
England,  even  those  that  remained  neutral,  were  generally  re- 
garded as  in  sympathy  with  the  Government  of  England,  and 
were,  rightfully  or  wrongfully,  viewed  with  suspicion  during 
the  early  Revolutionary  period.  During  this  long  interval  many 
persons  formed  affiliations  with  other  denominations,  but  some 


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608  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

held  fast,  awaiting  the  reestablishment  of  their  own  church  and 
parish.  During  the  Revolution,  in  1781,  Wilmington  became 
a  British  Army  post  in  America,  and  the  church  building  was 
seized  and  converted  into  a  hospital 

There  was  no  service  in  St.  James's  after  Mr.  Wills  resigned 
until  1795,  when  the  vestry  reorganized,  and  called  Dr.  Hal- 
ling,  of  New  Bern,  who  served  until  1809,  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Qw^rgetown,  S.  C,  where  he  died  a  few  years  later. 
Dr.  Hailing  was  also  the  first  principal  of  the  Wilmington 
Academy  during  his  years  of  service  in  his  parisL 

In  1811  Rev.  Adam  Empie  was  made  rector  of  St  James's 
and  his  work  was  most  successful  He  found  twenty-one  com- 
municants when  he  arrived  and  left  102  when  he  resigned  in 
1814.  He  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Judd,  who  served  until  1816, 
when  Dr.  Empie  returned  to  the  parish,  and  guided  its  spiritual 
work  until  1827,  when  he  accepted  the  presidency  of  William 
and  Mary  College,  in  Virginia.  The  life  of  the  parish  was 
without  special  incident  from  1827  until  1836.  During  those 
years  it  was  served  by  Rev.  Mr.  Motte,  Rev.  Dr.  Cairns,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Davis.  In  1836  die  Rev.  R.  B.  Drane  became  rector. 
It  was  about  this  time  that  the  old  church  was  found  to  be  in 
such  bad  repair  that  a  new  edifice  was  deemed  necessary.  It 
was  therefore  determined  to  destroy  the  old  building,  and  to 
build  a  new  one.  The  new  church,  which  is  the  present  one, 
was  begun  in  1839,  and  an  interesting  account  of  die  laying 
of  the  cornerstone  is  found  in  the  Wilmington  Advertiser  and 
the  Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle,  of  April  6,  1839.  One  of 
die  records  placed  in  die  cornerstone  recites  that  the  old  or 
original  church  stood  about  fifty  yards  east  of  the  presait 
church,  near  the  comer  of  the  graveyard.  The  lot  on  which 
the  new  church  was  erected  was  purchased  from  Dr.  A.  J. 
DeRosset  for  $1,000,  of  which  sum  die  Ladies'  WoAing  Society 
and  the  Juvenile  Working  Society  agreed  to  pay  $600. 

The  building  was  designed  by  T.  tJ.  Walter,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  executed  under  the  supervision  of  John  S.  Norris,  of  New 
York.  It  was  so  far  completed  in  twelve  months  as  to  be  ready 
for  consecration.  Consecration  was  performed  by  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
Ives,  bishop  of  the  diocese,  assisted  by  Dr.  Drane.  In  January, 
1843,  Dr.  Drane  resigned  as  rector,  to  become  president  of 
Shelby  Collie,  Ky,,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Richard  H. 
Wilmer,  later  bishop  of  Alabama.  Mr.  Wihner  resigned  on 
account  of  ill  health,  in  1844,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Drane, 


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Peace  Restored  609 

who  was  welcomed  back  by  hie  old  parishioners.  The  parish 
prospered  under  his  administration  and  grew  so  that  it  was 
determined  to  build  another  church  in  the  city.  Accordingly, 
in  1853,  through  the  efforts  and  principally  through  the  sub- 
scriptions of  St.  James's  parishioners,  St.  John's  Church  was 
built,  on  a  lot  given  by  Dr.  DeKosset,  and  a  new  parish  organ- 
ized in  1860.  Dr.  Drane  served  St.  James's  parish  lovingly 
and  well  until  1862,  when  he  was  stricken  with  yellow  fever 
while  serving  the  sick  and  needy  during  the  fearful  epidemic 
of  that  year.  He  died  at  his  post,  beloved  of  his  congregation 
and  the  community. 

After  Dr.  Drane's  death,  Bishop  Atkinson,  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  North  Carolina,  who  lived  in  Wilmington,  served 
the  parish  as  rector  for  a  short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr. 
Alfred  A.  Watson,  who  was  later  to  become  bishop  of  East 
Carolina.  Dr.  Watson  served  during  the  War  between  the 
States.  An  interesting  incident  is  mentioned  in  the  parish 
records  of  this  time.  Anticipating  the  capture  of  the  city  by 
the  Federal  Army,  Dr.  Watson  had  obtained  authority  of  his 
bishop  to  omit  the  prayer  for  the  President  of  the  Confederate 
States  from  the  regular  morning  service  of  the  Prayer-book. 
Upon  the  capture  of  the  city,  the  Federal  military  authorities 
demanded  that  he  should  eliminate  the  prayer  for  the  President 
of  the  Confederate  States  and  substitute  for  it  the  prayer  for 
the  President  of  the  United  States.  Feeling  that  he  had  no 
canonical  authority  to  do  so,  and  that  he  would  thereby  be  a 
party  to  the  infringement  of  religious  liberty  of  the  church, 
Dr.  Watson  declined  to  comply  with  the  demand.  Thereupon 
liie  church  building  was  seized  and  converted  into  a  hospital 
by  the  army  authorities,  the  pews  torn  out  and  the  building 
otherwise  dismantled.  There  was  no  real  need  for  an  additional 
hospital,  and  it  is  reported  in  the  records  that  the  church  build- 
ing was  never  half  fiUed  with  patients.  The  war  ended  shortly 
after  this  incident. 

Dr.  Watson  made  application  to  the  Secretary  of  War  for 
funds  to  restore  the  church,  but  was  at  first  refused.  There- 
upon, the  congregation  raised  the  necessary  funds,  and  by 
Advent,  1865,  the  building  was  repaired  and  again  in  com- 
mission for  its  sacred  purposes.  Since  that  time  the  Federal 
Government  has  paid  the  church  claim,  and  the  amount  re- 
ceived has  been  expended  on  the  church  building. 

Dr.  Watson  served  the  parish  until  he  was  made  bishop  of 

39 


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610  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

East  Carolina  in  1883,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Robert 
Strange,  who  also  later  became  bishop  of  the  diocese.  The 
parish  was  blessed  and  prospered  under  Dr.  Strange,  and  under 
his  successor.  Rev.  R.  W.  Hogue,  who  was  rector  from  1903 
until  1907.  Mr.  Hogue  was  succeeded  in  1909  by  Dr.  William 
H.  Milton,  the  present  rector,  under  whose  guidance  the  old 
parish  is  moving  forward  in  its  appointed  sphere  with  renewed 
faith  and  vigor. 

During  the  years  since  the  war  the  parish  has,  for  the  second 
time,  found  it  necessary  to  expand,  and  the  mission  established 
by  it  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city  has  prospered  and  has 
become  itseM  the  parish  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

Standing  today  at  the  comer  of  Market  and  Third  Streets, 
the  present  church,  with  its  earnest  parishioners,  constitutes  a 
fitting  monument  to  the  efforts  that  have  marked  the  growth  of 
the  parish  through  its  trials  and  successes,  its  vicissitudes  and 
accomplishments  during  the  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  years 
of  its  life. 

St.  John's  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1851  St.  James's  parish,  then  under  the  rectorship  of  the 
Rev.  Robert  Brent  Drane,  D.D.,  had  outgrown  the  seating 
capacity  of  the  church  building,  and  it  was  decided  to  erect 
another  church  edifice  rather  than  alter  and  enlarge  the  old 
historic  St.  James's. 

The  congregation,  with  the  approval  and  encouragement  of 
Dr.  Drane,  worked  zealously  to  accomplish  the  undertaking. 
The  ground  at  the  comer  of  Third  and  Red  Cross  Streets  was 
the  gift  of  Dr.  Armand  J.  DeRosset,  senior  warden  and  one  of 
the  pillars  of  St.  James's  Church. 

Many  of  those  who  subscribed  most  liberally  to  the  building 
of  the  new  church  still  retained  their  connection  with  the  old. 
The  younger  members  of  families  joined  the  organization  of 
the  new  parish,  while  their  fathers  worshiped  in  the  old,  and  all 
worked  heartily  and  harmoniously  in  the  effort  to  erect  a  new 
building,  no  one  being  more  zealous  or  more  ready  with  counsel 
and  assistance  of  every  kind  than  the  beloved  rector  of  St. 
James's. 

The  plans  of  the  new  church  building  were  accepted  in  De- 
cember, 1852,  and  the  cost  of  the  finished  structure  was  some- 
thing over  $16,000.     On  the  21st  of  November,   1853,   the 


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Peace  Restored  611 

cornerstone  was  laid  with  appropriate  religious  ceremonies. 
The  members  of  the  church  formed  a  procession  at  St.  James's 
Church,  and,  led  by  Bishop  Atkinson  and  Dr.  Drane,  walked 
to  the  site  of  the  new  building.  As  nearly  as  I  can  remember, 
the  stone  was  placed  at  the  angle  of  the  wall  just  behind  where 
the  pulpit  now  stands.  The  ceremonies  were  imposing,  but  my 
childish  recollection  retains  most  clearly  the  figure  of  Bishop 
Atkinson,  with  his  beautiful  and  benignant  countenance  and 
dignified  carriage.  His  remarks  were  said  to  be  "forcible,  elo- 
quent, and  impressive." 

Several  years  passed  before  the  congregation  was  able  to 
liquidate  entirely  the  debt  incurred  in  the  erection  of  the  build- 
ing, but  in  the  year  1860  this  was  done  and  the  consecration 
took  place  and  the  church  opened  for  divine  service  on  April  1, 
1860. 

A  small  organ,  given  by  the  ladies  of  St.  James's,  was  placed 
in  the  organ  alcove.  The  chancel  furnishing  was  temporary 
and  unpretentious.  The  chancel  window,  of  stained  glass,  and 
the  windows  in  the  body  of  the  church,  of  plain  ground  glass 
with  a  narrow  border  of  color,  were  the  gift  of  the  girls  of  St. 
James's. 

The  organization  of  St.  John's  parish  was  at  a  called  meeting 
held  in  St,  James's  Church,  February  16,  1860.  The  organiza- 
tion was  effected  by  a  declaration  signed  by  eighty-seven  adult 
members.  A  vestry  of  seven  was  elected :  Nicholas  N.  Nixon, 
James  A.  Willard,  S.  L.  Fremont,  Samuel  J.  Person,  John  L. 
Holmes,  William  L.  DeRosset,  and  Mauger  London,  the  first 
two  being  appointed  wardens.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the 
vestry  the  following  delegates  were  appointed  to  the  Diocesan 
Coimcil  held  in  Charlotte  in  May,  1860:  S.  L.  Fremont,  Wil- 
liam L.  DeRosset,  James  A.  Willard,  and  Samuel  J.  Person, 
with  Henry  Nutt,  Robert  H.  Cowan,  J.  J.  Lippitt,  and  H.  W. 
Burgwin  as  alternates. 

On  March  16,  1860,  Rev.  J.  A.  Wainwright  took  charge  of 
the  parish  for  one  year,  resigning  and  returning  to  his  home  in 
New  York  at  the  end  of  that  time.  Late  in  December,  1861, 
at  the  suggestion  of  Bishop  Atkinson,  Rev.  R.  E.  Terry  was 
called  and  accepted  the  rectorship.  He  carried  on  the  work  of 
the  church  with  great  zeal  and  was  upheld  by  the  whole  congre- 
gation. The  Sunday-school  prospered,  the  membership  in- 
creased, and  a  good  voluntary  choir  added  interest  to  liie  serv- 
ice.   During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Terry's  incumbency  a  fine 


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612  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Pear  River 

organ  and  a  beautiful  font  were  purchased.  Also,  a  handsome 
pulpit,  given  by  a  communicant  of  the  church,  and  a  memorial 
tablet  to  Dr.  Drane,  who  had  died  during  the  epidemic  of 
yellow  fever,  were  placed  in  the  chanceL  In  October,  1869,  Mr. 
Terry  resigned  and  Rev.  George  Patterson,  at  that  time  assist- 
ant at  St.  James's,  was  called  to  the  rectorship  and  assumed  his 
duties  on  Easter  Monday,  March  11,  1870.  He  oontiaued  with 
the  church  ten  years  and  gained  the  love  of  his  people  and  the 
good  will  of  all  the  community.  The  inscription  on  the  memo- 
rial window  placed  in  the  church  by  his  friends,  both  in  and 
out  of  the  parish,  testifies  to  the  feeling  entertained:  **Chap- 
lain  Third  North  Carolina  Begiment,  Confederate  States 
Army.  Erstwhile  rector  of  this  church.  Faithful  soldier  and 
servant  unto  his  life's  end." 

Dr.  Patterson  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  D.  Pitts,  who 
served  two  years  and  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health  in  his 
family,  which  necessitated  their  removal  from  Wilmington. 

In  1883  Rev.  James  Carmichael  accepted  the  rectorship  of 
St.  John's  and  served  most  acceptably  for  fourteen  years. 

In  October,  1907,  at  the  insistent  call  of  the  vestry  and  the 
earnest  desire  of  the  congregation.  Rev.  W.  E.  Cox  became 
rector.  The  church  has  prospered  greatly  under  his  ministra- 
tion and  he  has  endeared  himself  to  all  by  his  earnestness  of 
purpose  and  untiring  zeal  in  his  work,  his  hands  being  upheld 
by  the  faithful  wardens,  Mr.  H.  6.  Smallbones,^  who  has  held 
the  office  of  warden  for  thirty-four  years,  and  Mr.  Washington 
Catlett,  who  has  for  a  long  time  been  warden  and  also  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school. 

Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

While  the  present  site  of  the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd 
is  at  Sixth  and  Queen  Streets,  where  for  more  than  twenty 
years  a  work  of  growing  usefulness  has  been  carried  on,  the 
parish  really  grew  out  of  a  previous  work  b^un  in  1870,  dur- 
ing the  rectorship  at  St.  James's  of  Dr.  Watson,  the  late  re- 
vered bishop  of  East  Carolina,  in  what  was  then  known  as  St. 
James's  Home,  on  the  present  St.  James's  Square. 

This  valuable  property  was  the  gift  of  Dr.  Armand  J. 
DeRosset,  of  honored  memory  in  the  church  and  community. 
In  1870  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Kate  DeRosset  Meares,  opened  a 

iMr.  Smallbones  has  since  died. 


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Peace  Restored  613 

Sunday-school  and  later  a  day-school,  being  assisted  subse- 
quently by  Mrs.  Bosa  H.  Ashe.  Mrs.  Meares  gave  herself  to 
this  service  with  a  rare  devotion,  and  it  was  by  her  untiring 
labors  that  the  foundation  of  such  a  splendid  work  was  laid. 

In  1873,  Mrs.  Lawrence,  afterwards  Sister  Cecilia,  came  to 
begin  her  labor  of  love.  She  left  behind  her  a  sainted  memory 
and  an  influence  that  has  been  handed  down  from  parents  to 
children  and  is  still  strong  in  the  conmiunity. 

In  1892,  while  Dr.  Strange,  the  late  beloved  bishop  of  East 
Carolina,  was  rector  of  St.  James's,  the  chapel  of  the  Good 
Shepherd  was  built  on  the  present  site  of  the  church,  and  a 
vigorous  work  carried  on  under  the  leadership  of  Kev.  J.  B. 
Gibble,  assisted  by  an  eflScient  corps  of  women,  who  aided  in 
the  social  and  spiritual  work  of  the  mission. 

Later,  Miss  Susie  Price  became  resident  parish  workei.  She 
has  carried  on  a  work  that  can  not  be  easily  overestimated  in 
its  beneficent  influence,  among  the  women  and  girls  particu- 
larly, a  large  number  of  whom  are  now  enrolled  in  various 
organizations,  chiefly  the  Girls'  Friendly  Society,  with  its 
Junior  Chapter  of  Candidates,  the  Parish  Guild,  and  a  very 
devoted  branch  of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary. 

A  notable  feature  of  this  interesting  work  is  the  record  of 
the  late  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  Mr.  J.  Hal  Boat- 
wright,  who  served  continuously  for  nearly  forty  years,  acting 
also  for  a  long  time  as  lay  reader.  His  was  inde^  a  noble  work 
of  love  performed  with  joy. 

In  1906,  Eev.  Thomas  P.  Noe  became  rector,  and  under  his 
direction  and  inspiration  the  congregation  began  earnest  efforts 
to  become  independent  and  seM-sustaining,  and  in  May,  1907, 
the  Church  of  the  Qt)od  Shepherd  became  a  regular  parish  and 
was  admitted  into  full  standing  in  the  council  of  the  diocese, 
having  been  aided  in  this  achievement  by  an  endowment  fund, 
set  apart  for  a  term  of  years  from  the  Armand  J.  DeBosset 
Memorial  Fund  by  the  vestry  of  St.  James's  parish. 

Previous  to  this  action,  the  hall  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  a 
large,  commodious,  and  well-appointed  recreation  hall  and 
parish  building,  was  erected  in  1906,  largely  from  this  same 
fund.  The  Deaconess  House,  formerly  occupied  by  Miss  Price, 
has  been  remodeled  and  enlarged  and  a  handsome  rectory  has 
been  built  on  the  church  property,  which  now  includes  about 
one-quarter  of  a  city  block;  and  on  AU  Saints'  Day,  1911,  with 
impressive  ceremonies  the  cornerstone  was  laid  for  the  present 


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614  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

handsome  brick  veneer  edifice,  which  was  completed  early  in 
1913.  The  following  resolution  was  passed  by  the  vestry: 
"That  the  cornerstone,  or  a  suitable  tablet  in  the  new  church 
bear  the  f oUowing  or  an  equivalent  inscription :  'Church  of  the 
Good  Shepherd,  erected  to  the  glory  of  Qod  and  in  grateful 
memory  of  Dr.  Armand  J.  DeEosset/  " 

The  funds  for  this  building  were  secured  from  oflFerings  made 
by  the  members  of  the  congregation,  together  with  an  Easter 
offering  of  $2,000  from  St.  James's  parish  and  $5,000  from  the 
Armand  J.  DeKosset  Memorial  Fund — a  fund  secured  mainly 
from  the  sale  of  the  original  site  of  the  home. 

In  1914,  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Noe  resigned  to  become  archdeacon 
of  the  diocese,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Kev.  W.  R 
Noe,  under  whose  leadership  the  parish  is  continuing  its  work 
with  enthusiasm  and  much  success. 

The  church  has  grown  in  numbers  and  influence  until  it  now 
has  a  communicant  membership  of  about  300,  with  more  than 
400  baptized  persons,  and  a  Sunday-school  that  numbers  over 
300  pupils,  with  30  officers  and  teadiers.  The  large  number  of 
organizations  for  girls  and  boys  and  adults  attests  the  wide 
range  of  usefulness  that  touches  every  phase  of  community  life. 

In  1912,  the  Good  Shepherd  established  the  Church  of  the 
Ascension,  a  very  flourishing  mission,  at  Third  and  Marsteller 
Streets,  which  now  has  a  large  Sunday-school  and  kindergarten 
and  a  growing  congregation  of  adult  communicants  in  a  build- 
ing of  their  own. 

From  its  inception,  the  work  of  St.  James's  Home,  and  later 
the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  received  the  faithful  support 
of  the  mother  parish  of  St.  James,  whose  devotion  can  not  be 
too  highly  praised. 

FiEST  Presbyterian  Chtjroh. 

On  the  walls  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Wilmington 
there  is  hung  a  framed  handbill,  containing  information  with 
reference  to  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  for  the  congre- 
gation of  that  church  in  1818.  It  is  circular  in  form,  and 
around  the  outer  edge  there  is  the  following: 

Names  of  Trustees  and  Building  Committee  of  the  first  Presbyterian 
house  of  worship  erected  in  the  town  of  Wilmington,  in  the  State  of 
North  Carolina. 

There  is  also  an  inner  circle  containing  the  following  names 


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Peace  Restored  615 

of  citizens  of  Wilmington:  Thomas  Loring,  Simeon  Bald- 
win, Richard  Parish,  Archibald  Taylor,  John  Cowan,  James 
Hughes  Draughon,  Thomas  Cowan,  George  Cameron,  Gabriel 
Holmes,  jr.,  John  Macauslan,  Archibald  Maclaine  Hooper, 
John  Walker,  Murdock  MacKay,  Talcott  Burr,  William  Har- 
ris, William  Edward  Jury. 

Within  the  circle  this  information  is  given : 

Builders:   James  MarshaH  and  Benjamin  Jacobs. 
Forty-second  year  of  American  Independence.    James  Monroe,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 
Cornerstone  laid:     The  19th  day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  1818. 
Building  Committee:    John  Maccoll,  Thomas  Clayton  Reston,  William 
MacKay,  James  Dickson,  Jacob  Hartman,  Richard  Lloyd,  and  Robert 
Murphy. 

Printed  at  the  office  of  the  Cape  Fear  Recorder, 

By  William  Hollinshead, 

For  Thomas  Loring. 

The  congregation  was  formally  organized  the  year  previous, 
worshiping  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 

The  following  memorandimi  furnished  by  Kev.  J.  K.  Hall, 
stated  clerk  of  Fayetteville  Presbytery,  refers  to  the  organiza- 
tion. 

"Under  date  of  April  4,  1817,  presbytery  being  in  session  at 
Euphronia  Church,  there  is  the  following  record : 

"  ^The  stated  clerk  laid  before  presbytery  a  paper  containing 
an  authenticated  copy  of  the  deliberative  proceedings  of  a  large 
and  respectable  number  of  citizens  of  Wilmington,  who  con- 
vened for  the  purpose  of  forming  themselves  into  a  Presbyterian 
congregation.  Those  proceedings  bore  the  signatures  of  Robert 
Cochran,  chairman,  and  Alexander  Anderson,  secretary,  and 
contained,  in  addition  to  the  names  of  twenty-three  trustees  ap- 
pointed for  the  management  of  their  temporal  concerns,  a  reso- 
lution expressive  of  their  request  that  this  presbytery  would 
take  the  said  congregation  under  their  charge.  Evolved,  That 
the  prayer  of  this  petition  be  granted,  and  that  presbytery 
promise  these  petitioners  all  the  aid  in  their  power,  either  in 
procuring  a  minister,  or  in  promoting  in  other  respects  their 
spiritual  interests.  Ordered,  That  the  Rev.  Colin  Mclver  be, 
and  he  hereby  is  appointed  to  preach  to  the  Wilmington  con- 
gregation, at  least  one  Sabbath  before  the  time  of  the  next 
stated  session  of  this  presbytery.  Ordered,  That  an  authenti- 
cated copy  of  liie  above  preamble,  resolution,  and  order  be 
transmitted  to  them  by  liie  stated  clerk.' 


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616  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

"Rev.  Artemua  Boies  was  ordained  and  instaUed  pastor  of 
the  Wilmington  church  May  12,  1819,  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
of  presbytery  in  Wihnington.  The  church  is  reported  vacant 
until  this  time." 

For  many  years  prior  to  that,  Presbyterian  ministers  had 
visited  Wilmington,  where  there  had  been  more  or  less  of  a  con- 
tingent of  that  denomination  among  the  Scottish  residents  and 
others  who  had  been  reared  in  that  faith.     The  first   sermon 
preached  in  Wilmington  by  a  r^ular  Presbyterian  minister  was 
by  Rev.  Hugh  McAden  on  February  15,  1756.     He  was  fol- 
lowed by  other  missionaries  who  came  from  the  North  and  from 
Scotland  to  work  among  the  Presbyterian  settlers  in  the  Cape 
Fear  section.  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  the  Calvinistic-Methodist 
preacher  and  great  evangelist  of  the  eighteenth  century,  visited 
Wilmington  and  preached  on  December  29,  1739.     He    also 
preached  in  the  town  on  March  29,  1765,  and  perhaps  at  other 
times. 

The  church  built  in  1818  was  on  Front  Street  between  Dock 
and  Orange.  The  cornerstone  was  laid  with  Masonic  cere- 
monies. Its  existence  was  of  short  duration,  for  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  on  November  3,  1819.  Meantime,  Rev.  Artemus 
Boies  had  been  installed  the  first  regular  pastor  of  the  church 
on  May  12,  1819. 

A  new  building  was  erected,  but  it  also  suffered  destruction 
by  fire  on  April  13,  1850,  when  another  site  was  chosen  for  the 
erection  of  a  church  for  the  congregation.  This  was  on  Third 
and  Orange  Streets.  There  was  no  insurance  on  the  old  church, 
and  a  subscription  towards  the  new  building  was  started  on  the 
spot  at  the  time  of  the  fire.  On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  a 
meeting  was  held  in  the  office  of  James  H.  Dickson,  M.D.,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  secure  further  subscriptions.  At  a 
later  meeting,  the  simi  of  $14,000  was  reported  as  having  been 
raised.  The  new  building  was  subsequently  erected  at  a  cost 
approximating  $20,000,  in  addition  to  the  cost  of  the  lot,  and 
was  dedicated  on  April  28,  1861.  It  still  stands,  and  is  used 
by  a  congregation  which  has  become  noted  throughout  the  South 
for  its  missionary  and  evangelistic  influences.  The  present 
membership  of  the  church  (1915)  numbers  eight  himdred  and 
forty-nine ;  and,  besides  its  large  benefactions  to  other  religious 
objects,  it  maintains  a  considerable  foreign  mission  enterprise 
at  Kiangyin,  China,  and  numerous  missions  and  chapels  in  its 
immediate  section  of  North  Carolina. 


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Peace  Restored  617 

The  ministers  who  have  served  the  church  are:  Revs.  Arte- 
mus  Boies,  Leonard  E.  Lathrop,  Noel  Robertson,  Thomas  P. 
Hunt,  James  A.  McNeill,  W.  W.  Eells,  Thomas  R.  Owen,  J.  O. 
Stedman,  M.  B.  Grier,  D.D.,  Horace  L.  Singleton,  D.D.,  A.  F. 
Dickson,  D.D.,  Joseph  R.  Wilson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Peyton  H, 
Hoge,  D.D.,  and  John  M.  Wells,  Ph.D.,  D.D.  President  Wood- 
row  Wilson  was  a  youth  when  his  father,  the  late  Dr.  Joseph  R. 
Wilson,  served  the  church  as  its  pastor. 

As  illustrating  the  missionary  and  enterprising  spirit  of  the 
church,  it  might  be  stated  that  on  November  6,  1858,  fourteen 
persons  were  dismissed  to  form  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
which  later  became  St.  Andrew's  Presbyterian  Church;  also, 
that  on  March  1,  1859,  a  plan  was  formed  to  build  a  mission 
schoolhouse  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  which  later  devel- 
oped into  Immanuel  Presbyterian  Church.  This  was  before 
the  burning  of  the  old  church  on  Front  Street  A  lot  for  the 
use  of  the  mission  was  donated  by  John  A.  Taylor. 

Seven  ministers  have  gone  out  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church:  Revs.  Thomas  R.  Owen,  Sidney  G.  Law,  George  W. 
McMillan,  William  H.  Groves,  Alexander  Sprunt,  William  E. 
Hill,  and  Andrew  J.  Howell.  It  has  also  furnished  the  follow- 
ing foreign  missionaries,  who  are  at  this  time  laboring  in  China : 
George  C.  Worth,  M.D.,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Emma  Chadboum 
Worth,  of  Kiangyin,  and  Miss  Jessie  D.  Hall,  of  Tsing-Kiang- 
Pu,  who  is  supported  entirely  by  the  Jane  Dalziel  Sprunt  Mis- 
sionary Society,  composed  of  her  immediate  family  and  rela- 
tives. The  foreign  mission  force  entirely  supported  by  the 
church  numbers  thirteen,  aU  of  them  in  China,  besides  twenty- 
five  native  helpers.  In  addition,  there  are  several  home  mission- 
aries and  mission  school  teachers  connected  with  the  church. 

The  large  addition  to  the  church  building,  containing  the 
Anniversary  HaU  and  the  Chadboum  Memorial  HaU,  was  com- 
pleted in  1894  and  bears  an  important  part  in  the  activities  of 
the  congregation. 

As  a  matter  of  general  historic  interest,  which  affected  the 
life  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  the  city,  as  well  as  those 
of  other  denominations,  mention  should  be  made  of  the  great 
revival  of  1858,  and  the  special  services  conducted  by  noted 
evangelists  since  as  follows:  Rev.  R.  G.  Pearson,  beginning 
March  18, 1888 ;  Rev.  D.  L.  Moody,  beginning  March  18,  1893 ; 
Rev.  R.  A.  Torrey,  D.D.,  beginning  March  6,  1910;  and  Rev. 
J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.D.,  and  Mr.  Charles  M.  Alexander,  be- 


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618  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

ginning  April  9,  1916.  The  Chapman  meetings  were  especially 
remarkable,  enlisting  the  interest  of  practically  the  whole  city, 
and  awakening  in  our  people  generally  a  sense  of  the  riches, 
beauties,  and  privileges  of  the  Christian  life.  As  many  as  5,000 
men  attended  one  service,  and  at  another  all  the  fraternal  socie- 
ties of  the  city  attended  in  a  body.  More  than  1,000  members 
were  added  to  the  churches,  and  a  vast  number  already  com- 
municants expressed  renewed  and  deepened  spiritual  life. 

The  closing  exercises  were  marked  by  a  procession  of  5,000 
Sunday-school  children,  with  banners  flying,  through  the  prin- 
cipal streets  to  the  Tabernacle,  headed  by  Dr.  Chapman  and  his 
fellow-workers.  It  was  an  affecting  and  inspiring  scene,  and 
will  live  for  many  years  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  those  who 
witnessed  it. 

St.  Ajsdebw's  Pbbsbyterian  Chubch. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  the  name  of  which  was 
later  changed  to  St.  Andrew's  Presbyterian  Church,  was  organ- 
ized by  the  Presbytery  of  FayetteviUe  on  November  21,  1858, 
with  fourteen  members  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
who  erected  for  the  new  church  a  building  on  Chestnut  Street 
between  Seventh  and  Eighth.  This  still  stands,  but  was  sold  to 
the  Presbyterian  negroes  of  the  city  in  1867,  for  whom  it  has 
had  a  useful  career  as  a  place  of  worship. 

The  congr^ation  of  the  Second  Church  worshiped  in  Brook- 
lyn Hall,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  until  1873,  when  a 
new  house  of  worship  was  erected  for  its  use  on  Campbell  Street 
near  Fourth.  It  was  dedicated  on  May  4  of  that  year.  This 
building  served  for  the  worship  of  the  church  for  several  years, 
until  the  increasing  membership  demanded  a  larger  structure. 
Another  building,  therefore,  on  the  comer  of  Fourth  and  Camp- 
bell Streets,  was  erected,  and  dedicated  on  June  9,  1889.  It 
still  stands,  but  additions  iave  been  made  from  time  to  time 
to  meet  the  growing  requirements  of  the  congregation.  The 
organization  now  numbers  689  members. 

The  original  house  of  worship  on  Campbell  Street  has  re- 
cently given  place  to  the  handsome  memorial  building  which  is 
attached  to  the  church. 

Rev.  Martin  McQueen  was  the  first  minister  to  supply  liie 
pulpit  of  the  Second  Church.  He  began  his  work  in  January, 
1850,  and  continued  until  December,   1863.     Thereafter  for 


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seven  years  the  church  had  no  r^ular  minister ;  but,  beginning 
in  November,  1870,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  for  about  three 
years  by  Kev.  H.  B.  Burr.  Then,  after  an  intermission  of 
several  months,  Eev.  C.  M.  Payne,  M.D.,  D.D.,  was  called  as 
the  first  regular  pastor.  He  began  his  ministry  on  June  1, 
1874,  and  continued  as  pastor  of  the  church  for  £(bout  ten  years. 
During  his  ministry  the  church  had  a  large  growth.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Primrose  was  installed  pastor  on  January  11,  1885,  and  served 
the  church  until  December,  1890,  when  he  was  dismissed  to 
become  an  evangelist  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri.  The  church  was 
without  a  pastor  until  July  1,  1891,  when  the  Kev.  Alexander 
D.  McClure  began  his  labors  as  pastor  of  the  congregation.  For 
twenty-four  years  he  has  been  liie  wise  and  beloved  leader  of  the 
religious  life  of  his  people,  and  has  been  closely  identified  with 
nearly  every  Christian  and  benevolent  enterprise  of  the  city. 
Reference  is  frequently  made  to  Dr.  McClure  now  not  as  pastor 
of  St.  Andrew's,  but  as  "pastor  of  Wilmington." 

The  change  of  name  from  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
to  St.  AndreVs  was  made  on  September  19,  1888,  by  vote  of 
the  congregation.  This  was  just  prior  to  the  building  of  the 
more  commodious  structure. 

The  congregation  of  St.  Andrew's  enjoys  a  large  share  of 
religious  leadership  in  Wilmington.  They  also  maintain  an 
important  missionary  interest  in  foreign  lands  and  at  home, 
supporting  Rev.  and  Mrs.  L.  T.  Newland,  of  Kwang- Ju,  Korea, 
and  Mrs.  J.  McC.  Sieg,  of  Congo  Beige,  Africa. 

From  St.  Andrew's  Church  grew  the  Pearsall  Memorial  Pres- 
byterian Church,  in  East  Wilmington,  whose  building  was 
erected  through  the  beneficence  of  Mr.  Oscar  Pearsall,  then  an 
elder  of  St.  Andrew's,  but  now  of  the  Pearsall  Memorial 
Church. 

A  Layman's  Rbcollbotions. 

(RemarkB  of  the  author  on  tha  fiftteUi  mnniyenaiy  of  St.  Andrew's  Presbsrtorian  Chnroh, 
Unimincton.  N.  C,  November  2S»  1M6.) 

In  response  to  Dr.  McClure's  kind  request  I  have  noted  a  few 
memories  of  the  days  of  my  youth  connected  with  the  origin 
of  your  church  organization. 

I  shall  refer  briefly  to  the  parent  church,  from  which  it 
sprang,  and  to  its  beloved  minister,  whose  sermons  often  lulled 
me  to  sleep  before  I  was  old  enough  to  understand  the  great 
trudis  which  he  expounded.  I  recall  the  soothing,  soporific  effect 


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620  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

of  his  sonorous  voice  upon  my  drowsy  spirit  when  he  spoke  in 
minor  tones,  and  the  painful  excitement  of  his  sudden  high- 
pitched  exclamations,  which  roused  me  with  an  abashed  and 
startled  countenance  from  fitful  dreams.  And  I  remember, 
while  being  nudged  with  expressive  gestures  by  my  parents  to 
keep  awake,  how  I  longed  to  sink  out  of  sight  upon  the  floor  of 
the  pew  and  yield  to  the  oveivmastering  desire  for  undisturbed 
repose. 

How  often  in  more  recent  years,  when  the  cares  of  business 
made  the  burden  of  life  almost  insupportable,  have  I  longed  to 
hear  one  of  those  delightful  sermons  of  my  childhood,  when  the 
voice  of  the  preacher,  meaningless  to  me  then,  like  the  droning 
of  a  bee  soothed  the  tired  senses  until  they  sank  unconscious 
into  the  arms  of  Death's  twin-brother.  Sleep. 

One  of  the  great  events  in  the  church  history  of  Wilmington, 
which  I  believe  under  the  hand  of  God  led  to  your  original 
founding,  was  the  wonderful  revival  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the 
hearts  of  the  Wilmington  people  in  the  year  1858.  I  was  then 
eleven  and  a  half  years  of  age,  and  attended  with  my  parents 
and  brothers  and  sisters  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on 
Front  Street,  which  I  saw  burned  to  the  groimd  afterwards,  and 
I  also  attended  the  morning  session  of  the  Sunday-school  which 
was  held  in  the  lecture-room  in  the  rear  of  the  church  building, 
and  which  still  stands  in  the  alley  opposite  our  present  Front 
Street  market  house.  I  can  remember  my  first  tottering  steps 
when  I  was  learning  to  walk,  but  I  can  not  remember  the  first 
time  I  attended  church:  it  must  have  antedated  even  that  re- 
mote period. 

Mr.  Kobert  Gibbs  was  the  superintendent,  and  a  Mr.  Sher- 
wood, who  was  a  merchant  of  Wilmington,  was  my  teacher. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  Matthew  B.  Grier,  a 
scholar  and  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  who  was  perhaps 
more  generally  respected  and  honored  in  the  town  of  Wilming- 
ton than  any  other  minister  of  his  time.  He  was  a  man  of 
attractive  and  striking  personality,  of  about  six  feet  stature, 
remarkable  intellectual  attainments,  most  courteous  and  refined 
deportment,  singular  grace  and  ease  of  manner,  and  of  extreme 
pimctiliousness  with  reference  to  his  immaculate  clerical  dress. 

It  was  his  custom  to  make  regular  visits,  or  visitations,  upon 
the  families  of  his  congregation  every  month,  and  I  have  often 
recalled  with  great  amusement  some  of  the  occasions  when  he 
visited  my  father's  family  and  examined  us  with  reference  to 


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that  indispensable  qualification  of  our  faith,  the  Weetminster 
Shorter  Catechism. 

I  remember  that  his  visits  were  timed  for  Saturdays,  or  after 
school  hours  on  week  days,  so  that  no  excuse  would  be  valid 
with  reference  to  other  obligations.  I  recall  also  our  brawny 
Scotch  nurse,  fresh  from  the  Highlands,  whose  duty  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  minister's  coming  was  to  corral  the  youthful  mem- 
bers of  the  family  and  prepare  them  by  careful  scrubbing  and 
change  of  clothes  for  the  ordeal  of  his  examination. 

About  that  time  I  had  developed  a  remarkable  fondness  for 
the  breeding  of  pigeons  and  possessed  a  flock  of  different  varie- 
ties numbering  forty  or  fifty,  all  told.  These  pigeons  were 
known  and  recognized  by  familiar  names,  and  to  an  especially 
fine  pair  of  white  fantails  I  had  given  the  names  of  our  pastor 
and  his  dignified  wife.  On  one  occasion  the  alarm  was  given 
to  the  boys  at  play  that  the  minister  was  approaching  and  that 
we  were  to  prepare  for  presentation.  My  two  brothers  and  I 
immediately  took  refuge  under  a  storehouse  in  the  yard,  from 
which  we  were  ignominiously  dragged  by  our  heels  by  the 
Scotch  nurse,  and  after  a  careful  overhauling  were  sent  into  the 
house  to  be  catechised.  One  of  our  number,  however,  escaped 
(I  think  it  was  our  brother  from  Charleston).  I  may  mention 
at  this  particular  juncture  that  liie  female  fan-tailed  pigeon, 
already  referred  to  by  name,  had  been  missing  for  several  days. 
You  can  imagine  the  consternation  of  our  good  mother,  while 
we  were  being  examined  on  the  question  of  *TEffectual  Calling," 
to  hear  from  the  back  yard  an  excited  and  effectual  call  to  us 
by  the  brother  aforesaid,  "Come  out,  come  out,  Mrs.  Grier  has 
alighted  on  the  top  of  the  stable!"  The  reassuring  "Ha,  ha," 
of  our  good  pastor,  however,  relieved  our  embarrassment,  and 
this  incident,  with  his  better  acquaintance,  established  our 
hearts  in  mutual  affection. 

The  personnel  of  the  white  members  of  the  original  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  on  Chestnut  Street  is  doubtless  well  known 
to  you,  but  I  think  that  the  excellent  character  of  our  colored 
members  has  not  been  sufficiently  emphasized.  I  recall  William 
Cutlar,  Alfred  Hargrave,  Henry  Taylor,  and  George  Price,  sr. 
They  were  all  superior  persons,  skilled  craftsmen,  intelligent, 
courteous,  self-supporting,  and  generally  respected  in  this  com- 
munity, as  their  worthy  sons  are  respected  who  are  here  tonight. 

After  they  had  bought  and  occupied  the  original  building  and 
engaged  a  talented  colored  pastor,  named  Rev.  D.  J.  Sanders^ 


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622  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Alfred  Hargrave  was  a  ruling  elder,  and  when  the  clergy  of 
another  denomination  occupied  the  colored  churches  during 
their  convention,  or  conference,  here,  a  fervid  preacher  with 
great  lung  power  conducted  the  Chestnut  Street  Church  service. 
As  his  voice  rose  in  a  "powerful"  prayer,  so  rose  a  feeling  of 
great  disgust  and  resentment  in  the  mind  of  our  dignified 
colored  elder,  who  did  not  like  such  "doings,"  as  he  expressed 
it.  When  the  voice  of  the  preacher  could  be  heard  two  blocks 
away,  old  Alfred  Hargrave  arose  and  with  great  dignity 
marched  up  to  the  pulpit,  and,  laying  an  accusing  hand  upon 
the  shoulder  of  the  astonished  shouter,  said  loud  enough  for  all 
the  congregation  to  hear,  "My  brother,  the  Lord  ain't  deef," 
which  had  the  desired  effect. 

I  have  referred  to  the  great  revival  in  Wilmington,  which 
included  all  classes  and  denominations,  in  the  year  1858.  The 
daily  morning  prayer-meetings  of  our  church  on  this  occasion 
were  held  in  the  lecture-room,  already  described,  immediately 
after  an  early  breakfast,  before  the  opening  hour  of  the  secular 
schools,  and  I  remember  that  we  carried  our  schoolbooks  with 
us  and  sat  in  awed  silence  through  the  mysterious  manifesta- 
tion of  God's  holy  presence.  The  building  was  crowded  to  the 
door,  and  the  whole  congregation  was  deeply  moved  by  emotions 
which  can  not  be  described. 

One  morning  a  stranger  in  our  assembly  arose  and  made  the 
most  beautiful  address  I  have  ever  heard.  I  think  he  said  he 
had  missed  his  railroad  connection,  and  that  while  he  was  aim- 
lessly walking  on  Front  Street  he  was  drawn  to  our  meeting  by 
the  sound  of  the  sacred  music,  and  that  he  too  had  felt  the  power 
of  that  mysterious  presence  of  the  Spirit  which  was  moving 
upon  the  hearts  of  us  all.  This  stranger  proved  to  be  the  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  L.  Girardeau,  of  Charleston.  He  was  subsequently  en- 
tertained at  my  father's  house,  and  then  began  a  friendship 
with  us  all  which  lasted  throughout  his  honored  life. 

When  my  father  canvassed  the  means  for  a  new  church  or- 
ganization, to  be  known  as  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  but 
miscalled  by  some — ^very  much  to  his  annoyance — the  Presby- 
terian Chapel,  we  lived  on  Princess  between  Eighth  and  Ninth 
Streets,  and  I  remember  that  this  street  was  in  its  primeval 
condition  of  deep  sand  without  even  a  sidewalk,  in  a  part  of 
the  town  very  sparsely  settled. 

When,  after  many  deliberations  and  misgivings,  a  site  for 
the  Second  Church  had  been  selected  on  Chestnut  Street  be- 


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tween  Seventh  and  Eighth  Streets,  we  plodded  through  the  deep 
sand  daily,  watching  the  progress  of  the  building,  the  total  cost 
of  which  was,  I  think,  $2,500. 

The  church  building  was  erected  under  contract  with  a  Mr. 
Moody,  and  the  progress  to  completion  was  watched  with  anx- 
ious interest  by  the  little  band — a  mere  handful — which  formed 
its  original  membership.  Conspicuous  among  these  were  my 
father,  Alexander  Sprunt,  John  C.  Latta,  John  R.  Latta,  John 
Colville,  and  others,  all  of  whom  have  gone  to  their  reward. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  exterior  of  the  original  build- 
ing on  Chestnut  Street  has  not  been  repainted  in  fifty  years. 
When  it  was  painted  after  its  erection,  the  first  coat  of  color  was 
sanded  by  the  usual  process  in  imitation  of  brownstone.  This 
has  withstood  the  exposure  of  half  a  century.  I  examined  the 
exterior  a  few  days  ago  and  found  it  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation,  with  the  exception  of  the  pillars  and  front,  where 
the  paint  was  visibly  wearing  away. 

While  I  write  these  lines  my  eyes  have  fallen  upon  an  item 
in  a  newspaper  entitled,  "A  Strong  Church,"  which  reads  as 
follows : 

"Is  it  a  strong  church?"  asked  a  man  respecting  a  body  of  wor- 
shipers. 

"Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"How  many  members  are  there?*' 

"Seventeen." 

"Are  they  so  very  wealthy?" 

"No,  they  are  poor." 

"How,  then,  do  you  say  that  it  is  a  strong  church?" 

"Because,"  said  the  gentleman,  "they  are  earnest,  devoted,  at  peace, 
loving  each  other,  and  striving  to  do  the  Master's  work.  Buch  a  con- 
gregation is  strong,  whether  composed  of  five  or  five  hundred  members." 

Such,  I  think,  may  be  said  of  the  little  band  of  workers  which 
composed  your  original  membership.  The  spirit  of  the  work 
entered  into  the  heart  of  every  one  of  our  household  and  each 
had  something  to  do  in  connection  with  it.  My  mother  solicited, 
in  person,  contributions  large  and  small  for  the  purchase  of  a 
bell,  and  although  fifty  years  have  passed  since  the  first  peal 
resounded  in  my  delighted  ears,  I  never  hear  it  now  without 
recalling  my  personal  attachment  for  it. 

There  was  an  underlying  principle  involved  in  the  origin  of 
this  church  to  which  I  would  ask  your  serious  thought.  The 
blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  church.  The  ancestors 
of  your  founders  sealed  their  devotion  with  the  sacrifice  of  their 


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lives  upon  the  bleak  moors  of  Scotland.  Your  original  members 
in  turn  gave  liberally  of  their  scanty  substance  with  their  lives 
of  service.  There  was  not  one  of  them  whose  income  for  the 
support  of  a  large  family  exceeded  fifteen  hundred  doDars  a 
year,  and  there  was  not  then  the  full  blessing  of  free  schools, 
which  you  enjoy ;  and  yet  they  rejoiced  in  pinching  from  their 
necessaries  of  life  a  liberal  share  for  God's  glory. 

I  could  not  tell  you  without  emotion  too  deep  for  words,  a 
memory  too  sacred  for  utterance,  of  the  secret  personal  sacrifice 
of  a  saint  of  God,  who,  I  believe  in  my  heart,  did  more  than  all 
others  for  the  upbuilding  of  this  church,  and  in  whose  crown 
of  rejoicing  there  shines  with  resplendent  glory  the  gems  of 
sacrifice  and  service. 

Men  and  women  of  St.  Andrew's,  take  it  to  your  hearts,  teach 
it  to  your  children,  that  the  foundation  of  your  beloved  church 
was  Christ  the  Lord  in  the  hearts  of  His  people,  who  cemented 
it  with  willing  service  and  personal  sacrifice  and  who  watered 
it  with  a  woman's  loving  tears. 

The  first  sexton  of  the  Chestnut  Street  CSiurch  fifty  years 
ago  was  Henry  Price,  who  is  present  and  who  will  now  make 
his  bow  to  the  congregation. 

Upon  him  devolved  the  duty  on  Saturday  of  opening  the 
windows,  sweeping  and  dusting  the  church,  and  making  the 
fires  in  the  two  stoves  in  the  rear  of  the  building,  and  I  was 
delegated  by  my  father  to  assist  him,  particularly  in  the  ring- 
ing of  the  bell  on  Sunday.  Many  a  painful  quarter  of  an  hour 
have  I  spent  in  tugging  at  that  bell-rope,  when  my  strength  was 
not  equal  to  the  task,  but  I  recall  this  experience  with  feelings 
of  gratefulness  that  I  was  permitted  to  make  some  sacrifice  in 
the  cause  of  a  church  which  has  been  so  blessed  of  Gtxi.  My 
younger  brother,  John,  had  his  duty  to  perform,  and  a  most 
unpleasant  task  it  was  to  him,  because  his  was  a  retiring  and 
modest  disposition  and  the  duty  which  my  father  imposed  upon 
him  made  him  conspicuous  in  the  morning  and  evening  service. 

My  father,  true  to  the  traditions  of  his  Scotch  training,  re- 
garded instrumental  church  music  with  disfavour  and  advo- 
cated congregational  singing,  which  he  led  with  the  assistance 
of  a  tuning  fork.  None  of  our  family  thought  much  of  my 
father's  gift  of  singing,  and  when  he  broke  down  in  leading  the 
psalm  or  hymn  by  trying  to  adapt  a  long-metre  verse  to  short- 
metre  music,  we  boys  slyly  poked  each  other  with  unbecoming 
levity,  for  which  we  were  afterwards  duly  punished. 


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After  my  father  determined  to  adopt  an  old  Scotch  practice 
of  exhibiting  against  the  pulpit  the  name  of  the  tnne  which 
the  congregation  was  expected  to  sing,  when  the  preacher  gave 
out  the  psalm  or  hymn,  my  brother  John  was  required  to  per- 
form the  duty  of  putting  up  the  sign,  which  he  thoroughly  de- 
tested, and  I  would  not  like  to  say  how  many  times  he  was 
corrected  at  home  for  insubordination. 

In  course  of  time  the  inevitable  choir  was  formed  and  John 
was  relieved  of  this  unpleasant  duty,  but  I  think  that  box  of 
gilt  signs  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 

In  later  years,  when  we  were  divided  between  the  First 
Church  and  the  Second,  my  youngest  brother,  William,  chose 
the  duty  and  the  privilege  of  joining  his  parents  in  their  devo- 
tions at  the  Second  Church,  to  which  they  had  given  the  serv- 
ice of  their  consecrated  lives.  For  years  he  sat  in  the  foot  of 
the  buggy  and  drove  them  from  our  home  on  Ninth  Street  to 
the  little  building  which  has  since  become  your  lecture-room, 
and  in  time  he  took  up  the  work  which  was  laid  down  by  his 
father  when  he  entered  into  rest  some  five  and  twenty  years  ago. 
How  faithfully  and  how  well  he  has  served  the  Master  and 
this  congregation  it  is  not  becoming  of  me  to  speak.  But  I  may 
be  permitted  to  say,  in  all  humility,  that  we  are  thankful  to 
God  and  that  we  are  proud  of  the  record  of  our  father  and  of 
his  youngest  son  in  this  beloved  church  of  their  choice.  It  is 
also  of  much  satisfaction  to  us  that  another  brother  has  been  in 
recent  years  added  to  its  membership. 

This  secluded  sanctuary  has  been  in  peace  and  in  war,  in  pes- 
tilence and  in  famine,  a  refuge  for  God^s  people.  Only  four  of 
its  original  members  survive ;  the  others  have  joined  that  "great 
multitude  which  no  man  can  number'^  and  "which  came  out  of 
great  tribulation  and  have  washed  their  robes  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  They  shall  hunger  no  more, 
neither  thirst  any  more;  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them, 
nor  any  heat;  and  God  has  wiped  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes." 

"Ah,  Christ,  that  it  were  best 
For  one  short  hour  to  see 
The  souls  we  loved, 
That  they  might  tell  us 
What  and  where  they  be." 


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626  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Immanubl  Pbssbytbbian  Church. 

Immanuel  Presbyterian  Church  ia  an  outgrowth  of  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  For  many 
years  the  latter  had  maintained  a  mission  Sunday-school  and 
industrial  classes  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  making  use 
of  different  locations  for  the  purpoea  The  work  had  a  very 
substantial  growth,  so  that  in  May,  1890,  it  was  decided  to 
erect  a  new  building  on  the  site  which  had  been  used,  near  the 
comer  of  Front  and  Queen  Streets,  the  building  to  be  called 
Immanuel  CSiapel.  Ground  was  broken  on  May  26,  and  the 
structure  was  completed  before  the  end  of  1890.  A  very  mate- 
rial subscription  towards  the  new  building  was  obtained  from 
a  legacy  left  by  Mrs.  E.  E.  Burruss.  The  remainder  of  the 
cost  was  met  by  subscriptions  from  members  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

The  first  service  was  held  in  the  new  chapel  on  January  4, 
1891,  and  on  February  1,  1891,  it  was  dedicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  Rev.  Dr.  Peyton  H.  Hoge  preaching  the  sermon 
from  texts  illuminated  on  the  walls  of  the  building. 

Mr.  J.  M.  W.  Elder,  who  later  became  an  ordained  minister, 
took  charge  of  the  work  of  the  mission  as  a  lay  missionary  on 
January  1,  1888.  He  was  Succeeded  by  Rev.  William  McC. 
Miller,  of  Virginia,  in  October  of  that  year.  Later,  the  pulpit 
of  the  chapel  was  supplied  in  turn  by  Revs.  George  H.  Comehl- 
son,  jr.,  B.  E.  Wallace,  P.  C.  Morton,  E.  E.  Lane,  J.  C.  Story, 
and  C.  W.  Trawick,  until  March  1,  1904.  On  May  16  of  that 
year  Rev.  J.  S.  Crowley,  who  had  served  as  a  missionary  in  the 
Congo  region  of  Africa,  became  stated  supply,  and  continues 
to  fill  the  pulpit  at  the  present  time. 

Immanuel  Church  is  now  a  separate  organization,  although 
its  support  and  the  personnel  of  its  workers  are  to  a  large  extent 
obtained  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

It  has  had  a  large  and  abiding  influence  in  the  moral  and 
religious  uplift  of  the  people  living  in  the  southern  part  of 
Wilmington;  and  the  long  pastorate  of  Mr.  Crowley  has 
brought  a  large  growth  to  the  membership  of  the  church,  which 
now  numbers  two  hundred  and  thirty-three. 

In  connection  with  Immanuel  Church,  Immanuel  kinder- 
garten is  maintained,  and  has  proved  to  be  a  great  blessing  to 
the  children  of  that  section  of  the  city.    Also,  as  an  outgrowth 


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of  the  work  of  the  church,  the  Boys'  Brigade  came  into  exist- 
ence. 

Immanuel  Building,  standing  on  the  comer  of  Front  and 
Queen  Streets,  was  erected  a  few  years  ago  through  the  benefi- 
cence of  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  to  be  used  for  religious,  educa- 
tional, and  social  purposes  in  connection  with  Immanuel 
Church.  Mr.  Sprunt  also  gave  the  two  residences  adjoining  for 
the  use  of  the  church. 

Otheb  Pbesbytebian  Chubches  in  New  Hanovee  County. 

There  are  other  Presbyterian  Churches  in  New  Hanover 
County,  some  established  at  a  very  early  date. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  Pearsall  Memorial  Church,  in 
East  Wilmington,  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  St.  Andrew's 
Church. 

The  Winter  Park  Presbyterian  Church  is  an  outgrowth  of 
the  mission  work  conducted  by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  Chadboum  Memorial  Chapel  at  Winter  Park  Gardens. 
This  chapel  was  built  by  Mr.  James  H.  Chadboum,  jr.,  as  a 
memorial  to  his  children,  George  and  Blanche.  Services  were 
first  conducted  there  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Wells,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  J.  M. 
Plowden.  Later,  the  work  fell  into  the  hands  of  Rev.  Andrew 
J.  Howell,  laboring  under  the  direction  of  the  session  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  There  is  a  present  membership 
of  eighty-two,  and  the  prospects  are  bright  for  a  large  growth 
in  the  near  future.  The  congregation  was  duly  organized  as  a 
separate  church  on  December  14,  1913,  with  Mr.  Howell  as 
stated  supply.  With  consent  of  the  Chadboum  family,  the 
Memorial  Chapel  has  been  moved  to  another  location  on  the 
same  lot,  and  a  new  church  of  brick,  of  colonial  style  of  archi- 
tecture, has  just  been  completed  and  handsomely  furnished. 
The  modem  arrangement  and  complete  furnishings  of  this 
church  building  afford  conveniences  unsurpassed,  and  its  great 
usefulness  as  a  house  of  the  Lord  is  clearly  foreseen.  Its 
grounds  have  been  tastefully  laid  out  and  beautified,  and  the 
opinion  expressed  by  many  is  that  no  more  attractive  and  sub- 
stantial church  edifice  and  grounds  are  to  be  found  in  the  Cape 
Fear  section.  The  whole  is  the  gift  of  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  who 
erected  the  church  as  a  memorial  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Tannahill  Hall.    Mrs.  Hall  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  First 


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628  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Presbyterian  Church  of  Wilmington.     Over  the  main  entrance 
is  a  marble  tablet  with  the  following  appropriate  inscription : 

Winter  Park  PreBbsrterlan  Church, 

Brected  to  the  glory  of  God  and  as  a 

Perpetual  memorial  of 

Margaret  Tannahill  Hall, 

Beloved  wife  of  B.  F.  HaU  and 

Daughter  cX, 

Alexander  and  Jane  Dalsiel  Sprunt 

A.  D.  1915. 


The  edifice  was  dedicated  on  March  5,  1916.  The  cere- 
monies were  imposing  and  the  attendance  so  large  that  the 
building  could  scarcely  accommodate  all.  The  sermon  on  this 
occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  Alexander  Sprunt,  D.D.,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  a  brother  of  Mr.  James  Sprunt  and  Mrs. 
Haa 

Bethany  Presbyterian  Church  is  a  mission  conducted  by  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  handsome  little  structure 
used  by  the  congregation  was  built  in  1912  as  a  gift  of  Mr. 
James  Sprunt.  It  was  dedicated  on  November  10,  1912.  The 
work  is  in  charge  of  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Howell,  and  succeeded  the 
religious  services  formerly  conducted  in  a  schoolhouse  which 
was  the  property  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  A.  Lineker,  English 
people  who  settled  in  that  section  of  the  county.  The  school- 
house  is  now  known  as  the  "Lineker  Memorial  HLall." 

The  Delgado  Presbyterian  Church  is  also  a  mission  sup- 
ported by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Delgado  Cotton 
Mills,  which  are  now  located  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
city.  The  work  began  as  a  Simday-school  on  January  8,  1905, 
under  the  superintendency  of  Mr.  Andrew  J.  Howell,  then  an 
elder  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  who  later  became  a 
minister  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  mission.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  Rev.  J.  M.  Plowden  served  the  church  as  supply  for 
several  years. 

The  influence  of  the  Delgado  Church  has  been  very  great  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  city,  and  the  employees  of  the 
Delgado  Mills  are  indebted  to  it  for  many  of  the  religious 
advantages  which  they  have  enjoyed. 

In  connection  with  the  Delgado  Church,  Marion  Mission  is 
maintained  by  Mr.  James  Spnmt,  who  erected  for  it  a  hand- 
some building  in  1907.     A  kindergarten  is  conducted  in  the 


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building  during  the  school  months,  and  a  daily  luncheon  served 
to  the  children.  The  rooms  are  also  used  for  Sundaynschool 
and  social  purposes. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  a  Sunday-school  is  conducted  by  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  superintendency  of  Mr. 
G.  C.  Bordeaux,  at  Sunset  Park ;  and  Dr.  McClure,  of  St.  An- 
drew's, preaches  regularly  at  Castle  Haynes,  with  the  end  in 
view  of  establishing  a  Presbyterian  mission  at  that  place  when 
interest  develops  sufficiently. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  has  a  chapel  on  the  comer  of 
Twelfth  and  Queen  Streets,  in  which  it  supports  a  Simday- 
school  for  colored  people ;  and  St.  Andrew's  maintains  a  similar 
work  on  the  comer  of  Eighth  and  Harnett  Streets.  Rev.  W.  M. 
Baker,  who  graduated  from  the  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
took  charge  of  this  work  for  both  churches  on  June  15,  1913, 
and  still  has  it  in  hand. 

Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Prior  to  1886,  the  leading  Methodist  Church  of  Wilmington 
stood  on  the  northeast  comer  of  Front  and  Walnut  Streets.  It 
was  the  Front  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  exist- 
ence of  the  church  dated  far  back  into  the  earlier  life  of  the  city, 
and  it  included  many  of  its  influential  families.  The  first  or- 
ganization of  Methodists  in  Wilmington  was  formed  on  Decem- 
ber 24,  1797.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Old  Front  Street 
Church. 

The  leading  spirit  of  early  Methodism  in  the  city  was  Wil- 
liam Meredith,  who  died  in  1799,  leaving  a  dwelling  and  a 
chapel  to  the  church.  He  made  provision,  also,  for  the  enlarge- 
ment of  both,  and  in  a  few  years  a  congregation  of  1,500,  whites 
and  blacks,  was  reported  as  worshiping  in  the  enlarged  church. 

In  1800,  Nathan  Jarrett  was  appointed  the  first  regular 
preacher  of  the  church,  which  was  at  that  time  made  a  "station,^' 
according  to  Methodist  custom. 

In  1843,  a  fire  which  devastated  a  large  part  of  the  city  de- 
stroyed the  commodious  structure  which  the  congregation  had 
used  for  many  years  as  a  place  of  worship..  In  it  the  fervid 
oratory  of  many  Methodist  divines  of  former  years  stirred  the 
members  to  a  deep  religious  life.  In  the  gallery,  there  was 
always  present  a  considerable  number  of  negro  slaves,  joining 
in  the  worship  of  Ood  with  their  masters,  who  sat  in  the  main 


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630  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

auditorium.  This  custom  was  general  with  the  churches  of  the 
city,  but  was  particularly  noticeable  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

After  the  fire  of  1843  the  church  was  rebuilt  on  the  same  site. 
This  structure,  which  presented  an  imposing  appearance,  met  a 
fate  similar  to  that  of  its  predecessor,  for  it  was  destroyed  by 
the  great  conflagration  of  February  21,  1886.  In  it  also  were 
heard  many  prominent  Methodist  preachers.  It  was  a  favorite 
church  with  Bishops  Whiteford  Smith  and  William  Capers, 
whose  names  are  preserved  in  some  of  the  older  families  of 
Wilmington. 

Surrounding  the  church  was  the  graveyard,  with  numerous 
vaults  against  the  outer  wall  of  the  enclosure.  After  the  fire 
of  1886,  as  many  as  practicable  of  the  gravestones  and  bodies 
were  removed  to  Oakdale  Cemetery.  The  remains  of  William 
Meredith,  which  had  been  buried  imder  the  porch  of  the  old 
church,  were  removed  to  the  new  Grace  Church,  where  they 
now  rest  under  the  pulpit 

When  the  second  church  structure  was  burned,  the  Temple  of 
Israel,  or  Jewish  synagogue,  located  on  the  comer  of  Fourth 
and  Market  Streets,  was  tendered  to  the  congr^ation  for  use, 
and  for  two  years  the  Methodists  worshiped  there,  thus  proving 
the  benevolent  spirit  of  the  Hebrew  citizens  of  Wilmington. 

The  lot  on  the  comer  of  Front  and  Walnut  Streets  was  sold 
and  a  new  location  acquired  on  the  comer  of  Fourth  and  Mul- 
berry Streets,  where  the  present  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  erected  and  its  lecture-room  occupied  for  the  first 
time  in  the  spring  of  1888.  The  edifice  stands  as  a  handsome 
and  worthy  memorial  to  the  faith  and  principles  of  Methodism. 
Its  present  membership  is  about  820.  Through  the  influence 
of  members  of  Grace  Church,  the  name  of  Mulberry  Street  was 
changed  to  Grace  Street. 

As  a  matter  of  interest,  it  may  be  stated  that  in  earlier  years 
the  Methodists  of  Wilmington  were  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Virginia  Conference,  and  later  were  placed  under  the  care  of 
the  South  Carolina  Conference;  so  that  for  some  time  there 
was  a  division  among  them  between  the  conferences.  Later,  the 
church  was  imder  the  sole  control  of  the  South  Carolina  Con- 
ference; and  when  it  was  proposed  to  have  the  !North  Carolina 
Conference  take  over  the  Wilmington  church,  there  was  a  stub- 
bom  protest  among  several  of  the  leading  members,  the  effects 
of  which  were  not  overcome  for  many  years. 

Among  the  ministers  who  served  the  Front  Street    (now 


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Peace  Restored  631 

Grace)  Church  may  be  mentioned  Rev.  Jonathan  Dally,  Eev. 
Charles  F.  Deems,  D.D.,  Rev.  R.  S.  Moran,  D.D.,  Rev.  James 
Mann,  D.D.,  Rev.  E.  A.  Yates,  D.D.,  Rev.  Frank  Wood,  Rev. 
W.  S.  Creasy,  D.D.,  Rev.  W.  C.  Norman,  Rev.  R.  A.  WiUis, 
Rev.  A.  P.  Tyer,  Rev.  John  N.  Cole,  Rev.  N.  M.  Watson,  Rev. 
T.  A.  Smoot,  D.D.,  Rev.  J.  C.  Wooten,  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Bundy. 

Fifth  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  name  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  changed  in  1915  from  the  Fifth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  which  name  it  had  borne  since  its  organization,  about 
the  year  1847. 

Located  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  the  Fifth  Avenue 
church,  throughout  its  long  history  of  about  sixty-eight  years, 
has  had  a  strong  hold  upon  the  Methodists  in  that  section  of 
Wilmington.    Its  membership  now  numbers  about  750. 

The  old  Fifth  Street  Church  was  originally  a  wooden  struc- 
ture, but  this  was  torn  down  in  the  year  1889  to  give  place  to 
the  present  handsome  building  of  brick,  which  is  an  ornament 
to  the  neighborhood. 

When  the  present  building  was  erected,  it  was  equipped  with 
chimes,  which  are  well  remembered  as  pealing  forth  before 
every  service  some  of  the  old  tunes  of  the  Christian  church; 
but  after  a  few  years  the  chimes  were  given  up. 

Among  the  ministers  who  have  served  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Church  may  be  named  Kev.  T.  Page  Ricaud,  Rev.  D.  H.  Tuttle, 
Rev.  R.  C.  Beaman,  Rev.  L.  L.  Nash,  D.D.,  Rev.  W.  L.  Cim- 
ninggim.  Rev.  J.  H.  Hall,  Rev.  S.  M.  Shamburger,  Rev.  A. 
McCullen,  Rev.  K.  D.  Holmes,  Rev.  G.  T.  Adams,  Rev.  A.  J. 
Parker. 

Bladen  Stbeet  Methodist  Episcopal  Chubch. 

The  Bladen  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  came  into 
existence  in  response  to  a  need  felt  by  many  Methodists  living 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  city  for  a  place  of  worship  of  their 
own.  It  was  organized  about  the  year  1887,  and  has  had  a 
steady  growth  and  a  successful  career,  the  present  membership 
being  about  235. 

Among  the  ministers  who  have  served  the  church  are  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sawyer,  Rev.  Frank  Butt,  Rev.  A.  J.  Parker,  Rev.  J.  B. 


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632  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Porter,  Rev.  B.  B.  Culbreth,  Rev.  G.  B.  Webster,  Rev.  W.  L. 
Rexford,  and  Rev.  T.  C.  Vickers. 

The  Bladen  Street  Church  is  located  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  Bladen  and  Fifth  Streets.  Its  present  structure  is  a  new  and 
handsome  building  of  wood,  which  takes  the  place  of  a  smaller 
wooden  building,  removed  in  the  year  1910. 

Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  occupies  a  site  near  the 
northeast  comer  of  Market  and  Ninth  Streets.  The  building  is 
of  brick.  The  erection  of  a  larger  connecting  structure  on  the 
vacant  lot  on  the  comer  is  contemplated. 

The  church  was  organized  in  1892  as  the  Market  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  originally  occupied  a  site  on 
the  west  side  of  Ninth  Street,  a  little  to  the  south  of  Market. 
Later,  the  new  and  better  site  was  procured. 

The  church  has  done  a  good  work  in  supplying  the  needs  of 
the  members  of  the  denomination  living  in  the  eastern  section 
of  the  city.    Its  present  membership  numbers  about  200. 

The  ministers  who  have  supplied  the  pulpit  of  Trinity  Church 
are:  Rev.  E.  C.  Sell,  Rev.  T.  H.  Sutton,  Rev.  M.  T.  Plyler, 
Rev.  A.  S.  Barnes,  Rev.  Marvin  Culbreth,  Rev.  W.  L.  Rexford, 
Rev.  E.  R.  Welch,  Rev.  C.  T.  Rogers,  and  the  present  pastor, 
Rev.  W.  V.  McRae.  Rev.  J.  W.  Craig,  an  honored  citizen  and 
eflBcient  life-long  pilot  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  who  was  also  a 
local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  Church,  filled  the  pulpit  for 
some  time  in  its  early  history. 

At  the  present  time  (1916),  plans  are  being  formed  to  con- 
solidate the  membership  of  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
with  the  Methodists  living  in  the  eastern  suburbs  of  the  city  in 
an  effort  to  erect  a  Methodist  Church  farther  out  Market  Street 
to  take  the  place  of  the  present  organization  and  structure. 

Eably  Methodism  in  Wilmington. 

(Extraota  from  an  address  of  Dr.  Chreitsberg,  delivered  before  the  Methodist  Contopenoe 
at  Durham,  N.  C,  December  2. 1894.) 

In  the  year  1813  there  was  stationed  in  Wilmington  a  young 
man  who  afterwards  was  long  revered  among  us  as  Bishop  Wil- 
liam Capers.  To  him  we  are  indebted  for  memorials  of  the 
time  which  none  would  willingly  lose.     Of  Huguenot  descent, 


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Peace  Restored  633 

with  great  beauty  of  person  and  a  manner  denoting  the  Christian 
gentleman,  with  an  eloquence  of  speech  that  was  charming,  he 
was  well  calculated  to  captivate  any  with  whom  he  associated. 
The  parsonage  to  which  he  brought  his  bride  of  a  few  weeks  was 
not  palatial.    It  is  best  described  in  his  own  words : 

"The  parsonage,  which  I  might  call  a  two-story  dwellings 
house  or  a  shanty,  according  to  my  humor,  was  a  two-story 
house,  actually  erected  in  that  form,  and  no  mistake,  with  its 
first  story  eight  feet  high  and  the  second  between  six  and  seven — 
quite  high  enough  for  a  man  to  stand  in  with  his  hat  off,  as  men 
ought  always  to  stand  when  in  a  house.  The  stories,  to  be  sure, 
were  not  excessive  as  to  length  and  breadth,  any  more  than 
height,  each  story  constituting  a  room  of  some  eighteen  by 
twelve  or  fourteen  feet,  and  the  upper  one  having  the  benefit  of 
a  sort  of  step-ladder  on  the  outside  of  the  edifice,  to  render  it 
accessible  when  it  might  not  rain  too  hard,  or  with  an  umbrella 
when  it  did  rain,  if  the  wind  did  not  blow  too  hard.  And  be- 
sides this,  there  was  a  room  constructed  like  a  shed  at  one  side 
of  the  main  building,  which,  as  madam  might  not  relish  going 
out  of  doors  and  up  a  step-ladder  on  her  way  to  bed,  especially 
in  rainy  weather,  was  appropriated  to  her  use  as  a  bedchamber. 
But  we  were  content  A  palace  might  scarcely  have  been  appre- 
ciated by  us,  who,  by  the  grace  of  God,  had  in  ourselves  and  in 
each  other  a  sufficiency  for  happiness.  This  house,  the  church, 
and  the  lot  they  stood  on  (the  church  a  coarse  wooden  structure 
sixty  feet  by  forty),  and  several  adjoining  lots,  rented  to  free 
negroes,  had  belonged  to  Mr.  Meredith,  and  had  been  procured, 
for  the  most  part,  by  means  of  penny  collections  among  the 
negroes,  who  almost  exclusively  composed  the  congregation." 

There  you  have  fully  the  picture  of  your  first  church  and 
parsonage  in  Wilmington.  Mr.  Capers  speaks  further  of  his 
flock.    His  remarks  will  not  bear  condensation : 

"Of  my  flock,  much  the  greater  number  were  negroes.  The 
whites  were  very  poor  or  barely  able  to  support  themselves  with 
decency.  Here,  too,  none  of  the  wise  men  after  the  flesh,  nor 
mighty,  nor  noble  were  called.  Indeed,  of  men  of  this  class,  I 
know  not  that  there  was  one,  and  believe  that  if  one,  there  was 
but  one,  who  belonged  to  any  church  at  all  as  a  communicant. 
They  were,  very  generally,  at  least,  too  much  tinctured  with  the 
French  deistical  philosophy  for  that  Of  churches  in  the  town, 
claiming  mine  to  be  one,  there  was  but  one  other,  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  Adam  Empie  was  rector. 


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634  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Comparing  numbers  betweeen  the  churches  as  to  white  mem- 
bers communing  in  each,  I  had  the  advantage  of  Mr.  (since  Dr.) 
Empie,  having  some  ten  or  a  dozen  males  to  his  doubtful  one, 
while  the  females  may  have  been  about  equally  divided  as  to 
numbers,  giving  him,  however,  and  his  church  the  prestige  of 
worldly  wealth  and  honor. 

''At  that  time  it  was  admitted  that  the  Methodists  on  the 
whole  were  a  good  sort  of  enthusiasts,  their  religion  well  suited 
to  the  lower  classes,  especially  the  negroes,  who  needed  to  be 
kept  in  terror  of  hell  fire.  It  was  called  the  n^ro  church  long 
after  the  blacks  had  left  the  lower  floor  for  the  galleries.  And 
by  those  of  the  historic  episcopacy  it  was  especially  considered 
the  proper  cognomen.  They,  from  the  difficulty,  as  a  plain 
countryman  phrased  it,  of  learning  to  'rise  and  sot,^  failed  in 
capturing  the  masses.  And  thou^  wanting  the  earth,  this  did 
not  seem  to  trouble  them.  But  as  far  as  position,  power,  or  the 
spoils  of  office  go — ah,  that  was  another  matter.  And  that  high 
claim  is  not  abated  yet  in  this  year  of  grace,  reminding  one  of 
the  resolutions  of  the  Puritan  Conclave:  'Resolved  (1st),  The 
earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fulness  thereof.  Resolved  (2nd), 
The  Lord  has  given  it  to  the  saints.  Resolved  (3rd),  We  are 
the  saints.' 

"But  what  was  the  doctrine  proclaimed  from  that  plain  pul- 
pit ?  There  had  come  down  the  ages  from  a  master  tiieologian 
the  warning,  'Take  heed  unto  thyseM  and  unto  the  doctrine.' 
Was  there  anything  of  'foolish  questions,  and  genealogies,  and 
contentions,  and  strivings  about  the  law,'  so  vain  and  unprofit- 
able? Anything  of  'vain  babblings  and  oppositions  of  science 
falsely  so  called'  ?  Not  a  whit.  But  the  grand  doctrine  of  jus- 
tification by  faith,  and  its  cognates  of  original  depravity,  r^en- 
eration,  and  the  witnessing  Spirit.  These  rang  throu^  those 
old  walls  and  caught  the  understanding  of  the  philosophic  and 
the  tmlettered,  and  the  white  patrician  and  the  n^ro  plebeian 
were  alike  moved  to  repentance." 

Mr.  Travis,  just  two  years  before  Mr.  Capers,  giv^  an  in- 
stance: The  Hon.  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Orton,  governor  of 
North  Carolina,  meeting  him  in  the  street  at  Wilmington,  de- 
sired him  to  call  and  see  his  wife,  supposed  to  be  unbalanced  in 
her  mind,  her  head  shaved  and  blistered,  who,  after  all  her  seek- 
ing of  physicians,  grew  worse.  The  preacher  diagnosed  the 
case  at  once  and  administered  the  proper  remedy — ^instruction 
and  prayer.    In  a  few  days  a  carriage  drove  up  to  that  humble 


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Peace  Restored  635 

parsonage,  and  Mrs.  Smith  entered  it  exclaiming,  "O  sir,  you 
have  done  me  more  good  than  all  the  doctors  together.  You 
directed  me  to  Jesus.  I  went  to  Him  in  faith  and  humble 
prayer  and  confidence.  He  has  healed  my  soul  and  body.  I 
feel  quite  well  and  happy."  Anything  of  hyperbole  and  eastern 
romance  in  this  ?  Is  it  not  entirely  in  accord  with  the  doctrine  ? 
William  Capers  gives  another  example :  Mrs.  G.,  of  the  first 
class  of  the  upper  sort,  deeply  interested  in  what  she  had  heard, 
under  cover  of  a  call  upon  the  preacher's  wife,  came  to  consult 
the  preacher.  The  doubt  on  her  mind  was  as  to  the  possibility, 
since  the  Apostles'  day,  of  common  people  knowing  their  sins 
forgiven.  The  preacher  gave  the  scriptural  proofs  freely,  re- 
ceived with  the  "How  can  these  things  be  ?"  Mrs.  G.  was  accom- 
panied by  her  sister,  Mrs.  W.,  better  established  in  the  old 
creed.  And  Mrs.  W.,  as  a  last  resort,  turning  to  Mrs.  Capers, 
said :  ^^ell,  Mrs.  Capers,  it  must  be  a  very  high  state  of  grace, 
this  which  your  husband  talks  about,  and  I  dare  say  some  very 
saintly  persons  may  have  experienced  it,  but  as  for  us,  it  must 
be  quite  above  our  reach.  I  am  sure  you  do  not  profess  it,  do 
you  ?"  Mrs.  Capers  blushed  deeply  and  replied  in  a  soft  tone 
of  voice,  "Yes,  ma'am,  I  experienced  it  at  Rembert's  camp- 
meeting  year  before  last,  and  by  the  grace  of  God  I  still  have 
the  witness  of  it."  That  was  enough.  This  witness  is  true,  and 
glory  be  to  God,  millions  still  testify  to  it  on  the  earth. 

The  Fibst  Baptist  Chubch. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Wilmington  was  organized 
April  13,  1833,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  charter 
members.  Prior  to  this  time,  little  is  known  of  the  history  of 
the  Baptist  denomination  in  Wilmington.  The  first  six  years 
of  the  church's  history  is  uncertain,  owing  to  friction  with  the 
Primitive  Baptists. 

Through  the  changing  years  of  the  city's  history,  this  church 
has  gone  forward  steadily  with  varying  degrees  of  success.  The 
first  pastor  was  Eev.  A.  Paul  Repiton,  who  served  the  church 
for  eight  months,  beginning  April,  1839.  For  two  years  follow- 
ing this,  the  church  was  pastorless,  during  which  time  the  pul- 
pit was  supplied  by  Rev.  I.  Innett.  Rev.  A.  J.  Battle  became 
pastor  February  6,  1842,  and  served  until  August,  1843.  Dur- 
ing this  period,  the  spirit  of  evangelism  b^an  to  spread  through 
the  membership,  and  quite  a  number  were  added  to  the  church. 


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636  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

A  second  pastorate  was  begun  by  Rev.  Mr.  Repiton,  October  26, 
1843,  and  continued  to  October,  1844.  This  pastorate  and  the 
two  succeeding  were  uneventful.  Rev.  James  McDaniel  served 
from  October,  1844,  to  October,  1852.  Rev.  W.  H.  Jordan 
served  from  October,  1852,  to  September,  1855.  With  the  com- 
ing of  Rev.  John  L.  Pritchard  to  the  pastorate  in  January, 
1856,  the  church  took  on  new  life.  From  the  first  the  congre- 
gation had  been  worshiping  in  a  frame  building  on  Front  Street, 
between  Ann  and  Nun,  overlooking  the  Cape  Fear  River.  A 
lot  was  now  purchased  on  Fifth  and  Market  Streets,  at  a  cost 
of  $4,500,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  raise  money  for  a  new 
building,  $10,075  being  realized.  On  February  16,  1857,  a 
resolution  was  passed  by  the  church,  determining  to  erect  a 
new  building  within  two  years,  and  the  work  was  begun.  Dr. 
Pritchard  worked  imtiringly  in  behalf  of  the  church  and  com- 
munity. During  the  yellow  fever  scourge,  he,  the  Rev.  A.  Paul 
Repiton,  the  Catholic  priest,  and  the  Episcopal  rector,  were  the 
only  ministers  who  did  not  become  refugees.  These  all,  except 
Mr.  Repiton,  died  from  this  plague,  and  a  monument  was 
erected  by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  in  Oakdale  Cemetery  to 
the  memory  of  Dr.  Pritchard. 

Rev.  W.  M.  Young  succeeded  Dr.  Pritchard  in  the  pastorate. 
The  building  enterprise  was  hindered  by  the  war.  The  house  in 
which  the  congregation  was  worshiping  was  very  unsatisfactory 
and  the  mayor  of  the  city  offered  the  City  Hall  for  their  use. 
This  offer  was  accepted.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  colored 
members  of  the  church  asked  permission  to  hold  regular  wor- 
ship to  themselves,  and  to  employ  a  minister  at  their  ovm  cost 
to  preach  to  them,  but  to  remain  under  the  authority  and  gov- 
ernment of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  This  request  was  granted. 
Rev.  Mr.  Young  later  resigned  the  pastorate,  and  in  October, 
1868,  Rev.  J.  C.  Heiden  was  called  to  become  pastor.  He  con- 
tinued with  the  church  until  April,  1875.  The  new  church 
building  was  completed  in  April,  1870,  and  was  dedicated,  on 
the  first  Sunday  in  May  of  that  year.  Dr.  E.  T.  Winklen,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

A  small  band  desired  to  form  another  congregation,  and 
April  3,  1871,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  a  place  in 
Brooklyn  for  holding  services.  They  secured  Brooklyn  HaU, 
and  be^n  there  a  branch  of  the  First  Church.  The  present 
Calvary  Baptist  Church  is  the  outcome  of  this  enterprise. 

Rev.  James  B.  Taylor  became  pastor  in  December,  1875,  and 


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Peace  Restored  637 

continued  to  serve  the  church  until  1883.  It  was  during  this 
pastorate  that  the  church  saw  the  culmination  of  their  building 
enterprise.  While  the  building  had  been  in  use  for  some  years, 
there  was  a  heavy  debt  on  it  of  $11,000.  By  hard  work,  Dr. 
Taylor  had  the  amount  reduced  to  $6,000,  and  arrangements 
were  made  to  wipe  out  the  entire  indebtedness.  On  the  day  set 
for  raising  the  money,  enthusiasm  ran  high,  the  people  gave 
gladly  and  liberally,  and  by  one  o'clock,  the  entire  amoimt  had 
been  raised,  and  the  church  was  prepared  to  pay  every  cent  it 
owed. 

Eev.  Thomas  H.  Pritchard  succeeded  Dr.  Taylor  in  the  pas- 
torate in  September,  1883,  and  remained  the  pastor  until  Janu- 
ary, 1892.  On  April  4,  1887,  the  church  passed  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  the  imperative  demands  of  the  Sunday-school  for 
more  suitable  accommodations  were  such  that  the  church  should 
not  longer  delay  to  erect  a  lecture-room,  which,  when  done, 
would  complete  the  original  design  of  the  church  building. 
Work  on  this  addition  was  begun  in  1890.  At  the  same  time, 
a  handsome  pipe  organ,  valued  at  about  $7,000,  was  installed. 
Rev.  W.  B.  Oliver  was  pastor  from  March,  1893,  to  November, 
1897.  Rev.  C.  S.  Blackwell  became  pastor  of  the  First  Church 
October,  1898,  and  remained  in  this  office  until  March,  1903. 

Rev.  Fred  D.  Hale's  pastorate  extended  from  March,  1904, 
to  June,  1909.  The  period  of  Dr.  Hale's  ministry  was  marked 
by  many  progressive  steps.  Many  church  improvements  were 
made,  including  the  building  of  several  organized  class-rooms 
for  the  Sunday-school.  The  membership  of  the  church  grew 
very  rapidly.  During  the  five  and  one-fourth  years  that  Dr. 
Hale  served  as  pastor,  there  were  719  additions,  an  average  of 
132  a  year. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Foster  became  pastor  in  October,  1909,  and  con- 
tinued with  the  church  until  June,  1915,  when  he  resigned  the 
work  here  to  become  president  of  the  Bessie  Tift  College,  of 
Forsyth,  Ga.  This  pastorate  was  marked  above  other  things  by 
an  expansive  policy.  Work  was  carried  on  at  Castle  Haynes, 
Farmers,  Winter  Park,  and  Delgado.  At  the  last  two  named 
places,  suitable  and  attractive  church  buildings  were  erected. 
Winter  Park  has  now  become  an  independent  church.  For  a 
while,  Miss  Nettie  King  served  as  city  missionary.  Rev.  M.  C. 
Alexander  was  called  as  assistant  pastor  on  January  1,  1911, 
and  continued  in  this  office  until  he  resigned  to  resume  his 
studies  in  the  Southern  Baptist  Theological  Seminary.     Rev. 


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638  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

W.  M.  Craig  assumed  the  duties  as  assistant  pastor  July  15, 
1913y  and  is  at  this  time  the  acting  pastor  of  the  church.  Dr. 
Foster's  pastorate,  like  that  of  Dr.  Hale,  was  marked  by  an 
unusually  large  number  of  additions.  During  but  little  more 
than  four  years,  787  members  were  received  into  the  church, 
an  average  of  186  a  year.    The  present  mmnbership  is  1,307. 

Calvaby  Baptist  Chuech. 

The  Baptists  of  Wilmington  began  mission  work  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  city,  April  3,  1871,  when  a  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  First  Baptist  Church  to  secure  a  place  to  hold 
services.  This  committee  secured  the  use  of  Brooklyn  Hall, 
the  second  floor  of  what  is  now  the  J.  H.  Behder  &  Co.,  depart- 
ment store.  This  work  was  begun  as  a  branch  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  and  was  carried  on  for  a  number  of  years  with 
varying  and  doubtful  degrees  of  success. 

On  April  4,  1886,  the  work  was  organized  into  an  independ- 
ent church,  with  just  thirteen  members.  These  charter  members 
were:  Daniel  Yates,  Mrs.  Mary  Yates,  W.  T.  Walton,  Mrs. 
W.  T.  Walton,  Samuel  L.  Smith,  J.  W.  Taylor,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Taylor,  Z.  E.  Murrell,  Nelson  Jenkins,  Mrs.  Nelson  Jenkins, 
Gaston  M.  Murrell,  Mrs.  Octavia  Baskins,  and  Rev.  G.  M.  Tol- 
son.  It  was  a  small  band,  but  they  were  of  the  stock  that  knew 
no  failure.  They  continued  to  use  the  hall  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship for  some  time,  and  were  known  as  the  'Brooklyn  Hall 
Baptist  Church." 

About  1892,  the  church  purchased  a  large  building  on  Fourth 
and  Brunswick  Streets,  known  as  'Minnie's  Hall."  The  lower 
floor  was  occupied  by  two  stores,  and  the  upper  portion  was 
used  for  church  purposes.  During  the  time  of  the  occupancy 
of  this  place  and  up  to  quite  recently,  the  organization  was 
known  as  the  "Brooklyn  Baptist  Church."  In  August,  1914, 
the  church,  for  satisfactory  reasons,  changed  its  name  to  Cal- 
vary Baptist  Church. 

On  August  12,  1906,  the  present  building  was  dedicated. 
The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Vipperman, 
a  former  pastor.  The  membership  at  this  writing  is  450.  The 
following  have  served  the  church  during  its  career :  Rev.  G.  M. 
Tolson,  Rev.  A.  A.  Scruggs,  Rev.  R.  E.  Peele,  and  Rev.  J.  T. 
Jenkins  served  to  March  25,  1894;  Rev.  R.  E.  Peele  (second 
pastorate),  1894;  Rev.  J.  W.  Kramer,  1895-1898;  Rev.  J.  J. 
Payseur,  1899-1902;  Rev.  J.  L.  Vipperman,  1902-1904;  Rev. 


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Peace  Restored  639 

J.  A.  McKaughan,  1904-1907;  Eev.  C.  F.  Wlitlock,  1907- 
1911;  Eev.  J.  A.  Sullivan  became  pastor  December  5,  1911, 
and  remains  pastor  at  this  time. 

SouTHsiDB  Baptist  Chuboh. 

Some  time  prior  to  1870,  the  Baptists  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  city  began  work,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year  they 
applied  to  the  First  Baptist  Church  for  assistance  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church  building.  The  First  Church  responded  gener- 
ously by  giving  the  lot  and  a  large  sxun  towards  the  building, 
which  was  soon  erected  and  known  as  the  Second  Baptist 
Church.  It  was  situated  on  Sixth  Street,  between  Church  and 
Castle.  Eev.  Joseph  P.  King  was  the  pastor,  but  he  shortly 
embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  Second  Adventists,  which  neces- 
sitated a  severance  of  his  connection  with  the  Baptist  denomi- 
nation. The  majority  of  the  members  of  the  new  church  went 
with  the  pastor  and  held  the  property;  the  remainder  united 
with  the  First  Baptist  Church.  They,  however,  continued  the 
work  begim  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  and  established  a 
Sunday-school  at  the  present  location  of  the  Southside  Church, 
Fifth  and  Wooster  Streets.  In  1894  letters  were  granted  to 
thirty-five  members  of  the  First  Church  to  form  a  new  organi- 
zation, and  they  established  the  Southside  Church. 

The  first  pastor  was  Eev.  J.  B.  Harrell,  who  served  only  a 
short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  F.  H.  Farrington.  Then 
came  Eev.  E.  H.  Herring,  Eev.  C.  H.  Utley,  Eev.  W.  H.  Davis, 
Eev.  6.  A.  Martin,  and  the  present  pastor,  Eev.  W.  G.  Hall, 
whose  pastorate  began  April  1,  1911. 

During  these  years  the  church  has  gone  steadily  forward,  and 
the  present  membership  is  517.  Finding  the  old  building  too 
small  for  the  congregation,  in  1912  the  church  began  prepara- 
tions to  erect  a  handsome  brick  structure,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1913  actual  work  was  in  progress.  On  the  26th  of  June  of  the 
same  year  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  by  Mr. 
J.  S.  Canady,  one  of  the  charter  members.  This  new  church 
edifice  cost  $20,000. 

St.  Paulas  Luthbrak"  Church. 

The  Lutheran  denomination  is  represented  in  Wilmington  by 
two  flourishing  churches,  St.  Paul's  and  St.  Matthew's.  The 
former  was  organized  in  the  year  1858  and  the  latter  in  1892. 


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640  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Before  1858  Wilmington  had  developed  a  considerable 
German  population,  immigrants  who  had  come  from  Germany 
in  the  course  of  a  period  of  several  years.  They  worshiped 
principally  with  the  congregation  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  their  children  attended  the  Sunday-school  of  that 
church,  but  some  of  them  joined  in  the  worship  of  other 
churches  of  the  city.  In  the  year  mentioned  they  decided  that 
the  time  had  come  for  the  organization  of  a  Lutheran  church, 
such  as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  in  the  Fatherland.  Accord- 
ingly, Kev.  J.  A.  Linn  and  Rev.  G.  D.  Bemheim,  of  the  Synod 
of  North  Carolina,  were  invited  to  aid  in  the  necessary  steps 
leading  to  the  organization  of  the  church. 

The  nimiber  who  signified  their  desire  to  form  a  Lutheran 
Church  was  nearly  three  score  persons ;  and  they  became  enthusi- 
astically interested  in  plans  for  providing  a  place  of  worship 
of  their  own.  Meantime,  at  a  congregational  meeting,  the  Eev. 
John  H.  Mengert,  D.D.,  who  had  labored  with  great  success  in 
the  mission  field  of  India  and  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  was 
called  as  first  pastor  of  the  church,  and  began  his  pastorate 
on  December  23, 1858.  He  was  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments 
and  deep  piety,  and  his  devoted  ministry  made  a  lasting  impres- 
sion upon  the  Lutherans  of  the  city. 

The  complete  organization  of  the  church,  which  was  to  be 
known  as  St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  was  made 
on  January  6,  1859,  in  the  building  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  at  that  time  was  located  on  Front  Street  between 
Dock  and  Orange.  At  first  the  congregation  worshiped  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  later  found  it  desirable  to  secure 
another  place  of  worship,  and  the  vestry  house  of  St.  James's 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  rented  and  repaired  for  their 
use.  The  present  location  of  St.  Paul's  Church  was  purchased 
in  1859,  and  the  interest  of  the  congregation  was  greatly  stimu- 
lated thereby.  At  that  time  a  constitution  for  the  church  was 
adopted,  and  bore  the  signature  of  seventy-two  persons. 

Dr.  Mengert's  pastorate  continued  for  three  years  and  a  half. 
During  its  latter  part  the  life  of  the  church  was  greatly  im- 
paired by  the  war  and  also  by  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  in 
1862.  Meantime,  however,  a  handsome  church  structure  had 
been  erected. 

After  the  capture  of  Wilmington  in  1865,  the  Federal  mili- 
tary authorities  occupied  the  church  building.  This  necessi- 
tated considerable  repairs. 


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Peace  Restored  641 

After  Dr.  Mengert  left,  there  was  a  vacancy  in  the  pastorate 
for  about  six  years,  when  the  Rev.  G.  D.  Bemheim,  D.D.,  was 
invited  to  take  charge  of  the  church.  He  accepted  the  call,  and 
for  eleven  years  was  an  efficient  and  devoted  pastor.  The  church 
greatly  prospered  under  his  ministry. 

Rev.  F.  W.  E.  Peschau,  D.D.,  was  the  third  pastor,  and 
served  the  church  for  several  years.  He  was  very  successful 
in  his  religious  work  among  the  seamen  visiting  the  port  who 
spoke  the  German  and  Scandinavian  languages.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded after  an  intermission  of  about  eight  months  by  the  Rev. 
K.  Boldt,  D.D.  Dr.  Boldt  introduced  the  common  liturgical 
service  in  the  church.    His  pastorate  continued  for  four  years. 

The  fifth  pastor  was  Rev.  A.  G.  Voigt,  D.D.,  formerly  pro- 
fessor of  theology  in  the  Lutheran  College  at  Newberry,  S.  C. 
Under  his  ministry  the  resources  of  the  congregation  were 
largely  developed. 

After  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Voigt,  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Snyder, 
D.D.,  was  called  to  be  the  sixth  pastor.  For  eight  years  he 
served  the  church  with  great  efficiency.  He  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  pastor.  Rev.  F.  B.  Clausen,  under  whose  leadership 
the  congregation  of  St.  Paul's  is  in  a  most  prosperous  condi- 
tion. The  church  now  ranks  among  the  leading  congregations 
of  the  United  Synod  in  the  South  in  liberality  and  service. 

St.  Matthew's  Lutheran  Chubch. 

St.  Matthew's  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  situated 
on  North  Fourth  Street,  was  organized  on  March  14,  1892,  by 
the  Rev.  F.  W.  E.  Peschau,  D.D.,  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 
Prior  to  that  time  a  successful  Sunday-school  had  been  main- 
tained by  the  members  of  St.  Paul's  and,  in  consequence  of  its 
work,  the  organization  of  St.  Matthew's  Church  was  easily 
effected.  Its  several  pastors  have  been  devoted  ministers,  and 
the  church  has  been  a  great  spiritual  blessing  to  the  people  of 
its  locality. 

The  following  have  served  as  pastors :  Rev.  G.  D.  Bemheim, 
D.D.,  Rev.  C.  R.  Kegley,  Rev.  G.  S.  Bearden,  Rev.  H.  E. 
Beatty,  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  G.  W.  McClanahan. 

Under  the  present  pastorate  the  church  is  enjoying  a  healthy 
growth  and  bright  prospects  for  the  future. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  the  Synodical  Conference  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  has  just  begun  an  educational 

41 


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642  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

and  religiouB  work  for  the  colored  people.  The  building  used 
for  this  purpose  is  located  on  Nixon  Street,  and  the  work  is  in 
charge  of  Eev.  Otto  Richert 

The  Lutheran  Churches  in  Wilmington  constitute  the  only 
congregations  of  that  denomination  within  a  radius  of  150  miles. 

RoMAK  Catholic  Chxjboh. 

The  Catholics  of  Wilmington  are  particularly  fortunate  in 
the  building  designated  as  St.  Mary's  Pro-CathedraL  A  beauti- 
ful structure,  of  the  Spanish  Renaissance,  located  at  Ann  Street 
and  Fifth  Avenue,  one  of  the  most  attractive  spots  in  Wilming- 
ton, marks  the  successful  growth  of  the  mustard  seed  as  far  as 
this  congregation  is  concerned. 

The  congregation  of  St.  Mary's  Pro-Caihedral  was  originally 
under  the  title  of  St.  Thomas.  Under  this  title  Rev.  Thomas 
Murphy  was  appointed  pastor  on  January  1,  1845,  by  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Dr.  Reynolds,  bishop  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  Father  Murphy 
immediately  entered  upon  his  duties,  with  the  zeal  and  energy 
characteristic  of  his  race.  He  gathered  about  him  the  few  of 
his  members  residing  in  Wilmington,  and  rented  a  small  room 
to  conduct  their  worship.  An  extract  from  the  church  records, 
in  Father  Murphy's  handwriting,  may  be  of  interest : 

^^The  number  of  Catholics,  at  the  above  date  (January  1, 
1845)  did  not  exceed  forty  persons.  A  small  room  which  was 
used  as  a  chapel,  was  rented  for  $40  per  annum.  On  the  first 
of  November,  1845,  a  suitable  lot  for  the  erection  of  a  church 
was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  $797,  by  three  individuals,  viz. : 
Dr.  William  A.  Berry,  Bernard  Baxter,  and  Miss  Catherine 
McKoy.  A  subscription  list  was  then  opened,  and  the  mem- 
bers subscribed  liberally  according  to  their  means."  The  lot 
referred  to  is  on  Dock  Street,  between  Second  and  Third  Streets, 
now  used  as  a  church  for  colored  Catholics. 

It  may  be  noted  from  Father  Murphy's  appointment,  that 
the  Catholics  of  North  Carolina  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  bishop  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  In  1868  the  State  was  given 
separate  spiritual  jurisdiction,  and  James  Gibbons  (later.  Car- 
dinal Gibbons,  of  Baltimore)  became  the  vicar  apostolic.  Dur- 
ing his  short  administration.  Bishop  Gibbons  saw  with  satisfac- 
tion the  rapid  growth  of  his  congr^ation.  He  immediately  set 
about  securing  other  places  in  the  city  for  the  erection  of  schools. 
The  property  at  Third  and  Dock  was  secured  for  additional 


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church  roonL  He  next  purchased  the  site  bounded  by  Fourth, 
Fifth,  and  Ann  Streets.  In  reference  to  this,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing in  the  church  records : 

"September  20,  1869.  The  Et.  Rev.  Bishop  Gibbons  suc- 
ceeded in  founding  in  Wilmington  city  a  convent  of  the  Sisters 
of  our  Lady  of  Mercy.  The  establishment  opened  with  only 
three  sisters — ^Mother  Augustine,  Sister  Charles,  and  Sister 
Mary  Baptist.  This  is  the  first  in  North  Carolina,  and  the 
latest  foundation  in  the  States,  of  the  good  sisters  who  came 
from  the  Charleston  commimity  as  established  by  Dr.  England." 

Pioneer  work  of  this  character  is  always  interesting.  Like 
all  the  other  religious  bodies,  the  Catholic  Church  progressed 
with  the  growth  of  the  population.  In  later  years,  when  it  be- 
came evident  that  Wilmington  would  grow  towards  the  east  and 
the  south,  the  Catholic  congregation  became  desirous  of  select- 
ing a  more  suitable  site  for  the  erection  of  a  cathedral  chuiteh. 
Rt.  Rev.  Leo  Eaid,  the  present  vicar  apostolic,  decided  that 
Fifth  and  Ann  Streets  was  the  most  attractive  location.  Ground 
was  broken  for  the  new  structure  May  20,  1908.  The  comer- 
stone  was  laid  with  great  solemnity  October  21,  1909.  The 
solemn  dedication  occurred  April  28,  1912.  This  was  an  im- 
portant event  for  the  city  as  well  as  for  the  Catholics.  Their 
first  vicar  apostolic.  Cardinal  Gibbons,  returned  to  Wilmington 
for  this  ceremony.  Though  raised  to  high  dignity  in  his  church, 
he  has  never  forgotten  Wilmington  and  has  never  lost  inter- 
est in  her  welfare.  His  visit  on  that  occasion  was  not  only  that 
of  a  bishop  to  his  flock,  but  as  a  former  citizen  to  view  again  the 
scene  of  his  first  labors.  The  day  after  the  solemn  dedication, 
a  reception  was  tendered  Cardinal  Gibbons  at  the  home  of  Maj. 
D.  O'Connor.  Thousands  visited  him  on  that  occasion  to  renew 
their  earlier  acquaintance. 

From  the  small  beginning  in  1845,  we  have  now  a  building 
that  is  an  adornment  to  the  city;  a  beautiful  structure  of  ma- 
sonry work  alone — ^no  nails,  no  wood,  but  brick,  cement,  stone, 
and  tile,  all  constructed  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Patrick 
Marion,  of  Asheville — a  monument  to  his  ability  and  genius. 

Temple  of  Israel. 

The  month  of  November,  1872,  witnessed  the  organization 
of  the  first  regular  Jewish  congregation  in  North  Carolina,  and 
at  that  time  was  inaugurated  the  movement  which  resulted  in. 


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644  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  erection  in  Wilmington  of  the  first  Jewish  house  of  worship 
in  the  State. 

That  our  Jewish  fellow-citizens  held  religious  services  in  the 
city  prior  to  that  time  we  are  assured  by  the  oldest  inhabitants ; 
but  this  was  done  occasionally  only,  although  late  in  the  sixties 
there  was  here  a  quasi-congregational  organization  under  the 
spiritual  leadership  of  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Myers.  He  conducted 
services,  when  a  ritual  quorum — ^ten  adult  males — attended,  in 
an  old  building  on  South  Front  Street,  formerly  a  Presbyterian 
Chapel.  The  earliest  permanent  organization,  however,  dates 
from  November,  1872,  and  its  birthplace  was  the  hospitable 
home  of  the  late  Abraham  Weill,  at  the  northeast  comer  of 
Front  and  Mulberry  (Grace)  Streets. 

On  November  21,  1872,  Dr.  Marcus  Jastrow,  of  Philadel- 
phia, addressed  a  general  meeting  of  Israelites  in  the  city  court 
room,  and  under  the  inspiration  of  his  address  and  the  chairman- 
ship of  Mr.  Solomon  Bear,  an  organization  was  effected,  and 
committees  were  named  to  solicit  members  and  subscriptions  and 
to  select  a  suitable  location  for  a  synagogue.  As  membership  in 
Jewish  congregations  was  confined  to  men,  the  women,  anxious 
to  aid  in  the  good  work,  organized  an  auxiliary  association  un- 
der the  name  Ladies'  Concordia  Society,  "to  promote  the  cause 
of  Judaism,  and  to  aid  by  its  funds  the  maintenance  of  a  temple 
of  worship  in  our  midst.''  The  wording  of  this  resolution 
probably  suggested  to  the  men  the  name  of  the  congregation, 
MishJcan  Yisrael — Temple  of  Israel. 

Together  the  men  and  women  worked  zealously  with  the  de- 
sired end  in  view.  Eventually  they  secured  the  lot  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Fourth  and  Market  Streets,  just  across  from  St. 
James's  Cemetery,  which  shelters  the  ashes  of  the  builders  of 
Wilmington  and  where  also  is  the  grave  of  the  Samuel  Adams 
of  North  Carolina,  Cornelius  Harnett,  and  contracted  with  the 
Abbotsburg  Building  Company,  General  Abbot,  president,  for 
the  erection  of  a  $20,000  church  edifice,  according  to  plans 
drawn  in  Philadelphia  and  altered  and  amended  by  our  towns- 
man, James  Walker.  Capt.  E.  S.  Radcliffe  was  engaged  to 
superintend  the  work.  Ground  was  broken  in  March,  1875,  and 
on  the  15th  day  of  June  the  cornerstone  was  laid.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Jastrow,  whose  exhortations  had  given  the  first  impetus  to 
the  congregation,  was  present  to  bless  the  work;  Hon.  Alfred 
Moore  Waddell,  in  a  splendid  oration,  delivered  the  greetings 
of  the  city  and  of  the  Masonic  Order,  under  whose  auspices  the 


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Peace  Restored  645 

cornerstone  was  laid,  and  with  a  beautiful  benediction  the  rabbi 
closed  the  ceremonies,  which  were  participated  in  by  representa- 
tives of  several  churches. 

In  February,  1876,  the  congregation,  looking  forward  to  the 
early  completion  of  the  building,  called  Eabbi  Samuel  Mendel- 
sohn to  assume  the  rabbinate.  The  call  was  accepted,  and  Kabbi 
Mendelsohn  came  to  Wilmington  February  29,  1876,  at  once 
assuming  the  duties  which  he  is  still  discharging.  He  organized 
Sabbath-school  classes,  inaugurated  regular  Sabbath  (Saturday) 
services,  both  of  which  were  domiciled  in  the  basement  of  the 
building,  and  otherwise  aided  in  arousing  a  spirit  of  congrega- 
tional life  among  his  parishioners. 

On  May  12,  1876,  Kabbi  Mendelsohn,  once  a  pupil  of  Dr. 
Jastrow,  solemnly  dedicated  the  temple  whose  existence  pri- 
marily owed  so  much  to  the  eloquent  addresses  of  this  great 
teacher  and  famous  scholar  (1829-1903) ;  and  ever  since  the 
temple  has  been  open  and  the  rabbi  at  his  post  for  divine  serv- 
ices on  the  eve  and  mom  of  every  Jewish  Sabbath  (Saturday) 
and  of  every  Jewish  festival,  and  on  every  occasion  that  calls 
for  a  solemn  convocation. 

The  Ladies'  Concordia  Society  still  continues  its  activities  and 
the  Sabbath-school  Aid  Society,  consisting  of  former  and  pres- 
ent pupils,  is  doing  good  work  in  providing  for  the  needs  of  an 
institution  of  this  kind. 

Connected  with  the  congregation  is  a  Hebrew  Relief  Associa- 
tion, whose  aim  and  object  are  to  prevent  an  Israelite,  resident 
or  transient,  from  becoming  a  burden  on  the  community  or  its 
charities;  and  we  are  assured  that  throughout  the  years  of  the 
existence  of  the  Associated  Charities  only  one  Jewish  applicant 
has  received  aid  from  that  beneficent  source. 

But  while  the  congregation  is  pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  a 
Jewish  institution  and  the  Temple  of  Israel  naturally  resounds 
with  the  worship  of  the  God  of  Israel,  the  Scriptural  word  em- 
ployed by  Dr.  Mendelsohn  in  the  course  of  his  dedicatory  ser- 
mon, "Mine  house  shall  be  called  an  house  of  prayer  for  all 
people,"  was  practically  exemplified  during  the  spring  of  1886 
and  thereafter.  On  the  21st  day  of  February  the  beautiful  and 
conmaodious  edifice  of  the  Front  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  went  down  in  ashes  in  a  conflagration  that  destroyed 
an  appalling  number  of  buildings,  and  the  congreijation  became 
homeless.  The  morning  of  February  23,  however,  brought  relief 
to  that  congr^ation  in  the  form  of  a  cordial  invitation  from 


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646  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

the  rabbi  and  directors  of  the  temple,  tendering  to  their  grieving 
friends  the  use  of  that  sacred  edifice  for  any  and  all  occasions 
that  require  a  church,  and,  in  general,  to  make  the  temple  their 
religious  home.  The  invitation  was  gratefully  accepted,  and 
for  a  little  over  two  years  the  bereft  Methodist  Episcopal  con- 
gr^ation  regularly  worshiped  there,  and  the  Young  Men^s 
Christian  Association  of  that  church  met  there.  During  that 
time  there  never  was  a  conflict  of  the  hours  of  service  between 
the  owners  of  the  building  and  their  guests.  When  either  con- 
gregation needed  the  temple  for  special  services,  its  minister  in- 
formed the  minister  of  the  other  congr^ation,  and  between 
them  the  hours  were  conveniently  arranged.  And  not  only  did 
the  ministers  accommodate  each  other  in  the  matter  of  time,  but 
several  times  one  took  the  place  of  the  other  when  that  other 
was  out  of  town. 

Officers,  1876:  Solomon  Bear,  president;  Abraham  Weill, 
vice-president;  Nathaniel  Jacobi,  treasurer;  Jacob  I.  Macks, 
secretary.  Directors:  M.  M.  Katz,  N".  Qreenwalde,  F.  Ehein- 
stein,  H.  Marcus,  H.  Brunhied. 

Officers,  1915:  B.  Solomon,  president;  M.  W.  Jacobi,  vice- 
president;  Albert  Solomon,  treasurer;  J.  N.  Jacobi,  secretary. 
Directors:  Samuel  Bear,  jr.,  L.  Bluethenthal,  Abe  Schultz, 
Isadore  Bear,  G.  Dannenbaum. 

Chestnut  Stebet  Peesbttbeian  Chfech. 

The  Holy  Ghost,  working  when,  where,  and  in  whom  He  will, 
made  it  possible  for  negroes  to  receive  religious  instruction  at  a 
time  when  they  could  not  provide  intelligent  and  needful  in- 
struction for  themselves.  Master  and  slave,  often  at  the  same 
time,  heard  the  same  message  of  (Jod's  love,  and  together  imited 
in  prayer  and  praise. 

Slaves  were  usually  inclined  to  the  religious  faith  of  their 
masters.  Many  were  taught  the  catechism,  and  were  acquainted 
with  the  Confession  of  Faith,  the  form  of  government,  and  the 
worship  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

At  the  close  of  the  War  between  the  States,  the  negroes  began 
to  withdraw  their  membership  from  the  white  organizations, 
and  form  congregations  of  their  own.  The  colored  members  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  thirty-four  in  number,  were, 
on  the  21st  of  April,  1867,  organized  as  the  First  Colored 
Presbyterian  Church.    They  purchased  the  house  of  worship  on 


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Peace  Restored  647 

Chestnut  Street  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  Streets,  which 
was  formerly  used  by  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  known 
now  as  St.  Andrew's  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  colored 
congregation  has  since  been  known  as  the  Chestnut  Street  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Splendid  material  was  in  the  organization,  and  through  the 
years  the  church  has  been  proud  of  its  membership.  The  dis- 
tinguishing features  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  have  been  main- 
tained ;  an  intelligent  ministry,  an  orderly  and  dignified  service, 
and  a  ceaseless  effort  to  win  souls. 

Under  the  several  pastors,  some  of  whom  were  men  of  recog- 
nized ability,  consecration,  and  piety,  the  church  has  had  vary- 
ing success,  but  has  always  exerted  a  healthful  influence  in  the 
community.  It  is  now  enjoying  a  period  of  peace  and  progress, 
with  one  himdred  and  three  members,  a  well  organized  Sabbath- 
school,  a  Young  People's  Society,  and  an  active  Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Society. 


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648  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


WILMINGTON  SCHOOLS. 

A  rich  and  well-stored  mind  is  the  only  true  philosopher's  stone,  ex- 
tracting pure  gold  frcHn  all  the  base  material  around.  It  can  create  its 
own  beauty,  wealth,  power,  happiness.  It  has  no  dreary  solitudes.  The 
past  ages  are  its  possession,  and  the  long  line  of  the  illustrious  dead  are 
all  its  friends.  Whatever  the  world  has  seen  of  brave  and  noble,  beau- 
tiful and  good  it  can  command.  It  mingles  in  all  the  grand  and  solemn 
scenes  of  history,  and  is  an  actor  in  every  great  and  stirring  event  It 
is  by  the  side  of  Bayard  as  he  stands  alone  upon  the  bridge  and  saves 
the  army;  it  weeps  over  the  true  heart  of  chivalry,  the  gallant  Sidney, 
as  with  dying  hand  he  puts  away  the  cup  from  his  parched  and  fevered 
lips.  It  leaps  into  the  yawning  gulf  with  Curtius;  follows  the  white 
plume  of  Navarre  at  Ivry;  rides  to  Chalgrove  field  with  Hampden; 
mounts  the  scaffold  with  Russell,  and  catches  the  dying  prayer  of  the 
noble  Sir  Harry  Vane.  It  fights  for  glory  at  the  Granlcus,  for  fame  at 
Agincourt,  for  empire  at  Waterloo,  for  power  on  the  Ganges,  for  reli- 
gion in  Palestine,  for  country  at  Thermopylae,  and  for  freedom  at 
Bunker  Hill.  It  marches  with  Alexander,  reigns  with  Augustus,  sings 
with  Homer,  teaches  with  Plato,  pleads  with  Demosthenes,  loves  with 
Petrarch,  is  imprisoned  with  Paul,  suffers  with  Stephen,  and  dies  with 
Christ.  It  feels  no  tyranny  and  knows  no  subjection.  Misfortunes  can 
not  subdue  it,  power  can  not  crush  it,  unjust  laws  can  not  oppress  it. 
Ever  steady,  faithful,  and  true,  shining  by  night  as  by  day,  it  abides 
with  you  always  and  everywhere.  Geobge  Davis. 

In  his  admirable  volume  Documentary  History  of  North 
Carolina  Schools  and  Academies  1790-1840,  published  by  the 
North  Carolina  Historical  Commission,  1915,  Professor  Charles 
L.  Coon,  superintendent  of  public  schools,  Wilson,  N.  C,  prints 
the  following  interesting  matter  on  New  Hanover  County 
schools: 

Wilmington   Academy,    1812. 

An  examination  of  the  pupils  of  this  establishment  com- 
menced on  Thursday  last  and  closed  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
ensuing  day.  A  numerous  assemblage  witnessed  this  exhibition, 
which  throughout  was  highly  gratifying.  We  congratulate  our 
town  on  the  successful  commencement  of  an  institution,  which, 
though  too  long  delayed  in  its  operation,  promises  to  produce 
an  abundant  harvest  of  good  to  the  rising  generation.  Praise 
is  due  to  all  the  Teachers ;  and  were  we  to  speak  as  we  feel  our 
approbation  of  the  Principal,  his  real  merit  might  in  the  opin- 
ion of  some  be  distinguidied  by  the  warmth  of  the  eulogium 
we  should  pronoimce. 
The  Star,  May  15,  1812. 


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Peace  Restored  649 

Wilmington  Academy. 

A  person  of  decent  manners  and  unimpeached  morals,  ca- 
pable of  teaching  the  English  Language  grammatically,  and  the 
Latin  Language  in  its  earlier  stages,  also  writing  and  arithme- 
tic, is  wanted  in  this  Academy,  to  commence  his  duties  on  the 
first  day  of  the  ensuing  November,  and  to  continue  until  the 
first  day  of  the  subsequent  August.    July  15. 

James  W.  Walkbb,  Secbbtaby. 
Raleigh  Register,  July  23,  1813^ 

Halslet's   School,   1836. 

The  subscriber  will  open  a  school  at  his  plantation,  on  the 
sound,  eight  miles  from  Wilmington,  formerly  the  property  of 
Alexander  Peden,  deceased,  on  the  23rd  May,  ensuing,  where 
scholars  of  either  sex  will  be  instructed  in  the  different  English 
branches.  Eight  or  ten  boarders  can  be  accommodated  at  four 
dollars  per  month,  each  boarder  will  furnish  his  own  bedding. 
Application  can  be  made  to  the  editor  of  this  paper,  previous 
to  the  above  specified  time,  or  to  the  subscriber. 

Terms:  Reading,  Writing,  and  Arithmetic,  $3.00  per  quar- 
ter. English  Grammar,  History,  and  Geography,  $4.00  per 
quarter.  B.  W.  Halslby. 

Wilmington  Advertiser,  May  6,  1836. 

Coebin's  School,   1836. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Jane  Corbin  respectfully  informs  her  friends 
and  the  public  that  she  intends  re-opening  her  school  on  the  1st. 
of  November. 

TERMS  PES  QUABTEB. 

SpeUing,  Reading,  Writing,  &  Artthmetic $4.00 

The  above  with  Grammar,  including  Parsing  &  Exercise 5.00 

The   above,   with   Geography,   History,   Rhetorlck,   Philosophy   & 

Mythology  6.00 

For  fuel  12^  cents  per  month. 

Also  Lessons  in  Practical  Writing  and  Stenography  will  be 
given  to  Young  Ladies  between  the  hours  of  12  A.  if.  and  2 
P.  M.,  having  qualified  herself  for  that  purpose. 

Wilmington,  October  28,  1836. 
Wilmington  Advertiser,  December  16,  1836. 


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660  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Rtckman'b  School,   1836. 

Miss  Ryckman  respectfully  informs  the  inhabitants  of  Wil- 
mington and  its  vicinity,  that  she  intends  opening  a  school  on 
the  1st.  of  November  next  for  Young  Ladies.  The  pupils  will 
be  taught  Orthography,  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetic  (mental 
and  practical).  Grammar,  Geography,  History,  the  Elements 
of  Natural  Philosophy,  Astronomy,  Chemistry,  and  Botany, 
plain  and  ornamental  Needle-work,  together  with  the  Spanish 
Language.  Great  attention  will  be  given  to  the  religious  and 
moral  advancement  of  the  scholars. 

Particulars  with  regards  to  Terms,  etc.,  will  be  made  known 
on  application  to  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright. 

Wibnington,  October  21,  1836. 
Wilmington  Advertiser^  December  16,  1836. 

Staisxipt's   Wbiting   School,    1836. 

A     CABD. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Stanlif t  having  completed  his  first  course  of  les- 
sons in  writing,  from  the  solicitations  of  many  of  the  citizens 
of  the  town,  has  been  induced  to  open  his  school  for  a  second 
course. 

His  school  room  is  in  the  second  story  of  one  of  the  buildings 
on  Second  Street,  a  few  doors  north  of  Mr.  E.  P.  Hall's  resi- 
dence. 

Lessons  at  private  houses  will  be  given  if  requested. 

N.  B. — He  again  states,  that  should  he  not  succeed  in  giving 
entire  satisfaction  to  such  as  will  properly  apply  themselves, 
no  remuneration  will  be  asked. 

Wilmington,  December  9,  1836. 
Wilmington  Advertiser,  December  16,  1836. 

Spencer's  Academy,  1836,  Acadbmiok  School. 

This  school  will  commence  on  Monday,  the  28th  inst  in  the 
Wilmington  Academy,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  E.  M.  S.  Spencer. 

Branches  taught — English  Grammar,  Geography,  Arithme- 
tick,  Reading  and  Writing,  History,  ancient  and  modem.  Na- 
tural Philosophy,  Astronomy,  Ehetorick,  Belles-Lettres,  Decla- 
mation, Composition,  and  the  Latin  and  Greek  Languages. 

Toung  Gentlemen  wishing  to  prepare  for  College,  or  for  any 


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Peace  Restored  651 

business  in  life,  can  receive  private  lessons  at  the  Clarendon 
House  between  the  hours  of  6  and  9  p.  m. 

Payment  for  Tuition  in  all  cases  in  advance — ^First  quarter 
to  consist  of  12  weeks.  For  Terms  and  Tickets  of  admission, 
apply  to  Mr.  James  Dickson. 

Wilmington,  November  25,  1836. 
Wilmington  Advertiser,  December  16,  1836. 

An  Evening  School  will  commence  on  Tuesday  of  next  week, 
at  the  Academy,  for  those  Young  Gentlemen  who  may  desire  to 
attend ;  to  be  conducted  under  the  care  of  Mr.  E.  M.  S.  Spencer. 
Schools  every  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday  evening,  from 
7  to  9  o^clock. 

TEBMB. 

For  EngUsh  Branches $3.00 

For  languages  5.00 

Wilmington,  March  24th,  1837. 
Wilmington  Advertiser,  April  14,  1837. 

Ceook'b   Gbammab   School,   1837. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Crook  intends  opening  a  school  in  the  Wil- 
mington Academy  during  the  first  week  in  January  next.  Mr. 
Crook  will  thoroughly  instruct  in  all  the  elementary  branches 
of  an  English  education,  and  he  hopes  by  a  conscientious  dis- 
charge of  the  important  duties  of  a  teacher  of  youth,  to  afford 
satisfaction  to  patrons  &  pupils. 

Wilmington  Advertiser,  December  22,  1837. 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Cook  will  open  a  school  at  Smithville,  between 
the  20th  and  last  of  Jime.  In  addition  to  all  the  branches  of  a 
correct  English  Education,  Mr.  Cook  will  teach  the  rudiments 
of  the  Greek  &  Latin  tongues. 

Wilmington  Advertiser,  June  8,  1838. 

Muxook'b  English   School,   1838. 

Having  removed  his  school  to  the  house  one  door  north  of  the 
store  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Cazauz,  in  the  town  of  Wilmington,  [Mr. 
Mulock]  will  commence  the  first  regular  term  on  Monday,  the 
5th  of  November  next.    In  this  school,  designed  for  males,  will 


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652  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

be  taught  the  elementary  and  higher  branches  of  English  educa- 
tion, viz :  Orthography,  Beading,  Writing,  Greography,  Gram- 
mar, Arithmetic,  History,  Philosophy,  Chemistry,  Rhetoric, 
Composition,  Algebra,  Geometry,  Mensuration,  Surveying  & 
Astronomy. 

Terms  of  tuition  for  the  first  seven  branches  in  the  above 
order,  $6.50  per  quarter  or  twelve  weeks.  An  extra  charge  of 
$1  is  made  for  each  of  the  other  higher  branches. 

As  the  number  of  pupils  is  limited,  early  application  is  de- 
sirable. 
Wilmington  Advertiser,  October  26,  1838. 

Simpson's  School,  1839. 

Migs  Jessie  B.  Simpson  respectfully  informs  the  inhabitants 
of  Wilmington  and  its  vicinity  that  on  Monday  next  she  in- 
tends opening  a  school  for  Young  Ladies,  in  which  will  be 
taiight  English  in  all  its  branches,  French  Language,  Music, 
Drawing  &  Painting,  Fancywork  &  Waxwork. 
Wilmington  Advertiser,  January  4,  1839. 

Lloyd  and  Bailey's  Female  School,  1840. 

Mrs.  Lloyd  &  Miss  Bailey  propose  to  open  a  school  for  Young 
Ladies  in  Wilmington  in  October  next.  They  will  give  a  thor- 
ough course  of  instruction  in  the  various  branches  of  Literature 
&  Science,  usually  taught  in  the  Higher  Schools,  including  the 
Higher  Mathematics  and  the  Natural  Sciences ;  also  the  French 
&  Latin  Languages,  Music  on  the  Piano  Forte  and  Guitar, 
accompanied  by  the  voice.  Further  particulars  will  be  given 
hereafter.  They  have  had  experience  in  teaching,  and  are  per- 
mitted to  refer  to  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Drane  &  Eells,  of  Wilming- 
ton, Dr.  S.  B.  Everett,  of  Smithville,  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Oolton 
&  Bailey,  of  Fayetteville. 
Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle,  Jime  10,  1840. 

Repiton's  School,  1840. 

The  subscriber  will  open  a  school  the  14th  of  September,  for 
the  instruction  of  the  youth  of  this  place,  and  the  surrounding 
coimtry.  The  branches  of  education  which  will  be  taught,  and 
the  prices  charged  per  quarter,  will  be  as  follows,  without  any 
deduction  except  in  cases  of  protracted  illness. 


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Keading,  Writing  and  Geography,  $5.00;  Arithmetic,  Eng- 
lish Granmiar,  History,  Etc.,  $6.25;  Latin  &  Greek,  $8.00. 
Composition  once  in  two  weeks.     Declamation  once  in  two 
weeks. 
Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle,  September  16,  1840. 

Professor  Coon  also  quotes  on  page  Y63  the  rules  of  a  school 
taught  in  Stokes  County,  as  follows : 

RULES  OF  SCHOOL. 

No.  Lashes. 

1.  Boys  &  Girls  Playing  Together 4 

2.  Quareling    4 

3.  Fighting    5 

4.  Fighting  at  School   5 

5.  Quareling  at  School 3 

6.  Gambleing  or  Beting  at  School 4 

7.  Playing  at  Cards  at  School 10 

8.  Climbing  for  every  foot  Over  three  feet  up  a  tree 1 

9.  Telling  Lyes   7 

10.  Telling  Tales  Out  of  School 8 

11.  Nick  Naming  Each  Other 4 

12.  Giving  Each  Other  111  Names 3 

13.  Fighting  Each  Other  in  time  of  Books 2 

14.  Swearing  at  School 8 

15.  Blackgarding  Each  Other  6 

16.  For  Misbehaving  to  Girls 10 

17.  For  Leaving  School  without  Leave  of  the  Teacher 4 

18.  Going  Home  with  each  other  without  Leave  of  the  Teacher. .  4 

19.  For  Drinking  Spirituous  Liquors  at  School 8 

20.  Making  Swings  &  Swinging  on  Them 7 

21.  For  Misbehaving  when  a  stranger  is  in  the  House 6 

22.  For  waring  Long  Finger  Nailes 2 

23.  For  Not  Making  a  bow  when  a  Stranger  Comes  in  or  goes  out  3 

24.  Misbehaving  to  Persons  on  the  Road 4 

25.  For  Not  Making  a  Bow  when  you  Meet  a  Person 4 

26.  For  Going  to  Girls  Play  Places 3 

27.  Girls  Going  to  Boys  Play  Places 2 

28.  Coming  to  School  with  Dirty  face  and  Hands 2 

29.  For  Caling  Each  Other  Liars 4 

30.  For  Playing  Bandy  10 

31.  For  Bloting  Your  Copy  Book 2 

32.  For  Not  Making  a  bow  when  you  go  home  or  when  you  come 

away    4 

33.  WresUing  at  School 4 

34.  Scuffling  at  School 4 

35.  For  Not  Making  a  Bow  when  going  out  to  go  home 2 

86.  For  Weting  Each  other  Washing  at  Play  time 2 

87.  For  HoUowlng  ft  Hooping  Going  Home 3 


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654  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

No.  Lashes. 

88.  For  Delaying  Time  Going  home  or  Coming  to  School 4 

89.  For  Not  Making  a  bow  when  you  come  in  or  go  Out 2 

40.  For  Throwing  Any  Thing  harder  than  3rour  trab  ball 4 

41.  For  Every  Word  you  mis  In  your  Hart  Leeon  without  Good 

Excuse    1 

42.  Ftor  Not  Saying  Tee  Sir*  k  *No  Sir*  or  Tes  Mann'  or  'No 

Mann'   2 

43.  For  Troubleing  Each  others  Writing  affares 2 

44.  For  Not  washing  at  playtime  when  going  to  Books 4 

46.  For  Going  ft  Playing  about  the  Mill  or  Creek 6 

46.  For  Going  about  the  Bam  or  doing  Any  Mischief  about  the 

place    7 

November  10th,  1848.  Wm.  A.  Chaffix. 

Professor  Coon,  in  addition,  copies  the  following  interesting 
early  advertisement  for  a  private  instructor: 

A  TITTOB  WAISTTED : 

A  decent,  sober,  and  discreet  person,  that  can  teach  the  Latin 
and  Greek  Languages,  and  the  Mathematics,  willing  to  engage 
in  a  private  family  to  teach  three  or  four  Youths  only,  will 
meet  with  encouragement  by  applying  to  the  Subscriber  at 
Eocky  Point,  November  13.  Samitbl   Ashe. 

Raleigh  Register,  January  21,  1808. 

He  also  quotes  the  Raleigh  Star  of  October  1,  1813 : 

There  are  Reading  Eooms  in  Newbem,  Wilmington,  and 
Fayetteville,  and  they  are  the  fashionable  resort  of  all  the  re- 
spectable people  of  these  places.  It  would  be  a  reproach  to  the 
Metropolis  to  remain  longer  without  such  an  establishment. 
The  town  wants  a  fashionable  lounging  place,  where  intelligent 
citizens  and  strangers  can  meet  daily,  and  enjoy  the  pleasures 
of  reading  and  conversation.  A  subscription  paper  will  be  sent 
round  in  a  few  days  to  obtain  Signatures,  when  the  conditions 
will  be  made  known. 
Raleigh  Star,  October  1, 1813. 
and  also  the  Raleigh  Register,  July  23, 1813. 

Other  Capb  Fear  Private  Schools. 

Antedating  the  period  covered  by  Professor  Coon,  the  Cape 
Fear  was  not  without  schools;  indeed,  that  there  were  some 


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Peace  Restored  665 

educational  facilities  on  the  river  from  the  first  settlement  may 
be  gathered  from  the  will  of  John  Baptista  Ashe^  made  in 
1734,  in  which  he  directed  that  his  sons  should  have  a  liberal 
education.  "And  in  their  education  I  pray  my  executors  to 
observe  this  method:  Let  them  be  taught  to  read  and  write, 
and  be  introduced  into  the  practical  part  of  arithmetic,  not  too 
hastily  hurrying  them  to  Latin  or  grammar ;  but,  after  they  are 
pretty  well  versed  in  these,  let  them  be  taught  Latin  and  Greek. 
I  propose  that  this  may  be  done  in  Virginia,  after  which  let 
them  learn  French.  Perhaps  some  Frenchman  at  Santee  will 
imdertake  this.  When  they  are  arrived  at  years  of  discretion, 
let  them  study  the  mathematics.  I  will  that  my  daughter  be 
taught  to  read  and  write  and  some  feminine  accomplishment 
which  may  render  her  agreeable,  and  that  she  be  not  kept  ignor- 
ant as  to  what  appertains  to  a  good  housewife  in  the  manage- 
ment of  household  affairs.*^ 

In  1745  there  was  a  school  taught  in  Brunswick,  and  in  1749 
the  Legislature  appropriated  £6,000  to  establish  a  free  school, 
but  during  the  Indian  war  the  money  was  used  for  war  pur- 
poses. In  1754  another  appropriation  was  made,  but  the  act 
was  not  approved  in  England.  In  1759,  John  Ashe,  as  chair- 
man of  a  committee,  brought  in  an  address  to  the  King,  praying 
that  a  part  of  a  certain  fund  should  be  laid  out  in  purchasing 
glebes  and  in  establishing  free  schools  in  each  county,  but  that 
money  was  to  come  from  an  issue  of  notes,  and  there  was  some 
slight  objection  to  the  form  of  the  notes  which  the  Governor  did 
not  communicate  to  the  Assembly.  Frequent  application  was 
made,  even  up  to  1765,  but  the  objection  not  having  been  com- 
mimicated  to  the  Assembly,  it  was  never  removed. 

In  1760,  Rev.  James  Tate,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  opened 
a  classical  school  at  Wilmington;  and  in  1785  Rev.  William 
Bingham  began  his  famous  school  here.  About  1800  the  Innes 
Academy  was  finished.    The  first  teacher  was  Rev.  Dr.  Hailing. 

After  a  few  years  service  Dr.  Hailing  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Rogers.  Mr.  Rogers  had  been  a  midshipman  in  the  navy.  The 
vessel  on  which  he  was  employed  was  dismantled  at  Wilming- 
ton, and  he  sought  employment  as  a  teacher.  After  some  years, 
he  moved  to  Hillsboro,  where  he  married  a  daughter  of  Col. 
William  Shepperd,  and  had  a  famous  school  imtil  he  removed 
to  Tennessee.  He  was  succeeded  at  the  Innes  Academy  by  Rev. 
Adam  Empie,  rector  of  St.  James's,  at  one  time  chaplain  at 
West  Point,  a  man  of  fine  culture,  whose  volume  of  published 


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656  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

sermons  entitles  him  to  fame.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Wright,  and  was  the  father  of  Adam  Empie,  Esq. 

Other  teachers  at  the  "Old  Academy"  were  Rev.  Mr.  Lath- 
rop,  Captain  Mitchell,  who  had  been  a  sea  captain,  Messrs. 
Hartshorn,  Lowry,  Joy,  Wilkes,  and  Burke. 

A  review  of  the  educational  facilities  of  Wilmington  prior  to 
the  war  of  1861  would  be  incomplete  without  reference  to  the 
admirable  private  school  for  boys  conducted  by  Mr.  Levin 
Meginney,  a  contemporary  of  Mr.  G.  W.  Jewett,  whose  insti- 
tute has  been  mentioned  elsewhere  in  the  Chronicles,  These 
two  school  principals  were  widely  divergent  in  their  profes- 
sional characteristics,  but  they  worked  in  harmony,  and  Mr. 
Meginney  extended  to  us  (of  the  Jewett  school)  the  courtesy  of 
the  use  of  his  larger  auditorium  for  our  weekly  declamations. 

Mr.  Meginney  was  a  Marylander,  who  came  to  Wilmington 
during  the  forties.  Buying  the  building  that  had  been  used  for 
the  Odd  Fellows'  School,  he  opened  an  institute  that  became  the 
largest  in  Wilmington  at  the  time.  He  was  recognized  as  one 
of  the  foremost  educators  of  his  day,  and  his  strong  moral  in- 
fluence was  a  blessing  to  the  conununity,  the  far-reaching  effects 
of  which  are  still  felt  in  the  men  of  character  and  purpose  who, 
as  youths,  were  trained  in  his  school.  Although  imable,  be- 
cause of  injury  to  one  arm,  to  shoulder  a  musket,  he  did  what 
he  could,  as  a  devoted  Southerner,  for  the  cause  of  the  Con- 
federacy during  the  War  between  the  States,  giving  largely  of 
his  means,  and  in  particular  helping  to  fit  out  one  of  the  first 
gunboats.  Though  giving  his  enthusiastic  love  and  loyalty  un- 
reservedly to  the  Southern  cause,  both  during  the  war  and  in 
the  trying  days  following  it,  Mr.  Meginney  was  just  and 
generous  to  the  teachers  who  came  to  Wilmington  from  other 
sections.  He  was  the  first  to  welcome  Miss  Amy  Bradley,  a 
Northern  lady,  who  came  after  the  war  to  open  the  Hemenway 
School.  There  are  many  yet  living  who  remember  his  gracious, 
old-time  courtesy  to  all,  and  the  sweet  and  beneficent  influence 
of  his  fine  character.  Some  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  Wil- 
mington were  his  pupils  and  remember  him  with  gratitude  and 
affection. 

Shortly  before  the  war,  among  other  schools  at  Wilmington 
was  Radcliffe's  Military  Academy;  and  for  girls  there  were 
the  high  school  kept  by  Rev.  Mr.  Backus  and  the  fine  school 
of  the  Misses  Burr  and  James.  After  the  war,  the  latter  was 
reopened ;  and  the  wife  of  Gen.  Robert  Ransom  had  a  finishing 


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Peace  Restored  657 

school,  while  General  Colston  for  years  kept  a  fine  military 
academy. 

Anotiier  excellent  school  was  that  of  Miss  Kate  Kennedy  and 
Miss  Annie  Hart,  which  was  established  shortly  after  the  four 
years'  war.  It  was  thoroughly  equipped  with  prominent  and 
eflScient  instructors,  notably  Professors  Mumford,  Bunker, 
Meade,  Graham,  Baudry,  Tallichet,  Tamborrella,  Joseph 
Denck,  and  Miss  Mordecai.  After  Miss  Kennedy's  marriage  to 
Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset,  in  1877,  the  school  passed  imder  new 
management.  It  is  now  conducted  by  Miss  Hart  and  Miss 
Brown,  ably  assisted  by  Miss  Hobday,  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Waddell  and  Mrs.  Devereux  Lippitt  were  for  a  time  instruct- 
ors in  music  and  in  painting.  The  reputation  of  this  school  in 
Wilmington  is  unexcelled. 

One  of  the  most  useful  teachers  connected  with  private  edu- 
cation in  Wilmington  was  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Rothwell,  whose 
record  as  a  teacher  here  extended  over  ^ixty-seven  years.  Her 
devoted  Christian  life  was  reflected  in  many  homes  blessed  by 
her  careful  training  and  by  her  beautiful  life  of  faithful  serv- 
ice.   Mrs.  Rothwell  died  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Public  Education  in  Wilmington. 

In  every  commimity  there  are  builders  of  character,  and  the 
building  is  based  on  the  gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones  of  love 
and  sacrifice.  That  great  apostle  of  education.  Lord  Brougham, 
has  said:  '^t  is  with  imspeakable  delight  that  I  contemplate 
the  rich  gifts  that  have  been  bestowed,  the  honest  zeal  displayed, 
by  private  persons  for  the  benefit  of  their  fellow-creatures. 
How  many  persons  do  I  myself  know  to  whom  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  say  tiiere  are  men  without  employment,  children  imedu- 
cated,  sufferers  in  prison,  victims  of  disease,  wretches  pining  in 
want,  and  straightway  they  will  abandon  all  other  pursuits,  as 
if  they  themselves  had  not  large  families  to  provide  for,  and 
toil  for  days  and  for  nights,  stolen  from  their  most  necessary 
avocations,  to  feed  the  hungry,  clothe  the  naked,  and  shed  upon 
the  children  of  the  poor  that  inestimable  blessing  of  education, 
which  gave  themselves  the  wish  and  the  power  to  relieve  their 
fellow-men." 

Of  Mr.  James  H.  Chadboum,  sr.,  one  of  our  citizens  who 
presented  his  body  a  living  sacrifice  for  others,  it  may  be  said 


42 


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658  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

that  his  greatest  and  most  effective  work  was  that  in  the  cause 
of  education  by  public  schools. 

In  his  earnest,  quiet,  unobtrusive  way,  he  became  one  of  the 
pillars  of  this  noble  work  of  the  State  in  Wilmington,  and  his 
chief  characteristics — ^virtue,  intelligence,  decision,  industry, 
perseverance,  and  economy — ^were  brought  to  bear  upon  this 
great  enterprise  with  such  far-reaching  results  that  eternity 
alone  can  reveal  their  extent.  He  honestly  regarded  public 
office  as  a  public  trust,  and  carefully  fulfilled  his  obligations 
with  unflagging  zeal  and  painstaking  economy.  His  business 
life  and  studious  habits  preserved  his  mind  in  vigorous  and 
healthful  action.  He  made  a  constant  study  of  popular  educa- 
tion, and  mastered  its  problems  in  each  successive  stage. 

Prof.  John  J.  Blair,  who  has  been  for  nearly  fifteen  years 
our  capable  superintendent  of  city  schools,  has  kindly  prepared 
for  the  Chronicles  a  narrative  of  the  development  of  popular 
education  in  Wilmington. 

Public  Schools. 
Bt  Prof.  John  J.  Blaib. 

The  history  of  education  in  the  Cape  Fear  section  is,  of  course, 
similar  to  and  in  accordance  with  the  State's  educational  policy, 
modified  to  a  certain  extent  by  local  influences  and  needs,  and 
the  ideas  of  individuals. 

In  1826,  a  "Literary  Fund"  was  created,  the  author  of  the 
bill  providing  for  this  being  Bartlett  Yancey,  but  it  was  not 
imtil  1839  that  the  first  bill  providing  for  free  schools  in  every 
county  was  passed.^ 

Between  1840  and  1860  a  more  elaborate  system  of  schools 
was  put  in  operation,  but  for  lack  of  one  responsible  head  and 
imiformity  of  administration,  chaos  and  failure  resulted.* 

DECADE  OF  1860  TO  1860. 

The  educational  history  of  our  State  from  1850,  extending 
over  a  period  of  the  next  sixteen  years,  centers  aroimd  the  char- 
acter and  deeds  of  one  man.  Dr.  Calvin  H.  Wiley.     He  was 

iDr.  Frederick  Hill,  of  Orton,  was  a  strong  advocate  of  public  educa- 
tion, was  one  of  the  authors  of  the  legislation  on  the  subject,  and  was 
called  in  Wilmington  the  "father  of  public  schools." 

2There  was  financial  codperatlon,  the  State  furnishing  a  part  and  the 
people  of  the  district  a  part  of  the  fund.    It  was  good  for  a  beginning. 


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elected  in  December^  1852^  and  on  January  1,  1853,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-four  years,  assumed  the  duties  of  this  newly-made  and 
responsible  office,  imder  the  title  of  superintendent  of  common 
schools.  He  began  at  once  many  needed  reforms,  and  made 
provision  by  which  teachers  could  be  prepared  and  secured  for 
the  work. 

An  extract  from  Dr.  Joyner's  address  at  the  imveiling  of  a 
monument  to  Calvin  H.  Wiley  in  Winston  in  1904  can  not  be 
too  often  repeated  in  connection  with  this  notable  administra- 
tion. The  speaker  said :  "Under  his  shaping  hand,  the  system 
grew  and  improved,  and  the  schools  prospered  until  it  could  be 
truthfully  said  at  the  beginning  of  the  War  between  the  States 
that  North  Carolina  had  the  best  system  of  common  schools  in 
the  South."  Dr.  Wiley  continued  to  hold  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent imtil  it  was  abolished  in  1866. 


THE  UNION  FREE  SCHOOL. 

In  addition  to  the  schools  of  the  town  of  Wilmington,  there 
were  in  the  county  New  Hanover  Academy,  1833;  Rock  Fish 
Academy,  1834;  Black  Creek  Female  Institution,  1846;  and 
there  were  schools  at  Eocky  Point  constantly  from  1846  at  least 
to  1850;  Topsail,  1851;  Union  (at  Harrell's  Store),  1854; 
Rocky  Point,  1867. 

The  name  "Union"  was  applied  to  any  school  in  which  pri- 
vate and  public  interests  were  imited  in  accordance  with  an  act 
of  the  General  Assembly. 

In  a  letter  written  to  Silas  N.  Martin  by  John  W.  Barnes, 
a  history  of  the  Union  Free  School  from  1856  to  1862  is  given : 

"A  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  in  the  summer  of  1856  in 
the  vicinity  of  The  Oaks,'  and  it  was  decided  to  raise  the  neces- 
sary money  and  material  for  the  purchase  of  a  lot  and  the  con- 
struction of  a  building.  The  deed  was  executed  November  3, 
1856,  to  James  Green,  John  Barnes,  and  Thomas  Freshwater, 
as  trustees,  and  the  same  recorded  December  31. 

"In  April,  1857,  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  held  in 
the  new  building,  in  which  it  was  decided  to  start  the  school 
the  first  of  May,  and  to  continue  three  months  experimentally. 
Mr.  Martin,  Mr.  VanBokkelen,  and  Mr.  Fanning  were  ap- 
pointed to  employ  a  teacher  and  put  the  Union  Free  School 
•  in   operation.     The   Board   of   Superintendents   of   Common 

Schools  for   New   Hanover  cooperated   with   the   committee. 


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660  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

whereby  they  received  the  benefit  of  all  the  funds  appropriated, 
which  arrangement  existed  until  July  1,  1863,  a  period  of  six 
years.  The  schoolhouse  originally  seated  one  hundred  pupils. 
In  1859  a  room  capable  of  holding  forty  scholars  was  added." 
The  letter  states  further:  "On  account  of  the  absence  of  Mr. 
Martin  from  the  State  in  1862,  Mr.  B.  G.  Worth  was  appointed 
his  successor,  and  nobly  sustained  the  school  from  his  private 
means  in  connection  with  the  amount  received  from  the  common 
school  fund. 

"The  largest  enrollment  at  one  time  was  one  hundred  and 
forty-five,  and  the  smallest  about  one  hundred,  this  being  the 
number  for  the  summer  months  of  Jime  and  July." 

DECADE  1870-I88a-THB  WILMINGTON  PUBUC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM. 

In  the  case  of  every  great  enterprise  or  achievement,  interest 
in  its  first  beginning  increases  with  the  passing  of  the  years, 
while  personal  knowledge  and  first-hand  information  concerning 
the  event  diminishes  proportionately  with  each  generation.  At 
this  present  time,  when  the  city's  rapid  growth  and  increase  in 
population  made  the  expansion  and  enlargement  of  her  school 
accommodations  imperative,  inquiry  is  frequently  made  con- 
cerning the  origin  of  this  most  important  and  vital  enterprise. 
So  closely  and  intimately  was  the  work  of  Miss  Amy  Morris 
Bradley  interwoven  with  our  early  public  school  system,  that 
her  labors  should  always  receive  the  public  recognition  which 
is  justly  due. 

1.  Her  influence  and  suggestion  are  responsible  for  the  name 
which  the  Hemenway  and  Union  Schools  bear. 

2.  There  was  never  any  conflict  between  her  private  interest 
and  the  commimity's  public  interest. 

3.  The  trained  and  skillful  teachers  whom  she  gathered 
around  her  in  turn  trained  others,  who  incorporated  into  the 
public  schools  the  best  and  most  modem  methods  of  instruction. 

4.  Her  schools  were  recognized  by  the  State,  for  in  the  year 
1870  she  received  from  the  State  fund  $1,266.71. 

6.  The  Union  School  house,  in  which  was  taught  the  Tileston 
Normal  School,  composed  from  the  Union  Grammar  School, 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  county  in  October,  1871,  when  the 
new  brick  Tileston  building  was  opened. 

6.  This  building,  in  turn,  by  a  deed  of  gift,  became  the  prop- 
erty of  the  city  of  Wilmington  in  1901,  through  the  mediation 
of  Mr.  James  H.  Chadboum,  a  personal  friend  of  Mrs.  Hemen- 


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Peace  Restored  661 

way,  and  for  many  years  chairman  of  the  Joint  School  Com- 
mittee of  the  city  of  Wilmington. 

A  large  bronze  tablet  at  the  entrance  bears  the  following 
inscription : 

TILESTON  MEMORIAL  SCHOOL 

Built  by 
MARY  HEMENWAY,  OP  BOSTON, 
Who  established  herein  a  school  for  the  White  People  of  this  com- 
munity in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-one  and  maintained 
the  same  at  her  own  cost  for  twenty  years  under  the  devoted  adminis- 
tration of 
AMY  MORRIS  BRADLEY. 
Given  to 
The  City  of  Wilmington 
In  the  Year  Nineteen  Hundred  and  One, 
in  the  name  of 
MARY  HEMENWAY. 

Accordingly,  on  the  9th  day  of  October,  1872,  the  old  Union 
and  Hemenway  buildings  were  abandoned,  turned  over  to  the 
Free  School  Committee,  and  the  schools  were  combined  and 
established  under  the  name  of  the  Tileston  Normal  School  in 
the  new  brick  structure.  The  cornerstone  had  been  laid  with 
considerable  ceremony,  November  31,  1871,  and  the  building 
was  erected  imder  the  supervision  of  James  Walker,  builder,  of 
Wilmington,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000. 

The  school  continued  in  popular  favor  imtil  the  summer  of 
1886.  During  all  this  period  $5,000  a  year  was  donated  by 
Mrs.  Hemenway  for  support  and  maintenance.  This  amount, 
together  with  a  small  tuition  fee,  afforded  ample  f imds  to  carry 
on  the  work. 

When  the  decade  of  1870  to  1880  dawned  upon  the  people  of 
North  Carolina,  interference  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
Government  with  the  affairs  which  rightfully  belong  to  a  State 
had  begun  to  disappear.  There  was  deep  gratification  at  the  im- 
proved condition  of  affairs,  and  the  large  gain  made  by  friends 
of  the  South  in  Congress  was  also  a  source  of  encouragement. 
Energy  and  industry  were  fast  removing  the  traces  of  war,  and 
individuals  bravely  struggled  to  restore  their  shattered  for- 
tunes. During  this  decade  a  change  of  sentiment  began  to  be 
felt  in  New  Hanover  Coimty  in  regard  to  the  attitude  of  the 
people  toward  free  public  education.  Previous  to  this  time 
"well-to-do  people,"  and  those  who  are  usually  spoken  of  as 
"socially  prominent,"  entirely  ignored  and  disregarded  the  free 


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662  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

public  schools.^  The  very  name  seemed  to  carry  some  reproach 
with  it.  In  fact,  imtil  comparatively  recent  times,  the  boast 
of  attending  a  "pay  school"  was  thought  to  carry  with  it  a  mark 
of  certain  personal  distinction. 

For  the  year  1870-71  a  reference  to  the  free  schools  of  the 
city  is  made  in  a  letter  to  the  commissioners  of  New  Hanover 
County  by  James  H.  Chadboum,  William  T.  Carr,  and  Wil- 
liam A.  French.  They  say :  "In  the  first  commimication  you 
were  informed  that  there  were  no  schoolhouses  within  the 
limits  of  the  township  belonging  to  the  State  or  coimty. 

"The  committee  subsequently,  with  the  approval  of  the  board 
and  the  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  purchased  the 
Hemenway  schoolhouse  of  Miss  Amy  M.  Bradley  for  $3,000, 
with  the  promise  on  her  part  that  the  money  she  received  from 
it  should  be  expended  in  continuing  her  two  schools,  then  in 
successful  operation. 

"The  cost  of  sustaining  the  Hemenway  and  Union  Schools 
for  the  last  two  years  has  been  $10,850.40— $1,266.70  from  the 
State,  $2,600  from  the  Peabody  Fund,  $3,000  from  the  sale 
of  the  Hemenway  schoolhouse,  and  the  balance,  $4,083.70,  from 
the  friends  of  Miss  Bradley  and  her  work. 

"It  seems  to  the  committee  that  the  beneficial  influence  of 
these  schools  for  the  young  of  the  city  can  not  be  overestimated.^' 

The  Wilmington  Post  of  April  11,  1872,  gives  an  account  of 
a  visit  at  that  time  of  the  State  superintendent  of  public  in- 
struction, Alexander  Mclver,  to  the  city  of  Wilmington.  It 
says :  "Mr.  Mclver  comes  to  the  work  of  educating  the  masses 
and  the  establishment  of  free  schools  throughout  the  State  of 
North  Carolina.  His  desire  now  is  to  interest  the  public  in  the 
work.  He  desires  that  imited  effort  be  made  at  once,  so  as  to 
secure  some  complete  system  for  the  successful  establishment  of 
free  schools  in  the  city  of  Wilmington,  by  the  city,  as  provided 
in  its  charter  amended  in  1868." 

DECADE  OP  1880-189(>-ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  WILMINGTON 
PUBUC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM. 

This  sketch  would  not  be  complete  without  a  reference  to 
the  campaign  of  enlightenment  carried  on  under  the  direction 

of  the  Legislature  by  Dr.  E.  A.  Alderman  and  C.  D.  Mclver. 

.1 

iWhile  the  public-school  system  was  maintained  during  the  War  be- 
tween the  States,  because  of  the  results  of  the  war  the  public  schools 
were  closed  in  1865-66.  In  1867  there  was  Reconstruction,  and  there 
were  no  public  schools  until  1872. 


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They  met  the  teachers  in  every  county  in  the  State  and  taught 
them  how  to  teach.  They  held  public  meetings  and  educational 
rallies.  They  made  eloquent  speeches.  They  urged  the  people 
to  vote  taxes  to  support  schools.  Since  this  notable  campaign, 
educational  progress  in  North  Carolina  has  been  easier. 

Information  with  regard  to  the  two  free  public  schools,  Union 
and  Hemenway,  between  1872  and  1882,  is  comparatively 
vague  and  indefinite.  The  year  1882,  however,  marked  the  be- 
ginning of  an  effective  organization  with  an  executive  head, 
whose  office  was  that  of  superintendent  of  city  public  schools, 
and  the  system  then  began  to  assume  a  different  aspect  as  a 
factor  in  the  educational  life  of  the  city. 

The  situation  is  described  by  the  superintendent  himself,  Mr. 
M.  C.  S.  Noble,  who  was  elected  to  this  responsible  office  in  the 
summer  of  1882.  Previous  to  this  the  authority  over  the  two 
white  and  colored  districts  was  vested  in  the  county  superin- 
tendent. It  does  not  take  a  vivid  imagination  to  see  the  situa- 
tion as  it  appeared  to  him  at  that  time.  In  referring  to  his  first 
visit  to  the  schools,  he  says:  "I  pictured  to  myself  large,  im- 
posing buildings,  situated  in  well-kept  groimds,  when  our  buggy 
stopped  in  deep  sand  out  in  front  of  the  old  Union  School  on 
Sixth  Street  between  Nun  and  Church,  and  just  in  the  rear  of 
Fifth  Street  Methodist  Church.  It  contained  three  rooms,  and 
had  a  seating  capacity  of  one  himdred  and  twenty-five  pupils. 
There  were  three  teachers,  and  the  average  attendance  was  one 
hundred.  '  Lastly,  we  went  to  the  Hemenway,  then  situated  on 
the  lot  directly  south  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  on  Fourth  Street. 
It  was  a  little  cottage-looking  affair,  with  four  rooms,  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils,  and  an  average 
attendance  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five." 

The  growth  of  the  enterprise  is  noted  by  a  comparison  of  this 
early  report  with  that  made  by  the  superintendent  of  schools 
for  the  year  1886:  "Number  of  children  in  school,  white, 
2,051;  colored,  3,209:  total,  5,260.  Average  monthly  enroll- 
ment, white,  444;  colored,  757:  total,  1,201.  Average  daily 
attendance,  white,  363;  colored,  550:  total,  913."  This  report 
also  states  that  there  were  at  this  time  575  white  children  en- 
rolled in  the  Tileston  Normal  School. 

The  school  committees  consisted  of  the  following:  District 
No.  1,  Donald  MacRae,  chairman,  William  M.  Parker,  JosepTi 
E.  Sampson;  District  No.  2,  James  H.  Chadboum,  chairman. 
Walker  Meares,  John  Q.  Norwood. 


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664  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

In  the  paragraph  on  school  buildings  there  appears  tiiis 
reference:  "The  Hemenway  building  for  whites  is  well  ar- 
ranged and  well  supplied  with  comfortable  seats.  The  Union 
building,  in  White  District  No.  2,  is  comfortable,  but  in  every 
other  respect  it  is  entirely  unfit  for  school  purposes.  After 
many  years  of  waiting  and  vexatious  delay,  the  committee  hope 
to  have  a  handsome  building  ready  for  occupancy  next  falL" 
This  wish  was  realized,  as  the  following  extract  shows:  ^In 
1886,  the  pupils  were  moved  from  the  old  school  into  the  hand- 
some new  Union  building  at  the  northwest  comer  of  Sixth  and 
Ann.  It  contained  eight  large  schoolrooms  and  a  beautiful 
haU." 

In  the  spring  of  1891  the  fire  alarm  sounded  "48,"  and  it  was 
the  Union  School  building  on  fire.  It  caught  from  a  defective 
flue  and  burned  to  the  ground.  The  new  structure  was  built 
upon  the  foundation  of  the  old  one,  and  on  the  first  Monday  of 
the  following  October  the  new  building,  as  you  see  it  today, 
was  occupied.  In  1889,  a  building  like  the  Union  was  built 
upon  a  lot  running  through  from  Fifth  to  Sixth,  between  Chest- 
nut and  Walnut,  which  had  been  purchased  through  the  earnest 
advice  of  Mr.  Horace  Bagg. 

On  Saturday  night  early  in  the  siunmer  vacation  of  1897, 
some  one  set  fire  to  the  new  Hemenway,  and  the  next  morning 
this  beautiful  building  was  a  mass  of  smoking  ruins.  This 
school  was  at  once  rebuilt,  and  turned  over  ready  for  the  open- 
ing on  the  first  Monday  in  October  in  that  year. 

DECADE  189O-1900-GROWTH  OF  THE  HIGH-SCHOOL  IDEA. 

The  high  school  as  an  organic  part  of  the  public-school  system 
had  its  origin  at  a  very  recent  date.  Previous  to  1890  most  of 
the  graded-school  reports  show  provision  for  primary  and 
grammar  grades  only.  The  superintendent's  report  for  Wil- 
mington, 1886,  shows  a  provision  for  six  grades  only.  No  refer- 
ence is  made  in  this  report  to  a  high  school.  It  was  evidently 
intended  that  the  private  schools  which  had  flourished  in  the 
towns  and  cities  for  a  long  time  should  take  eare  of  advanced 
work,  and  in  fact  by  many  it  seemed  to  be  regarded  as  their 
rightful  heritage  and  possession. 

During  this  decade  there  was  an  aggressive  opposition  to  the 
public  high-school  idea.  In  Kaleigh,  so  determined  was  this 
opposition,  in  the  interest  of  the  existing  academy,  that  some  of 
its  citizens  had  a  law  passed  forbidding  the  teaching  of  high- 


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Peace  Restored  665 

school  subjects  in  the  public  schools.  Later,  the  Raleigh  Acad- 
emy gave  way  to  the  high  school,  its  principal  becoming  the 
principal  of  tiie  high  school. 

In  Wilmington,  the  idea  began  to  take  shape  in  the  mind  of 
the  superintendent  soon  after  the  schools  were  moved  into  the 
new  Hemenway  and  Union  School  buildings,  for  he  began  grad- 
ually to  add  high-school  subjects  and  thus  to  enrich  the  course 
of  study. 

The  school  committees,  with  prophetic  vision,  saw  the  neces- 
sity for  it  in  order  to  close  up  the  gap  between  the  grammar 
school  and  the  State  University.  As  evidence  of  their  faith  in 
it,  they  bought  at  this  time  a  lot  at  the  comer  of  Third  and 
Market  Streets,  where  the  Colonial  Inn  now  stands,  and  moved 
the  advanced  classes  from  the  lower  schools  into  the  little  one- 
story  schoolhouse  just  south  of  the  courthouse,  on  Third  Street. 
This  remained  Wilmington's  high  school  imtil  the  year  1897, 
when  the  advanced  classes  from  the  Hemenway,  Union,  and 
Third  Street  Schools,  numbering  in  all  one  hundred,  with  four 
teachers  in  charge,  moved  into  the  Tileston  Normal  building. 
The  city  came  into  control  of  this  building  by  a  lease  obtained 
through  the  personal  efforts  of  Mr.  James  H.  Chadboum,  then 
chairman  of  the  joint  committee.  The  following  May  the  first 
graduating  exercises  were  held  and  certificates  were  given  to 
three  girl  graduates.  Each  year  there  were  gratifying  increases. 
The  class  of  1914  numbered  30,  bringing  the  total  number  of 
graduates  up  to  315.  In  1910,  nine  more  rooms  were  added 
and  a  faculty  of  fourteen  teachers  and  a  principal  employed. 

1900-1914. 

On  January  5,  1899,  Mr.  John  J.  Blair  succeeded  Mr.  Noble 
as  superintendent.  A  few  leading  events  of  this  period  are 
enumerated  below: 

In  1901,  by  deed  of  gift,  the  Tileston  building  and  half  of 
that  city  block  became  the  property  of  the  city  of  Wilmington. 

In  1904  an  addition  of  fourteen  rooms  was  made  to  the  Union 
School,  and  just  previous  to  this,  eight  rooms  were  added  to  the 
Hemenway. 

In  1909  a  local  tax  of  fifteen  cents  on  the  one-hundred-dollar 
valuation  was  voted  by  the  entire  county,  and  New  Hanover  was 
the  first  county  to  become  a  special  tax  district 

In  1910,  under  an  enactment  of  Congress,  eleven  city  blocks 
of  land  back  of  the  Marine  Hospital  were  secured  by  the  Board 
of  Education  for  park  and  school  purposes. 


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666  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

In  1911  the  gift  by  Mr.  Sam  Bear  of  a  beautiful  brick  scbool 
building  afforded  a  valuable  and  much-needed  addition  to  the 
equipment  of  the  system. 

The  schools  have  increased  proportionately  with  the  growth 
of  the  city,  and  the  enrollment  has  reached  the  grand  total 
of  four  thousand,  nearly  three  thousand  of  whom  are  white 
children. 

The  faculty  in  charge  now  numbers  nearly  one  hundred  per- 
sons. 

Fortunately,  the  management  of  the  schools  has  been  in  the 
hands  of  capable  and  conservative  business  men,  and  to  serve 
on  the  County  Board  of  Education  or  on  either  one  of  the  com- 
mittees of  the  different  districts,  has  been  deemed  a  great  honor. 
So,  to  the  integrity  and  high  character  of  those  who  fill  these 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  rendering  free  of  cost  valuable 
service  to  the  community,  is  largely  due  whatever  of  success 
may  have  been  achieved. 


LOYALTY  OF  THE  OAPE  FEAK  PEOPLE  TO  THE 
STATE    UNTVEKSITY. 

It  is  fitting  to  mention  the  devotion  of  the  people  of  the  Lower 
Cape  Fear  to  the  venerable  University  of  North  Carolina  at 
Chapel  Hill  which  has  been  manifest  in  the  records  of  several 
generations.  Reference  has  been  made  in  the  Chronicles  to 
the  larger  gifts  of  Governor  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Orton,  but  the 
following  list  of  donations  from  the  Wilmington  district  as 
early  as  1793-94,  noted  in  Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle's  admirable  His- 
tory of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  will  be  read  with 
interest  by  the  descendants  of  the  donors. 

Alfred  Moore  $200  Joshua  Potts $  16 

Edward  Jones 80  Thomas  HIU 40 

Griffith  John  McRee 20  J.  R.  Gautler 60 

Peter  MaUett  80  James  Moore,  sr 50 

Nathaniel  Hill 20  Thomas  Ashe 60 

Henry  Toomer 60  Alexius  M.  Forster 12 

John  G.  Wright 25  Henry  d'Herbe 8 

Robert  Whitehurst  Snead ....  40  James  Kenan 60 

William  Wingate  16  Samuel  Ashe  (son  of  the  gen- 
Samuel  Houston  15            eral)    60 

Thomas  Brown  80  Anthony  Toomer 10 

Hugh  Waddell  80  John  Brown  6 


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John  Cathorda $  10 

Michael  Sampson  20 

James  Read   20 

William  Montfcfrt 10 

Nehemiah  Harris  6 

William  Bingham 20 

Marshall  Wilkings 10 

William  Davis 8 

John  Allen 6 

John  Blakeley  20 

.  John  Fulwood   10 

John  A.  Campbell 30 

John  Lord 10 

Amariah  Jocelyn 10 

William  E.  Lord 20 

James  Walker 50 

John  London  40 

William  H.  Hill 60 

John  McKenzie 60 

Christopher  Dudley  20 

James  Moore  (Clerk)   20 

Richard  Quince,  sr 40 

Richard  Quince,  jr 20 

James  Flowers 16 

John  Hill 80 

William  Campbell 60 


Thomas  Moore $60 

William  Hall  (Sheriff  of  Bruns- 

.  wick)  20 

Samuel  Ashe,  jr 30 

Samuel  Hall 10 

Samuel  R.  Jocelyn 20 

John  Fergus 25 

Duncan  Stewart  25 

John  Burgwin 100 

William  Green 15 

Thomas  Wright 15 

Frederick  Jones 30 

Henry  Urquhart  10 

William  Cutlar 10 

John  James 20 

Oeorge  Davis 20 

George  McKenzie  60 

Spafford  Drewry 10 

Daniel  McNeil  25 

George  Gibbs  8 

Hugh  Campbell  10 

J.  Scott  Cray 20 

John  Peter  Martin 10 

John  Hall  15 

James  Spiller 60 

John  Campbell 5 


How  well  the  genius  of  the  University  was  described  by  Presi- 
dent Venable  a  few  years  ago:  "A  shining  light  in  the  dark- 
ness, clearly  and  patiently  directing  the  course  of  those  who 
would  travel  the  pathway  to  knowledge  and  the  higher  life;  a 
center  of  gracious  and  helpful  influence  streaming  out  into  the 
whole  land ;  a  strong  foundation  unmoved  by  frenzied  passion, 
by  the  shifting  sands  of  political  change,  by  the  bigotry  of  igno- 
rance, or  the  selfish  bias  of  wealth,  a  treasure  which  can  not  be 
bought  or  sold  away  from  the  people,  by  whom  and  for  whom 
it  was  created ;  a  loving  mother  of  many  noble  sons,  whom  it  is 
her  pride  to  help  and  nourish  and  lead  upwards  to  the  light." 
And  how  well  is  his  eloquent  description  of  the  true  functions 
of  the  institution  sustained  by  the  succeeding  administrations  of 
that  distinguished  and  devoted  son  of  the  Cape  Fear,  President 
Edward  Kidder  Graham,  who  writes  thus  in  his  annual  report 
for  the  year  1914-15 :  "It  is  with  a  profound  sense  of  happiness 
that  I  report  the  conviction,  fortified  in  many  substantial  ways, 
that  the  alumni,  the  students,  and  the  public  at  large  are  taking 
a  more  continuous  and  sympathetic  interest  in  the  serious  work 


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668  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

of  the  University.    Loyalty  to  the  institution  is  losing  none  of 
the  enthusiasm  tiiat  finds  its  occasional  magnetic  center  in  great 
athletic  contests;  but  it  is  steadily  receiving  also  a  far  deeper 
and  richer  interpretation.     There  have  been,  during  the  past 
year,  many  inspiring  evidences  that  we  are  coming  more  and 
more  to  see  that  true  loyalty  to  the  University  consists  not 
merely  in  pride  in  the  institution,  nor  merely  in  love  for  it  as 
our  Alma  Mater ;  but  also,  and  mainly,  in  our  personal  devotion 
to  the  high  things  for  which  the  institution  stands,  and  our 
practical  service  in  making  these  things  prevail.    This  devotion 
we  share  with  all  good  men  everywhere  whose  aims  and  ideals 
are  kindred,  and  with  every  agency  that  seeks  to  make  them 
effective  in  the  life  of  the  State.    The  essential  character  of  the 
institution  is  cooperation  in  its  fullest  and  deepest  sense;  it  is 
the  institution  for  expressing  in  intelligent  and  constructive 
terms  all  of  those  varied  aspects  of  human  effort  that  make 
complete  and  unified  the  life  of  the  State.    Adequate  equipment, 
therefore,  to  do  its  work  with  freedom  and  vigor,  it  asks  not  in 
any  selfish  measure,  but  as  the  heart  of  the  general  good.    If  we 
view  it  in  the  lesser  way  of  partisanship,  whether  friendly  or 
unfriendly,  we  shall  think  too  lightly  of  its  mission,  misconceive 
its  true  character  and  potential  greatness,  and  so  fail  to  give 
it  the  means  to  perform  its  functions  with  the  strength,  the 
vision,  and  the  confident  faith  necessary  to  the  leadership  com- 
mitted to  its  care." 


THE  ATLANTIC  COAST  LINE  RAILROAD. 

The  equipment,  rails,  and  rolling  stock  of  the  Wilmington 
and  Weldon  Railroad  and  its  connections  north  and  south  were 
thoroughly  worn  out  at  the  end  of  the  war,  so  that  when  peace 
came  there  was  need  for  entire  rehabiliment.  Mr.  Walters, 
Mr.  Newcomer,  and  Mr.  Jenkins,  of  Baltimore,  becoming  in- 
terested in  the  property,  so  managed  it  that  in  a  few  years  it 
became  wonderfully  productive,  and  under  their  control  it  was 
a  nucleus  of  railway  development.  From  it  has  arisen.  Phoenix- 
like, the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  in  its  equipment  and  management 
one  of  the  finest  examples  of  railroad  development  in  modem 
times.  It  has  been  called  the  aorta  of  Wilmington's  commercial 
and  industrial  life.  Without  it  Wilmington  could  not  have 
flourished.    Many  of  our  inhabitants  of  slender  means  depend 


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Peace  Restored  669 

upon  its  dividends  for  their  daily  bread— others  of  larger  for- 
tunes have  always  preferred  to  invest  in  its  shares,  not  only  on 
account  of  its  admirable  physical  equipment  and  its  stable  finan- 
cial policy,  but  also  because  Mr.  Henry  Walters,  the  chairman 
of  the  board,  and  his  associates  in  its  excellent  management, 
command  the  respect,  the  confidence,  and  the  admiration  of  its 
stockholders,  large  and  small. 

From  this  training  school  of  the  thousands  who  depend  upon 
it  for  their  occupation  and  support  have  arisen  many  young 
men,  succeeding  to  vacant  places  of  responsibility  and  honor, 
because  the  quality  of  their  instruction  has  been  of  the  best  and 
their  industrious  application  has  resulted  in  deserved  promo- 
tions. 

In  July,  1898,  the  connecting  lines  of  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  Railroad  in  South  Carolina  were  consolidated  under 
the  name  Atlantic  Coast  Line  of  South  Carolina,  and  in  Novem-* 
ber  following  the  lines  from  Bichmond  to  Garysburg  were  or- 
ganized as  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  of  Virginia.  Two  years 
later,  the  above  companies  were  consolidated  with  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Weldon  and  its  tributary  lines  in  North  Carolina  under 
the  name  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad,  and  in  1902  the  Plant 
system  in  Florida  and  Georgia  was  consolidated  with  the  At- 
lantic Coast  Line.  Thus  the  present  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Rail- 
road, having  more  than  4,600  miles  of  track,  extends  from 
Richmond  and  Norfolk  on  the  north,  to  Tampa,  St.  Petersburg, 
and  Fort  Meyers  on  the  south,  and  to  Montgomery  on  the  west, 
traversing  the  great  coastal  plain  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard, 
through  the  States  of  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Florida,  and  Alabama.  The  country  through  which 
it  passes  is  rich  in  agricultural  development  and  possibilities, 
and  the  trucking  industry  on  its  lines  has  grown  to  enormous 
proportions.  Near  Wilmington  is  the  greatest  strawberry-pro- 
ducing belt  in  the  world.  These  berries  are  shipped  to  the 
Northern  markets  from  this  section  in  great  quantities  each 
year,  and  are  considered  a  most  profitable  crop. 

Starting  in  Virginia,  with  its  grain  and  other  hardy  crops, 
the  line  passes  through  the  cotton  and  tobacco  belt,  thence 
through  the  wonderful  garden-truck  section  of  the  Carolinas 
and  Georgia  into  the  semi-tropical  sections  of  Florida,  abound- 
ing in  citrus  fruits  of  unrivaled  quality  as  well  as  early  vege- 
tables of  every  variety,  which  the  fortunate  introduction  of  tiie 
art  of  making  ice,  invented  by  Gorrie,  and  the  use  of  ref  rigera- 


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670  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  Biver 

tor  cars  have  enabled  the  carriers  to  transport  in  a  fresh  con- 
dition to  the  great  markets  of  the  North. 

The  remarkable  diversity  of  soil  and  climate  is  steadily  at- 
tracting the  attention  of  settlers,  and  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line 
Railroad  Company,  through  its  Industrial  and  Immigration 
Bureau,  by  cooperation  with  State  agricultural  collies,  and  in 
other  ways,  has  left  no  stone  unturned  to  develop  and  advance 
an  interest  in  agriculture.  During  the  past  year  a  car  equipped 
with  the  agricultural  products  and  resources  of  the  States 
through  which  its  line  runs  was  exhibited  at  many  fairs  at  the 
North  and  Northwest. 

The  products  of  the  forest,  including  naval  stores,  form  a 
most  important  part  of  the  tonnage  of  the  line,  running  as  it 
does  through  the  great  pine  and  cypress  belts  of  the  South.  Nor 
is  this  section  dependent  on  the  forest  alone  for  its  growth  and 
prosperity,  its  manufactures,  chiefly  cotton  goods,  being  impor- 
tant factors.  The  phosphate  industry  particularly  is  an  impor- 
tant one,  and  the  rails  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad 
company  reach  the  rich  deposits  of  phosphate  in  Florida  and 
South  Carolina. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  has  about  1,700  miles  of  its  track 
in  the  State  of  Florida.  New  lines  are  now  being  built  to  open 
up  further  the  rich  phosphate  beds  and  the  citrus  fruit  belt  of 
that  wonderful  section  of  our  country. 

This  road  took  an  important  part  in  the  War  between  the 
States,  and,  as  already  indicated,  it  had  to  be  practically  rebuilt 
at  its  close. 

The  general  offices  of  the  company  have  always  been  located 
in  Wilmington.  Starting  with  a  few  men  in  1840,  it  now  has 
employed  at  headquarters  about  one  thousand  men,  and  to  meet 
the  constantly  increasing  business  there  has  been  built  in  recent 
years  one  of  the  handsomest  railroad  office  buildings  in  the 
South.  This  structure,  six  stories  in  height,  is  of  concrete  and 
steel  construction,  and  cost,  with  train  sheds  and  concourse, 
approximately  $375,000. 

Wilmington  is  one  of  the  important  points  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  Railroad.  Cotton  is  its  principal  export,  although 
large  quantities  of  naval  stores,  lumber,  and  other  products  are 
handled.  It  had  at  one  time  the  distinction  of  being  the  largest 
naval-stores  market  in  the  world,  but  this  industry  has  gradually 
moved  southward,  and  now  Savannah  or  Brunswick  claims 
precedence.    During  the  season  of  1914  there  was  cleared  from 


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Peace  Restored  671 

Wilmington  one  of  the  largest  single  cargoes  of  cotton  ever 
shipped  from  any  Atlantic  port. 

It  is  a  far  cry  from  the  passenger  train  of  1840,  with  its 
crude  equipment,  on  which  a  passenger  had  to  pay  seven  cents 
per  mile  or  more  to  travel,  to  the  magnificent  trains  of  today, 
with  their  powerful  locomotives  and  steel  passenger  equipment, 
on  which  one  may  ride  for  two  cents  a  mile.  The  Atlantic  Coast 
Line  Railroad  Company  runs  daily,  during  the  winter  months, 
four  through  passenger  trains,  with  the  most  modem  Pullman 
equipment,  from  New  York  and  eastern  cities  to  Jacksonville 
and  other  Florida  points.  It  also  runs  daily  five  passenger 
trains,  with  modem  Pullman  equipment,  from  Chicago  to 
Florida  points,  connecting  with  the  Coast  Line  rails  at  Mont- 
gomery, Albany,  and  Tifton.  From  Key  West  and  Tampa 
direct  connection  is  made  with  modem  passenger  steamers  for 
Havana  and  other  points  in  Cuba. 

At  one  time  all  of  the  through  trains  between  the  North  and 
the  South  moved  via  Wilmington,  but  in  1892,  in  order  to 
shorten  the  distance  materially  and  thus  to  compete  more  effec- 
tively for  the  Florida  travel,  a  line  was  completed  from  Con- 
tentnea  to  Pee  Dee,  a  distance  of  141  niiles.  This  line  opened 
up  also  a  fine  farming  section. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  is  generally  known  and  advertised 
as  "The  Standard  Railroad  of  the  South.'*  It  is  the  constant 
aim  of  the  management  to  maintain  this  standard  and  to  merit 
this  distinction. 


THE  SEABOARD  AIR  LINE  RAILROAD. 

The  Wilmington,  Charlotte,  and  Rutherford  Railroad  was 
chartered  February  13,  1855,  and  by  1861  there  were  built  103 
miles  on  the  eastern  division,  and  from  Charlotte  to  Lincoln  ton 
on  the  western  division.  The  road  was  sold  April  10,  1873, 
and  reorganized  as  the  Carolina  Central  Railway  Company,  and 
was  completed  to  Charlotte  and  Shelby  in  the  latter  part  of 
1874,  comprising  a  total  distance  of  242  miles. 

The  Carolina  Central  Railway  was  sold  May  31,  1880,  and 
reorganized  as  the  Carolina  Central  Railroad  Company,  July 
14,  1880,  when  the  late  Capt.  David  R.  Murchison  was  made 
president. 

It  traversed  the  counties  of  New  Hanover,  Brunswick,  Colum- 


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672  Chronicles  of  ihe  Cape  Fear  River 

bus,  Bladen,  Bobeson,  Richmond,  Anson,  Union,  Mecklenburg, 
Gaston,  Lincoln,  and  Cleveland — ^a  section  highly  productive  of 
turpentine,  cotton,  and  other  articles  of  export,  the  class  and 
grade  of  cotton  grown  in  Anson  and  Union  Counties  being  supe- 
rior to  that  of  any  other  section  in  the  State. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway 
in  1900,  the  Seaboard  had  no  lines  south  of  its  Carolina  Central 
Railroad  except  its  one  line  from  Monroe  to  Atlanta.  Before 
this  consolidation  in  1900,  the  old  Seaboard  Air  Line  system  of 
roads  had  a  total  mileage  of  approximately  925  miles.  Today 
its  mileage  is  3,074  miles,  exclusive  of  its  ownership  of  such 
lines  as  the  Raleigh  and  Charleston,  Marion  and  Sou&em, 
Tampa  Northern,  and  other  short  lines  of  varying  length. 

The  main  track  southwestward  from  the  Carolina  Central 
leads  from  Monroe  through  Atlanta  to  Birmingham,  the  center 
of  the  South's  iron  and  steel  manufacturing  industry,  oonnectr 
ing  there  for  interchange  of  passenger  and  freight  traffic  with 
the  direct  lines  to  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  River  territory, 
and  through  New  Orleans  and  Shreveport  to  the  Southwest  and 
Mexico. 

The  line  southward  from  Hamlet  leads  to  deep  water  at  Sa- 
vannah and  to  Jacksonville,  where  connection  is  made  to  the 
east  coast  of  Florida,  to  Cuba,  and  to  Nassau.  Also,  its  line 
runs  through  the  northern  part  of  the  State  and  along  the  Gidf 
of  Mexico,  and  northward  from  Tampa.  From  Savannah  it  has 
lines  to  Montgomery  and  through  southern  Alabama. 

The  system  is  serving  a  very  material  portion  of  the  South's 
progressive  territory,  and  is  entitled  to  its  adopted  trade-mark 
of  "The  Progressive  Railway  of  the  South,"  and  on  l^^  list  of 
directors  and  general  officers  there  is  shown  a  preponderance  of 
Southern-bom  men  in  its  management.  Its  headquarters  arts 
maintained  at  Baltimore,  the  chief  Southern  city  on  the  Atlan- 
tic coast 

The  original  Carolina  Central  Railroad  has  performed  for 
many  years  an  obviously  valuable  duty  to  the  people  of  North 
Carolina,  connecting,  as  it  does,  some  of  the  most  attractive 
western  and  middle  counties  with  the  coastal  section,  and  as  the 
other  parts  of  the  system  developed  it  added  strength  to  this  link, 
extending  to  the  communities  in  proportion  to  their  abilities. 
Thus  Wilmington  has  felt  a  strong  impetus  from  the  extension 
of  the  Seaboard.  Indeed,  Wilmington^s  attractive  shore  front 
was  found  to  be  nearer  to  the  populous  conmiunities  of  the  in- 


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Peace  Restored  673 

terior,  as  far  south  as  Atlanta,  than  any  other  Atlantic  sea 
resort ;  and  from  all  that  section  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina, 
as  well  as  from  the  sections  of  North  Carolina  served,  many 
inhabitants  of  the  inland  areas  seek  the  attractions  of  Wrights- 
ville  Beach  during  the  summer  months. 

The  original  promoters  of  the  Carolina  Central  Railroad  had 
a  vision  that  it  would  cross  the  mountain  chain  and  afford  ready 
connection  with  the  States  lying  beyond,  and  in  later  years  this 
has  been  realized  by  the  construction  of  the  fine  Clinchfield 
property  from  Rutherford  Coimty  across  the  mountains,  through 
the  States  of  Tennessee,  Virginia,  and  West  Virginia,  to  the 
most  valuable  coal  deposit  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and 
thus  has  the  dream  of  these  original  enthusiasts  come  true. 
Across  the  rugged  mountain  chain  is  an  excellent  carrier,  offer- 
ing easy  and  comfortable  transportation  to  a  territory  which,  in 
their  day,  was  far  from  direct  connection  with  the  eastern  sec- 
tion of  North  Carolina. 

Agriculture,  the  backbone  of  all  prosperity,  widely  extended 
in  the  States  served  by  the  Seaboard,  has  called  for  the  ampli- 
fication of  fertilizer  manufacturing  and  distributing  facilities, 
and  Wilmington  has  shared  largely  in  the  extension  of  this 
important  industry.  Favored  with  an  excellent  channel  and 
capacity  for  docking  ships,  and  a  wide  area  of  rail  distribution 
therefrom,  it  serves  the  continued  extension  of  territory  with 
its  accumulated  fertilizer  material. 

At  Wilmington,  the 'Seaboard  has  terminal  facilities  of  the 
value  of  one  million  dollars,  comprising  two  thousand  feet  of 
water  front  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  with  a  twenty-six  foot 
depth  at  mean  low  water,  five  large  terminal  warehouses,  and 
three  slips.  There  have  recently  been  erected  terminal  mechan- 
ical facilities,  including  coal  elevator,  turntable,  repair  track, 
and  additional  yard  facilities.  Within  the  past  seven  or  eight 
years  the  Seaboard  has  spent  half  a  million  dollars  in  improve- 
ment of  its  terminals  at  Wilmington.  The  storage  capacity  of 
its  Wilmington  warehouses  is  approximately  one  hundred  thou- 
sand tons. 

Mindful  of  the  value  to  its  territory  of  agricultural  exten- 
sion, the  Seaboard  has  provided  a  department  charged  with  this 
duty — ^to  promote  the  best  methods,  better  agricultural  condi- 
tions, better  marketing;  the  establishment  of  industries  in  its 
territory;  the  bringing  in  of  good  citizens  from  States  of  the 
Fnion  less  favored  in  climate  and  soil,  and  in  every  way  to 
advance  the  welfare  of  the  agricultural  class. 


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William  J.  Harahan,  president  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
Railway,  whoee  oflSce  is  in  Norfolk,  was  bom  December  22, 
1867,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He  entered  the  railway  service 
in  1881.  A  messenger  and  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad,  New  Orleans, 
in  1884,  he  has  risen  by  gradations  first  to  the  vice  presidency 
of  the  Erie  Railroad,  January,  1911,  and  then,  September  26, 
1912,  to  the  presidency  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway. 

The  evolution  of  a  great  enterprise  illustrates  the  law  of 
natural  selection  and  the  survival  of  the  fittest. 

Charles  R.  Capps,  the  vice  president,  was  bom  in  Norfolk, 
Va.,  March  4,  1871,  and  educated  at  Roanoke  CoU^e,  1886- 
1888.  He  entered  the  railway  service  in  1888  as  messenger  of 
the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  Railroad.  Until  July  12,  1895,  he 
held  various  positions  in  the  general  freight  office  of  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line,  and  from  December  1,  1909,  he  has  been  vice 
president  of  the  same  system.  Through  many  financial  vicissi- 
tudes and  changes  of  administration  in  the  Seaboard  Air  Line, 
he  has  stood  fast  in  his  loyalty  to  his  first  love,  declining  attract- 
ive offers  of  more  profitable  employment  elsewhere,  and  with 
his  promotion  step  by  step,  he  has  fulfilled  and  exceeded  the 
highest  expectations  of  the  Seaboard  management,  until  today 
he  is  generally  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  eminent  traffic 
managers  of  the  railroad  world. 

An  important  factor  in  the  development  of  this  great  rail- 
road system  was  that  watchdog  of  the  treasury,  Capt.  John  H. 
Sharp,  now  of  Atlanta. 

When,  in  1862,  the  Seaboard  and  the  Raleigh  and  Gaston  Rail- 
road bought  of  Capt.  D.  R.  Murchison  the  controlling  interest 
in  the  Carolina  Central  Railroad  stock,  Capt.  John  H.  Sharp, 
formerly  of  Norfolk,  was  employed  by  Mr.  John  M.  Robinson, 
president,  to  take  up  his  residence  in  Wilmington  and  proceed 
to  open  up  a  new  set  of  books,  in  order  to  make  the  accounts  of 
the  Carolina  Central  correspond  with  those  of  the  parent  roads. 
On  the  retirement  by  reason  of  physical  infirmities  of  Treasurer 
James  Andrews,  Captain  Sharp,  who  had  been  the  secretary  of 
the  company,  was  chosen  treasurer  to  succeed  him.  On  July  2, 
1893,  when  the  headquarters  of  the  Seaboard  System  were  moved 
to  Portsmouth,  Va.,  the  treasury  departments  of  all  roads  of  the 
system  were  consolidated,  and  upon  the  recommendation  of 
Mr.  M.  V.  Chambliss,  treasurer  of  the  Seaboard,  Captain  Sharp 
was  chosen  treasurer  of  all  roads  of  the  system,  which  necessi- 


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tated  his  leaving  Wilmington.  While  a  resident  here  he  fra- 
ternized with  our  prominent  citizens,  and  it  was  a  matter  of 
sincere  regret  upon  the  part  of  all  that  a  separation  took  place. 
From  that  time  until  now  he  has  felt  an  interest  in  Wilmington 
as  great  as  when  a  resident  here.  This  is  manifested  by  his 
annual  visits.  When  in  January,  1904,  Mr.  T.  F.  Ryan  ob- 
tained control  of  the  Seaboard  system.  Captain  Sharp  and  his 
colleagues  were  not  reelected  to  their  respective  positions.  That 
Captain  Sharp's  services  with  the  company  were  appreciated, 
however,  is  manifest  by  the  fact  that  his  name  is  still  retained 
on  the  pay  roll  of  the  system. 


HUGH  MACRAE'S  ACTIVITIES. 

A  remarkable  family  to  whom  Wilmington  owes  much  is  the 
MacRae  family.  In  1770  Roderick  MacRae,  called  Ruari  Doun 
(Brown  Roderick),  landed  at  Wihnington  and  went  to  Chatham 
County,  where  he  married  Catherine  Burke.  One  of  their  sons, 
Colin,  married  Christian  Black,  of  Cumberland  County,  and 
their  eldest  son,  Alexander,  in  1824,  when  about  eighteen  years 
of  age  settled  in  Wilmington,  where  for  three  generations  the 
MacRaes  have  led  in  enterprises  of  importance  to  the  com- 
munity. The  first  of  the  name  in  Wilmington,  Alexander,  long 
known  as  Gen.  Alexander  MacRae,  was  a  leader  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad.  To  the  intelli- 
gence and  enterprise  of  one  of  his  sons.  Col.  John  MacRae, 
chairman  of  the  building  committee,  was  diiefly  due  the  erection 
of  our  beautiful  City  Hall,  one  of  the  finest  examples  of  classic 
architecture  in  the  South.  Another  son,  Donald  MacRae,  was 
for  fifty  years  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  town,  ever 
promoting  what  was  for  its  advantage,  and  his  example  has  been 
followed  by  his  two  sons,  Donald  and  Hugh. 

Of  Hugh  MacRae  it  is  to  be  said  that  of  all  the  men  of  public 
spirit  who  have  labored  to  advance  the  interest  of  the  Cape  Fear, 
he  is  entitled  to  preeminence.  A  philosopher  has  said  that  the 
man  who  plants  a  tree  is  a  public  benefactor.  Of  how  much 
greater  service  to  mankind  is  he  who  plants  a  colony  of  small 
farmers  in  a  wilderness  of  waste  land,  and  by  the  application  of 
modem  scientific  methods  makes  that  wilderness  blossom  and 
bear  fruit  and  food  products  a  hundredfold !  This  Hugh  Mac- 
Rae has  accomplished,  adding  immensely  to  the  debt  of  grati- 


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676  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

tude  which  the  community  owes  to  those  whose  name  he  so 
worthily  bears  for  their  public  spirit  and  commendable  enter- 
prise. 

For  a  number  of  years  it  was  Mr.  MacRae's  wish  to  secure 
immigrants  to  be  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington,  and 
eventually  he  was  able  to  establish  five  colonies,  with  about  three 
hundred  people  in  each.  He  colonized  Italians  at  St.  Helena, 
Hungarians  and  Hollanders  at  Castle  Haynes,  Poles  at  Mara- 
thon, Germans  at  Newberlin,  and  Hollanders  and  Poles  at 
Artesia.  Americans  and  some  of  other  nationalities  also  have 
been  located  at  Castle  Haynes  and  at  Artesia.  This  enterprise 
has  now  passed  beyond  the  experimental  stage  and  is  a  pro- 
nounced success.  It  is  a  monument  to  the  sagacity  and  perse- 
verance of  Mr.  MacRae,  and,  in  accomplishing  what  has  been 
achieved,  despite  great  obstacles,  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  real- 
izing that  he  has  been  a  benefactor  to  his  community. 

Thb  Watbb  Power  Company. 

Another  of  Mr.  MacRae's  enterprises  has  been  of  the  utmost 
importance.  No  city  can  realize  its  greatest  development  with- 
out good  public  utilities,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  Wil- 
mington's period  of  greatest  progress  has  been  coincident  with 
the  organization  and  development  of  the  Consolidated  Railways 
Light  and  Power  Company,  and  its  successor,  the  Tide  Water 
Power  Company.  The  first  public  utility  company  of  this  city 
was  the  Wilmington  Gas  Light  Company,  organized  in  1854, 
Edward  Kidder,  president,  and  John  Mcllhenny,  superintend- 
ent. Mr.  Richard  J.  Jones  was  elected  treasurer  on  Friday, 
November  13,  1868,  and  today,  after  nearly  half  a  century  in 
the  service  of  this  corporation  and  its  successors,  he  is  the  active 
treasurer  of  the  Tide  Water  Power  Company.  During  the  early 
years,  gas  was  made  from  lightwood,  and  at  one  time  com- 
manded a  price  of  ten  dollars  per  thousand.  In  1888  the  Wil- 
mington Electric  Light  Company,  which  had  operated  a  street 
lighting  system  with  electric  arc  lights  for  a  couple  of  years, 
developed  such  an  amount  of  competitive  activity  as  to  bring 
about  its  purchase  by  the  Wilmington  Gas  Light  Company. 
Later,  the  gas  company  b^an  to  furnish  incandescent  lighting, 
but  finally  terminated  its  career  in  1902,  when  it  was  absorbed 
by  the  Consolidated  Railways  Light  and  Power  Company. 

Among  the  other  public  utilities  which  subsequently  formed 


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part  of  the  Tide  Water  Power  Company,  was  the  Wihnington 
Street  Railway  Company,  organized  as  a  horse-car  line  in  1887, 
and  purchased  in  1892  by  Northern  capitalists,  who  changed  the 
motive  power  from  horses  to  electricity  and  built  the  dummy 
line  which  has  since  been  a  large  factor  in  the  growth  of  the  city. 
This  line  for  handling  freight  traverses  the  water  front  and 
affords  a  cheap  and  efficient  delivery  direct  to  the  large  jobbers 
and  wholesalers.  The  entire  property,  after  a  series  of  finan- 
cial troubles,  finally  failed  in  1901,  and  was  disposed  of  at  a 
receiver's  sale. 

A  third  company,  built  in  the  period  of  activity  which  pre- 
ceded the  Baring  Brothers'  [London,  Eng.]  failure  in  1893, 
was  the  Seacoast  Railway.  This  road  was  designed  to  connect 
Wilmington  and  Wrightsville  Sound.  It  began  operations  in 
1888,  with  William  Latimer  as  president.  In  1902,  through 
the  efforts  of  Mr.  Hugh  MacRae,  these  three  properties  were 
brought  together  in  an  organization  called  the  Consolidated 
Railways  Light  and  Power  Company,  later  known  as  the  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  Hugh  MacRae,  president ;  A.  B.  Skeld- 
ing,  general  manager;  M.  F.  H.  Gouvemeur,  W.  B.  Cooper, 
J.  V.  Grainger,  H.  C.  McQueen,  C.  N.  Evans,  Oscar  Pearsall, 
Jurgen  Haar,  J.  G.  L.  Gieschen,  Edouard  Ahrens,  C.  E.  Tay- 
lor, jr.,  Junius  Davis,  George  R.  French,  G.  Herbert  Smith, 
and  C.  W.  Worth,  directors.  Owned  locally  and  managed  by 
officials  who  have  long  been  identified  with  home  interests,  this 
corporation  enjoys  a  public  confidence  which  in  itself  consti- 
tutes a  valuable  asset.  From  the  wrecks  of  three  imsuccessful 
enterprises  has  been  built  a  property  which,  in  efficiency  and 
good  service,  ranks  with  the  best  in  the  country ;  and  in  addition 
it  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  public  service  corpo- 
ration in  the  South  whose  common  stock  is  entirely  held  in  its 
home  town. 

All  the  electric  railway,  electric  light,  electric  power  and 
gas  systems  not  only  in  the  city  of  Wilmington  but  in  all  New 
Hanover  County  are  owned  and  operated  by  this  company,  and 
its  success  is  due  chiefly  to  the  enterprise  and  excellent  manage- 
ment of  Hugh  MacRae. 


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678  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 


THE  RIVER  COUNTIES. 

The  sixteen  countieB  from  Onslow  to  Richmond  constitute 
what  has  long  been  known  as  the  Cape  Fear  country.  From 
their  first  settlement  the  inhabitants  of  these  counties  have  been 
allied  in  business  and  social  interests,  and  their  association  has 
been  so  close  that  their  history  is  largely  inter-related. 

The  Upper  Cape  Fear  having  been  settled  principally  by 
Highland  Scotsmen,  whose  descendants  still  remain  near  where 
their  forefathers  foimd  a  home,  the  predominating  strain  in 
that  region  is  Scotch.  Lower  down,  the  settlers  were  chiefly 
English  and  Scotch-Irish. 

Since  the  Revolution  there  have  been  no  considerable  acces- 
sions from  abroad,  and  the  development  has  been  through  in- 
ternal growth,  which  was  very  slow  during  those  decades  when 
so  many  North  Carolinians  were  migrating  to  the  new  lands  of 
the  South  and  West.  But  on  the  cessation  of  that  migration 
population  b^an  to  thicken,  and  industries  have  been  diversi- 
fied to  the  great  advantage  of  the  entire  region.  Indeed,  the 
development  of  all  the  counties  of  the  Cape  Fear  country  has 
been  most  gratifying,  and,  while  every  township  has  reason  to 
rejoice  in  its  social  and  material  improvement,  the  uplift  of  the 
region  has  had  a  potent  influence  on  the  centres  of  trade.  Espe- 
cially has  Wilmington  felt  the  beneficial  effects  in  the  enlarge- 
ment of  its  business  and  the  strengthening  of  its  financial  re- 
sources, and  in  its  increasing  importance  as  an  entrepot  of 
foreign  and  domestic  commerce.  While  it  is  beyond  the  com- 
pass of  this  volume  to  describe  the  historical  events  of  the  entire 
region,  whose  history  is  so  full  of  interest  and  sudi  a  source  of 
pride  to  the  inhabitants,  yet  the  writer  can  not  omit  some  slight 
mention  of  the  river  counties,  Cumberland,  Bladen,  and  Bruns- 
wick. New  Hanover  was  laid  off  from  Bath  in  1729,  and  five 
years  later  Bladen  was  laid  off,  extending  indefinitely  to  the 
west  and  reaching  the  Virginia  line  to  the  north.  Bladen  was 
named  for  one  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  which 
had  charge  of  the  colonies,  who  was  personally  interested  in 
North  Carolina,  as  he  owned  lands  in  Albemarle  and  his  son- 
in-law.  Colonel  Rice,  had  made  his  home  on  the  Cape  Fear. 
Bladen,  so  vast  in  extent,  in  time  became  the  mother  of  coun- 
ties. Its  western  and  northern  territory,  clear  to  the  Virginia 
line,  was,  in  1749,  erected  into  a  county  called  Anson.    Then, 


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Peace  Restored  679 

five  years  later,  Cumberland  County  was  likewise  cut  off  from 
Bladen.  After  the  Kevolution  another  part  was  taken  off  and 
called  Eobeson,  in  honor  of  one  of  Bladen's  heroes.  Finally,  in 
1808,  a  slice  of  Bladen,  added  to  a  part  of  Brunswick,  became 
Columbus. 

Cumberland  was  for  many  years  a  very  large  county,  but  in 
1784  Moore  County  was  cut  off  from  it,  and  in  1855  Harnett ; 
and,  more  recently,  Hoke  was  formed  from  parts  of  Cumber- 
land and  Bobeson. 

While  Bladen  and  Cumberland  were  so  extensive  they  played 
a  most  important  part  in  &e  stirring  events  that  mark  the  his- 
tory of  the  Cape  Fear.  During  the  Kevolution  the  inhabitants 
were  much  divided,  many  adhering  to  the  government  under 
which  they  had  lived  and  to  which  they  felt  that  their  allegiance 
was  due.  But  in  both  counties  there  were  ardent  Whigs,  and 
civil  war  at  times  raged,  with  deplorable  consequences.  No 
Whigs  were  more  determined  than  those  of  Bladen  and  Cimiber- 
land,  and  battles  were  fought  in  each  county,  some  account  be- 
ing given  elsewhere  of  the  Battle  of  Elizabethtown. 

After  the  Revolution,  Fayetteville,  being  at  the  head  of  navi- 
gation, became  the  market  for  western  products  and  the  dis- 
tributing point  for  imported  goods,  needed  even  beyond  the 
mountains.  Its  importance  was  so  fully  recognized  that  the 
Legislature  held  sessions  there,  and  it  was  regarded  as  the  natu- 
ral point  for  the  State  capital.  Although  improperly  deprived 
of  this  advantage,  Fayetteville  continued  to  flourish,  becoming 
in  many  respects  the  most  important  center  in  the  State.  There 
was  to  be  found  one  of  the  most  elegant  social  circles  in  the 
State,  and  her  citizens  were  foremost  in  enterprises.  In  1818 
they  started  the  steamer  Henrietta  to  run  on  regular  schedule 
between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville,  and  they  led  in  the  erec- 
tion of  mills  to  make  paper  and  cotton  goods. 

From  the  beginning  Cumberland  could  boast  of  many  fami- 
lies of  superior  intelligence,  virtue,  and  refinement,  and  the  pas- 
sage of  time  has  only  added  to  its  high  reputation  in  this  regard. 
The  men  of  Cumberland  were  ever  the  equals  of  the  best  in  the 
State — the  Hays,  Rowans,  Groves,  Eccleses,  Mallets,  Donald- 
sons, Winslows,  McAllisters,  McQueens,  Campbells,  Murchi- 
sons.  Smiths,  McNeills,  McCormicks,  McDearmids,  Bethunes, 
Cochrans,  Dobbins,  Henrys,  MacRaes,  Camerons,  Rays,  Hales, 
Steeles,  Shepherds,  Stranges,  Shaws,  McLaughlins,  Robinsons, 
Tillinghasts,  Halls,  Worths,  HaighB,   Huskes,  Kyles,  Cooks, 


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680  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Curries,  Stedmans,  Williamses,  Fullers,  Hinsdales,  Broadfoots, 
Starrs,  Roses,  Underwoods,  and  many  others  of  equal  impor- 
tance. 

Particular  mention  is  to  be  made  of  Hon.  James  C.  Dobbin, 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  Cape  Fear,  noted  for 
his  purity,  gentleness,  and  wholly  admirable  character,  as  he 
was  for  his  exceptional  attainments  and  rare  oratorical  powers. 

Mr.  Dobbin  was  Secretary  of  the  Navy  from  1853  to  1857, 
and  under  his  direction  the  naval  service  was  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  efficiency,  and  the  navy  was  greatly  improved  by  the 
introduction  of  more  effective  armaments  and  by  the  addition 
of  some  of  the  finest  war  vessels  in  the  world.  He  ever  had  at 
heart  the  improvement  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  resources  and  commerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  section. 

While  the  first  settlements  on  the  river  were  made  on  its 
western  side  and  planters  located  well  up  into  Bladen,  it  was 
not  until  1764  that  Brunswick  County  was  cut  off  from  New 
Hanover.  Among  those  early  planters  were  the  Moores,  Halls, 
Howes,  Davises,  Granges,  Watterses,^  Hasells,  Ancrums,  Camp- 
bells, Waddells,  Hills,  and  others  who  were  prosperous  and  for- 
timate  in  their  surroimdings.  They  constituted  a  large  element 
in  the  social  life  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  exerted  a  potent  influence 
on  political  movements. 

When  the  town  of  Old  Brunswick  dwindled  away,  there  was 
no  other  town  in  the  county.  The  county  seat  was  at  first 
established  at  Lockwood's  Folly,  but  in  1805  the  courthouse  was 
removed  to  Smithville,  where  many  of  the  old  families,  while 
retaining  their  plantations,  built  commodious  and  handsome 
residences. 

In  after  years,  other  families  likewise  have  been  prominent — 
the  Smiths,  Leonards,  Bakers,  Laspeyres,  Meareses,  Browns, 
Russells,  Everitts,  Langdons,  Bellamys,  Frinks,  Prioleaus,  Tay- 
lors, Curtises,  Galloways,  and  others  who  have  maintained  the 
high  repute  of  their  predecessors. 

Of  Dr.  Walter  Gilman  Curtis  some  particular  mention  should 
be  made.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth,  and  received  his  medical  diploma  at  Harvard..    He 

iln  Book  E,  New  Hanover  County  Records,  is  a  deed  from  Schenking 
Moore  to  Richard  Eagles  (1763),  in  which  it  is  recited  that  Landgrave 
Thomas  Smith  and  his  wife  Mary  conveyed  to  William  Watters  700 
acres  of  land  opposite  the  Junction  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  part  of  the  grant  of  48,000  acres  made  to  Landgrave  Smith 
in  1691. 


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settled  at  Smithville  in  1847  and  soon  became  the  leading  prac- 
titioner of  that  vicinity.  During  the  War  between  the  States 
he  thoroughly  sympathized  with  the  South^  and  for  a  time  acted 
as  surgeon  to  the  Confederate  troops  at  Smithville.  For  thirty 
years  he  was  the  quarantine  oflScer  of  the  port,  and  he  discharged 
his  duties  with  rare  intelligence  and  great  acceptability.  His 
official  reports  are  very  valuable.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual 
attainments,  and  his  spotless  character  and  admirable  social 
characteristics  endeared  him  to  his  friends.  In  1900  he  pub- 
lished a  volimie  of  Beminiscences  of  unusual  merit,  thus  adding 
to  the  literature  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  and  preserving  mem- 
ories that  were  fast  passing  into  oblivion.  Dr.  Curtis  won  for 
himself  an  enviable  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  contemporaries 
because  of  a  life  well  spent,  always  devoted  to  the  betterment  of 
surroundings  and  the  elevation  of  humanity. 

The  Galloways  are  a  family  that  should  also  be  particularly 
mentioned.  Samuel  Oalloway,  along  with  his  brother,  Corne- 
lius, about  the  year  1750  emigrated  from  County  Galloway, 
Scotland,  and  made  his  home  on  Lockwood's  Folly  River.  The 
descendants  of  Samuel  Galloway  have  always  been  men  of 
ability  and  strong  influence.  Years  ago  several  members  of 
this  family  located  at  Smithville,  but  they  have  never  ceased  to 
hold  their  influence  in  the  county,  Mr.  Rufus  Galloway  being 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county  in  this  generation.  When 
Major  Swift  was  constructing  Fort  Caswell,  Mr.  John  Wesley 
Galloway  was  employed  under  him,  and  a  warm  attachment 
arose  from  their  intercourse.  When  the  war  came  on,  although 
over  age  for  active  service,  Mr.  John  Galloway  organized  the 
Coast  Guard  Company  and  rendered  valuable  service.  He  died 
of  yellow  fever  during  the  war.  His  son,  Capt.  Swift  Galloway, 
named  for  Major  Swift,  was  a  splendid  soldier  and  was  greatly 
esteemed  for  his  talents  and  high  integrity  in  public  life.  He 
frequently  represented  Greene  County  in  the  Legislature.  Maj. 
Andrew  Jackson  Galloway,  of  Goldsboro,  was  another  scion  of 
this  family.  He  had  the  perfect  respect  and  confidence  of  an 
extensive  circle  of  friends  and  was  an  esteemed  officer  of  the 
Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad  Company.  All  of  the  Gallo- 
ways who  were  old  enough  to  shoulder  a  musket  served  in  the 
Confederate  Army.  Particular  mention  should,  however,  be 
made  of  John  W.  Galloway,  who  became  a  captain  of  artillery, 
and  of  Sam  Galloway,  a  younger  brother  of  Capt.  Swift  Gallo- 
way, and  of  Dr.  W.  C.  Galloway,  of  Wilmington,  who  has 
attained  merited  prominence  in  his  profession. 


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682  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

Another  scion  of  this  Brunswick  family  is  Hon.  Charles  Milla 
Galloway,  whose  fine  talents  and  high  character  led  to  his  being 
selected  by  President  Wilson  as  one  of  the  three  Civil  Service 
Commissioners  of  the  United  States.  He  has  added  honors  to 
the  name  he  bears  so  worthily.  He  was  bom  in  Pender  County, 
August  15,  1875,  and  attained  prominence  as  a  member  of  the 
South  Carolina  press.  His  father,  James  M.  Galloway,  was 
a  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  Foyes  &  Galloway,  in  Wil- 
mington, and  clerk  of  Pender  County.  All  through  life  he  has 
been  most  highly  esteemed. 

Another  descendant  of  Samuel  (Jalloway — ^in  the  fourth  gen- 
eration— ^was  Bishop  Charles  Betts  Galloway,  of  Mississippi, 
who  was  more  widely  known  than  any  other  bishop  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  of  his  time.  He  was  one  of  the  greatest  orators  of 
the  South,  and  was  a  man  of  unsurpassed  power  and  influence. 
Thousands  flocked  to  hear  him  preach. 

A  review  of  prominent  persons  of  Brunswick  County  who 
have  served  well  their  day  and  generation  in  public  and  private 
life  would  be  incomplete  without  the  mention  of  one  of  her  fair 
daughters  whose  honored  name,  Kate  Stuart,  has  been  for  many 
years  a  synonym  for  goodness  and  mercy  and  loving^kindness  in 
the  hearts  and  homes  of  the  Cape  Fear  people.  Of  rare  intel- 
lectual gifts  and  fine  executive  ability,  her  accurate  knowledge 
of  historical  events  and  her  wise  counsel  in  local  affairs  have 
made  her  an  authority  on  important  local  questions,  and  the 
charm  of  her  conversation  has  added  much  to  the  enjoyment  of 
those  who  are  favored  by  her  hospitality. 

Bladen,  imlike  Cumberland,  possessed  no  central  settlement 
of  overshadowing  local  importance,  its  principal  inhabitants 
living  on  their  plantations.  William  Bartram,  Joseph  Clark, 
Robert  Howe,  Hugh  Waddell,  William  McBee,  John  Grange, 
John  Gibbs,  Thomas  Robeson,  William  Salter,  Thomas  Owen, 
James  Council,  General  Brown  and  Major  Porterfield,  in  their 
generation,  were  among  the  first  men  in  the  province. 

In  after  years  the  McRees,  McNeills,  McKays,  Owens,  Gil- 
laspies.  Browns,  Wrights,  McMillans,  Gilmoree,  Melvins,  Lyons, 
McDowells,  Purdies,  McCullochs,  and  Cromarties,  proved  tiiem- 
selves  equal  to  the  best,  and  some  attained  national  reputations. 
General  McKay  and  Governor  Owen  ranked  high  among  the 
public  men  of  their  day. 

-While  the  development  of  these  particular  coxmties  has  been 
of  great  advantage  to  Wilmington,  so  also  has  the  prosperity  of 


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Peace  Restored  683 

each  of  the  Cape  Fear  counties  been  of  decided  influence,  and 
with  pride  we  witness  their  substantial  improvement  and  realize 
that  in  their  continued  prosperity  Wilmington  has  a  better  hope 
of  greater  growth  and  importance  in  the  years  to  come. 


THE  GKOWTH  OF  WILMINGTON. 

Coincident  with  the  river  improvement,  there  has  been  a 
gratifying  increase  in  the  business  of  the  city  of  Wilmington. 
While  one  of  the  largest  factors  in  this  splendid  growth  has  been 
the  development  of  the  trucking  industry,  yet  much  is  to  be 
attributed  to  the  increased  commerce  of  the  port.  To  the  truck- 
ing industry  may  be  ascribed  a  considerable  proportion  of  the 
large  bank  deposits,  and  the  general  diffusion  of  prosperity ;  but 
the  remarkable  increase  in  commerce  speaks  for  itself  and  gives 
an  assurance  of  the  future  importance  of  the  city. 

During  the  eighty  years  from  1829  to  June,  30,  1909,  there 
had  been  spent  on  the  river  below  Wilmington  $4,328,000,  and 
the  total  annual  commerce  at  the  end  of  that  period  was  864,071 
tons,  of  the  value  of  $49,753,175.  For  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1910,  there  was  expended  for  river  improvement  $400,000,  and 
the  value  of  the  commerce  rose  to  $52,214,254.  At  the  end  of 
the  year,  Jime  30,  1913,  there  had  been  a  total  expenditure  of 
$5,368,000,  and  the  tonnage  had  risen  in  1912  to  1,072,205 
tons,  and  the  commerce  for  the  year  was  $60,863,344.  The 
exports  were  to  eight  foreign  countries — Germany,  France,  Eng- 
land, Italy,  Belgium,  Spain,  Haiti,  and  Chile,  while  there  were 
imports  from  ten  foreign  countries.  For  the  year  ending  June 
30,  1914,  the  imports  from  foreign  countries  were  $4,194,745, 
as  against  $3,460,419  in  1913;  and  the  exports  to  foreign  coun- 
tries were  $25,870,851,  as  against  $19,510,926  in  1913,  show- 
ing an  improvement  of  about  one-third  in  both  exports  and  im- 
ports in  one  year.  At  the  close  of  the  year,  June  30,  1915,  a 
total  expenditure  of  $5,974,868.48  had  been  made,  and  the 
results  seem  to  justify  it.  The  increased  depth  of  water  to 
twenty-six  feet  is  having  its  expected  effect  on  our  commerce. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal,  it  is  expected  that  a 
new  impetus  will  be  given  to  the  commerce  of  the  port  because 
of  the  natural  advantages  of  the  situation,  Wilmington  being 
south  of  Hatteras,  only  1,552  miles  from  Panama,  and  having 
superior  railroad  facilities,  with  connections  uniting  the  great 


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684  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

marts  of  the  interior  States.  Thus  there  is  reason  to  hope^  with 
entire  confidence,  for  even  a  larger  development  than  that  of  the 
last  few  years,  gratifying  as  that  has  been. 

In  1914  the  total  taxable  city  property,  per  assessment,  was 
$14,472,564.  In  1915,  it  was  $17,273,425,  the  increase  exceed- 
ing 26  per  cent.  The  estimated  values  show  even  a  greater  in- 
crease, being  from  $27,000,000  to  $33,000,000.  From  1910  to 
1916  banking  capital  increased  from  $1,922,716  to  $2,561,- 
636.14;  bank  deposits  rose  from  $9,292,088  to  $11,688,675.57, 
and  banking  resources  aggregate  $15,557,277.47. 

It  has  only  been  in  recent  years  that  the  jobbing  business  has 
had  a  fair  chance  for  development;  but,  with  the  removal  of 
obstacles,  the  enterprise  of  the  Wilmington  merchants  at  once 
brought  results.  In  1910  the  jobbing  trade  had  risen  by  leaps 
to  $50,000,000,  and  in  1913  it  was  estimated  at  $70,000,000. 
With  the  new  conditions  and  the  rapid  growth  of  interior  mar- 
kets, due  to  the  wonderful  prosperity  of  the  country  within  the 
reach  of  Wilmington,  these  figures  are  destined  to  be  speedily 
multiplied. 

While  manufactures  are  still  in  their  infancy,  yet  they  are 
varied  in  nature,  chiefly,  however,  cotton  goods,  lumber  and 
woodwork  of  many  kinds,  and  fertilizers.  In  1913,  Wilmington 
shipped  263,000  tons  of  fertilizers.  In  1914,  17,100  carloads, 
or  282,150  tons,  were  shipped.  This  was  a  record  year  for  the 
industry  at  this  port.  In  1915  the  total  shipment  of  fertilizer 
was  11,587  cars,  the  decrease  resulting  from  adverse  conditions 
caused  by  the  European  War,  and  is  considered  a  good  showing 
under  the  circumstances. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  just  north  of  the  Hilton  Bridge, 
on  the  Northeast,  three  large  fertilizer  factories  are  located,  as 
well  as  the  Camp  Manufacturing  Sawmill.  These  have  a  water 
traffic  of  165,000  tons,  valued  at  $2,271,849,  and  this  in  spite 
of  the  existing  disadvantage  of  a  shallow  stream.  While  vessels 
drawing  twenty-six  feet  of  water  can  reach  the  bridge,  north  of 
the  bridge  the  river  widens  rapidly,  so  that  within  the  distance 
of  half  a  mile  the  width  of  fifteen  hundred  feet  is  reached,  and 
then  for  a  mile  and  a  half  it  narrows  to  a  normal  width  of  six 
hundred  feet.  In  this  wide  stretch  the  channel  is  narrow  and 
only  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  deep — entirely  insufficient  for 
the  larger  vessels  bringing  in  raw  material.  It  is  now  imder 
consideration  to  have  the  channel  widened  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet,  with  a  depth  of  twenty-two  feet,  and  when  this  is 


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Peace  Restored  685 

accomplished  that  part  of  the  river  will  become  still  more  im- 
portant. 

But  as  important  as  are  all  the  foregoing  sources  of  prosper- 
ity, the  development  of  the  export  trade  has  been  the  chief  factor 
in  the  growth  of  the  city.  The  increasing  foreign  commerce  has 
led  to  the  adoption  of  plans  for  a  more  pretentious  custom 
house ;  and  this  branch  of  our  trade  will  doubtless  be  much  bene- 
fited if  the  proposition  to  increase  the  depth  of  water  from  the 
city  over  the  bar  to  thirty-five  feet  is  carried  into  eflFect,  while 
the  coast  trade  will  receive  a  new  impulse  when  the  Coastal 
Canal  is  constructed. 


LOOKING  FOEWAKD. 

The  development  of  our  resources  since  the  War  between  the 
States  probably  surpasses  that  of  any  other  country  in  any  era 
since  the  world  began. 

Our  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington  estimated  the 
production  and  value  of  fourteen  of  our  largest  farm  crops  in 
1913  at  nine  billions  of  dollars.  The  estimate  of  our  Southern 
cotton  crop  and  its  by-products  was  one  billion  dollars.  The 
acreage  of  this  vast  wealth-producing  area  is  one-seventh  the  size 
of  Continental  United  States ;  and  yet  we  are  told  by  President 
Brown,  an  eminent  authority,  that  consumption  is  overtaking 
production  with  alarming  rapidity,  and  values  have  been  rising 
by  leaps  and  bounds ;  also,  that  gradually  improved  methods  of 
agriculture  will  increase  the  yield  per  acre,  but  the  supply  may 
never  again  catch  up  with  the  demand. 

Our  population,  now  bordering  upon  one  hundred  millions, 
must  continue  to  increase,  while  any  large  increase  in  the  area 
of  arable  land  is  a  matter  of  the  past.  Consumption  of  food- 
stuffs has  increased  in  the  past  ten  years  almost  three  times  as 
fast  as  acreage  and  almost  twice  as  fast  as  production. 

These  startling  developments  accentuate  the  importance  of 
conserving  and  utilizing  the  great  waterways  upon  which  the 
country  depends  for  the  movement  of  the  larger  proportion  of 
our  products.  Already  the  railroads  are  congested,  and  water 
transportation  becomes  increasingly  important. 

The  improvement  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  is,  therefore,  of 
momentous  significance  to  our  maritime  community  and  to  the 
State  at  large.    Increased  appropriations  should  be  systemati- 


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686  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 

cally  sought  through  the  aid  of  our  representatives  in  Congress 
for  the  greater  deepening  and  widening  of  the  ship  channel  to 
the  sea ;  for  the  building  of  stone  jetties  upon  the  shifting  sands 
of  the  Western  Bar ;  for  the  building  of  anchorage  dolphins  for 
waiting  steamers,  which  can  not  swing  to  their  anchors  in  our 
limited  harbor  basin ;  for  continuous  appropriations  to  sustain 
the  important  works  already  accomplished,  which  would  de- 
teriorate from  erosion  or  other  damage  should  the  special  appro- 
priations fail  for  a  term  of  Congress. 

In  the  year  1851,  the  foreign  exports  of  Wilmington  were 
$431,095;  in  1912  they  were  $28,705,448. 

In  1851  our  carrying  trade  employed  small  sailing  vessels, 
eighty  feet  to  two  hundred  feet  long,  of  two  himdred  to  four 
hundred  tons  net  register.  Now  it  requires  steamers  three  hun- 
dred to  four  hundred  feet  long,  of  two  thousand  to  three  thou- 
sand tons  register.  In  1851,  a  vessel  cleared  from  Wilmington 
was  a  large  carrier  if  it  could  take  one  thousand  bales  of  cotton. 
Kecently  the  steamer  Holtie  sailed  majestically  down  our  river 
laden  with  20,300  bales  of  cotton. 

Bearing  in  mind  these  changes,  consider  the  possibilities  of 
our  Cape  Fear  commerce  fifty  years  hence  I 

Hundreds  of  great  merchantmen  will  lie  at  our  docks,  taking 
in  cargoes  for  coast  trade  and  foreign  commerce ;  the  aeroplane, 
already  useful  to  man,  will  have  as  a  companion  the  hydro- 
aeroplane, skimming  the  surface  of  the  waters  at  fifty  miles  an 
hour,  transporting  passengers  and  mails  to  distant  ports — a 
veritable  handmaiden  of  commerce.  Indeed,  it  is  the  opinion 
of  many  experts  that  the  flying-boat  will  eventuaUy  become 
large  enough  for  commercial  purposes,  the  horsepower  of  its 
engines  running  into'  thousands ;  and  that  it  will  be  used  for 
pleasure,  like  the  steam  yacht  and  motor  boat.  Elsewhere  I 
have  said  that  the  traffic  of  our  blockade  running  during  the 
War  between  the  States  would  ever  be  unique  in  the  history  of 
the  world,  as  the  conditions  that  sustained  it  can  never  occur 
again.  Hereafter  it  will  be  impossible  to  maintain  an  eflFective 
blockade  because  of  the  new  instrumentalities  of  warfare.  In 
the  war  in  progress  in  Europe — ^the  greatest  war  in  human  his- 
tory— ^the  practical  value  of  the  aeroplane  and  of  the  submarine 
have  been  thoroughly  demonstrated;  and  within  a  decade  the 
flying-boat  will  likewise  become  available  both  for  commerce  and 
war.  Besides,  because  of  the  electric  searchlight,  the  tremen- 
dous range  and  accuracy  and  destructive  power  of  the  modem 


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Peace  Restored  687 

projectile,  and  because  of  the  submarine  mines,  the  torpedo 
boats,  and  other  destructive  craft  which  have  revolutionized 
warfare  in  the  past  fifty  years,  an  effective  blockade  can  not  be 
maintained. 

During  our  war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812,  an  attempt  was 
made  by  a  diving  vessel  of  the  Americans  to  destroy  the  Eamr 
Ulies,  a  ship  of  seventy-four  guns,  commanded  by  Sir  Thomas 
Hardy,  which  was  blockading  the  port  of  New  London.  That 
attempt  was  termed  "a  most  atrocious  proceeding,"  and  Sir 
Thomas  adopted  a  very  ingenious  plan  for  preventing  any  fur- 
ther attack  being  made  on  his  ship  by  this  diving  vessel.  He 
ordered  one  hundred  American  prisoners  of  war  to  be  brought 
on  board  his  ship,  and  then  notified  their  Government  that  in 
the  event  of  the  EamUlies  being  torpedoed  those  persons  would 
share  the  fate  of  himself  and  his  crew.  The  friends  and  rela- 
tives of  the  prisoners  were  so  alarmed  at  the  threats  of  Sir 
Thomas  that  public  meetings  were  held,  and  petitions  presented 
to  the  American  Government  to  induce  its  Executive  to  pro- 
hibit the  use  of  the  diving  vessel  and  its  armament  in  future 
naval  warfare. 

When  we  recall  this  incident  and  compare  conditions  with 
those  of  today,  we  realize  that  there  is  no  limit  to  the  changes 
that  time  will  bring.  But  we  know  that  whatever  comes — what-" 
ever  progress  is  made — ^the  enterprising  people  of  the  Cape 
Fear  will  utilize  every  new  instrumentality  to  make  sure  their 
safety  and  to  secure  their  prosperity  and  welfare. 


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Index 

Owing  to  the  lengtli  of  the  Cape  Fear  roster,  the  names  are  not  all  in- 
dexed individually  elsewhere,  but  are  covered  by  the  entry  Cape  Fear 
Camp,  U.  C.  V.  Captains  of  Wilmington  military  companies  will  be  found 
grouped  on  page  273,  and  Wilmington  business  and  professional  men  of 
1850  on  pages  198-200.  Both  are  entered  in  the  index  under  Wilmington, 
and  not  all  names  in  either  group  are  entered  individually. 

Sketches  of  -  ministers,  if  any,  will,  in  most  cases,  be  found  under 
Churches,  of  teachers  under  Schools,  and  of  editors  under  Newspapers,  but 
ministers,  teachers,  and  editors  are  all  indexed  individually,  and  remarks 
on,  if  of  sufficient  length  or  importance,  are  mentioned  under  the  indi- 
vidual entry. 

Where  the  entries  contain  descriptive  matter,  if  there  are  page  numbers 
following  the  last  semicolon  and  not  separated  from  it  by  description,  the 
word  "mentioned"  should  be  understood,  as  these  numbers  refer  to  pages 
on  which  the  subject  is  merely  mentioned,  though  often  in  interesting 
connection. 


Abbot,  Gen.  J.  C,  644. 

Acts  pertaining  to  the  Cape  Fear. 
Allowing  Wilmington  and  Ral- 
leigh  R.  R.  to  mortgage  the  road 
for  rehabilitation  (1849),  152; 
appropriating  for  Cape  Fear 
River  lights  (1911),  521;  appro- 
priating  for  Cape  Fear  River 
lights  (1912),  521;  appropri- 
ating for  Frying.  Pan  light 
vessel  (1908),  519;  appropri- 
ating for  improvement  of  upper 
Cape  Fear  River  (1910),  532; 
appropriating  for  moving  ob- 
structions at  the  mouth  of 
Brunswick  River  (1902),  13; 
creating  Board  of  Audit  and 
Finance  for  Wilmington  (1877), 
549;  creating  "Literary  Fund" 
(1825),  658;  creating  Police  and 
Fire  Commission  for  Wilming- 
ton (1909),  549;  creating  Street 
and  Water  and  Sewerage  Com- 
missions for  Wilmington  (1907), 
549;  dealing  with  possible  fires 
(1771),  143;  establishing  com- 
mon schoolB  in  North  Carolina 


44 


Acts,  continued, 

(1842),  174;  "for  the  better 
regulation  of  the  town  of  Wil- 
mington" (1842),  174;  giving  a 
part  of  Market  Street  to  St 
James's  Church  (1751),  606;  in- 
corporating Wilmington  (1739), 
46-49,  591;  incorporating  Wil- 
mington and  Raleigh  R.  R. 
(1834),  150,  194;  providing  for 
free  schools  in  every  county 
(1839),  658;  seceding  from  the 
Union  (1861),  280;  securing 
eleven  city  blocks  for  park  and 
school  purposes  (1910),  665; 
setting  up  Smithville  (1792),  54. 

Adams,  Charles  L.,  249,  250. 

Adams,  Rev.  O.  T.,  631. 

Adkins,  Samuel,  141. 

Adventure,  ship  of  explorers  of  1663, 
30,  31. 

Agostini,!  F.  M.,  169. 

Ahrens,  Edouard,  677. 

Alabama  Claims  settlement,  478. 

Alabama,  Confederate  cruiser,  403, 
478. 

Alamance,  Battle  of,  88, 118. 


iThii  iboaki  be  Agostini  In  the  int. 


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Albemarle,  colonists  from,  settle  in 
Cape  F^r,  39. 

Albemarle,  Confederate  ram,  282. 

Albemarle,  Duke  of,  Lord  Proprie- 
tor, 3. 

Alderman,  Dr.  E.  A.,  educational 
campaign  of,  662. 

Alexander,  Cbarles  M.,  617. 

Alexander,  Rey.  M.  C,  637. 

Allen,  Captain,  master  of  a  priva- 
teer, 65. 

Allen,  Chief  Justice  Eleazar,  active 
in  defence  against  Spaniards, 
50;  appointed  commissioner  to 
assist  in  erecting  Ft  Johnston, 
53;  death  of,  60;  inscription  on 
tomb  of,  60;  library  of,  81;  resi- 
dence of,  41,  57,  142. 

Allen,  James,  141. 

Allen,  Mrs.,  65. 

Allen,  W.  A.,  252. 

Alsaps,  O.  B.,  213. 

Alston,  Gov.  Joseph,  65. 

Alston,  Col.  William,  65. 

Ames,  Gen.  Adelbert  (Federal),  497. 

Ancrum,  John,  active  in  resisting 
Stamp  Act,  92;  Justice  County 
Court  (1776),  186;  member  Wil- 
mington Committee  of  Safety, 
8,  111;  promotes  Revolutionary 
Convention,  110;  residence  of, 
57. 

Anderson,  Alexander,  commissioner 
of  schools,  174;  director  W.  and 
W.  R.  R.,  150-152;  magistrate  of 
police,  177;  sketch  ot  180;  615. 

Anderson,  Dr.  Edward  A.,  business 
Interests  of,  183;  180. 

Anderson,  Gen.  George  B.,  death  of, 
72. 

Anderson,  Capt.  James,  193,  213. 

Anderson,  Gen.  Joseph  R.,  com- 
mands district  of  Cape  Fear, 
281. 

Andrea,  T.,  535. 

Andrews,  Colonel,  194. 

Andrews.  James,  treasurer  Seaboard 
system,  674. 

Andrews,  W.  S.  G.,  170. 

Angomar,  J.,  141. 


Anthony  Milan's  Launch  (poem), 
460,  461. 

Armfleld,  Gen.  J.  F.,  Adj.  Gen.  of  the 
State,  541. 

Armstrong,  Capt  Edward  H.,  sketch 
of,  310;  346. 

Armstrong,  Thomas  J.,  commia- 
sioner  of  schools,  174. 

Arnold,  Isaac,  141. 

Ashe,  Dr.  Alexander,  military  serv- 
ice of,  308. 

Ashe,  Cincinnatus,  death  ot  65. 

Ashe,  Capt  John,  Jr.,  120. 

Ashe,  Gen.  John,  active  in  military 
defence  of  the  Cape  Fear,  113; 
addresses  the  King  in  behalf  of 
free  schools,  655;  colonel  of 
militia,  119;  death  of,  65;  de- 
fends Brunswick,  50;  Imprison- 
ment of,  65;  leads  in  resistance 
to  Stamp  Act,  53,  54,  97,  99; 
library  of,  81;  major  general, 
120;  member  New  Hanover 
County  Committee  of  Safety, 
111;  popular  leader,  76;  resi- 
dence of,  92;  speaker  of  the 
Assembly,  95. 

Ashe,  John  Baptista,  residence  of, 
57;  will  of,  655. 

Ashe,  Col.  John  Baptista,  elected 
governor,  64;  Revolutionary 
officer,  120. 

Ashe,  MaJ.  John  Grange,  sketch  of, 
308. 

Ashe,  Paoli,  father  of  Hon.  Thomas 
S.,  64. 

Ashe,  Mrs.  Rosa  H.,  613. 

Ashe,  Capt  Samuel  A.,  address  by, 
91-100;  appointed  lieutenant  of 
artillery,  281;  elected  to  the 
Assembly,  336;  presents  Hon. 
George  Davis'  portrait  to  the 
Supreme  Court  571;  quoted,  14, 
24,  25,  564;  sketch  of,  308,  309; 
16,  17,  588. 

Ashe,  Col.  Samuel,  residence  of,  67, 
68;  Revolutionary  officer,  120; 
son  of  CU>vemor  Ashe,  64,  66. 

Ashe,  Gov.  Samuel,  elected  governor, 
64;   executor  of  Harnett  122; 


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691 


ABhe»  Gov.  Samuel,  continued. 

one  of  the  leaders  in  resisting 
Stamp  Act,  97;  member  New 
Hanover  County  (Committee  of 
Safety,  110-112;  member  North 
Carolina  Sons  of  Liberty,  106; 
residence  of,  67;  sketch  of,  67, 
76;  654. 

Ashe,  Maj.  Sam,  served  in  the  cam- 
paign at  the  North,  120. 

Ashe,  Samuel  T.,  editor,  663. 

Ashe,  Judge  Thomas  S.,  64. 

Ashe,  Col.  William  S.,  death  of,  308; 
draws  charter  N.  C.  R,  R.,  156; 
member  Congress,  146;  presi- 
dent W.  and  W.  R.  R.,  155; 
secures  appropriation  to  close 
New  Inlet,  146. 

Assembly  Hall,  description  of,  186, 
209.    See  Old  n6. 

Atkinson,  Col.  John  Wilder,  sketch 
of,  309,  310. 

Atkinson,  Bishop  Thomas,  sketch 
of,  611;  609. 

Bache,   Prof.   A.   D.,   report  of  on 

soundings    of    the    Cape    Fear 

River,  201. 
Bache,  Capt.  Hartman,  report  of  on 

Cape  Fear  River  improvements 

of  1823,  144. 
Backus,  Rev.  Mr.,  teacher,  666. 
Badham,  Capt.  William,  489. 
Baer,   George,   commands   blockade 

runner,  486. 
Bagg,  Horace,  664. 
Bagley,  Ensign  Worth,  battery  at 

Ft.  Caswell  named  for,  547. 
Bahnson,  Capt.  Henry  T.,  489. 
Bailey,  Mrs.  E.  P.,  president  North 

Carolina  Society  Colonial  Dames 

of  America,  580. 
Bailey,  James,  77. 
Bailey,  Judge  John  L.,  186. 
Bailey,  Miss,  teacher,  662. 
Baker,  Daniel  B.,  187. 
Baker,  Col.  J.  A.,  253,  368. 
Baker,  Rev.  W.  M.,  629. 
Bald  Head  Channel,   former  depth 

in,  10. 


Bald  Head  Lighthouse,  description 
of,  519;  511,520. 

Baldwin,  O.  S.,  253. 

Baldwin,  Simeon,  615. 

Baliol,  Scotch  brig,  brought  many 
settlers  to  Cape  Fear,  39. 

Ballard,  Irving  C,  172. 

Ballard,  J.,  218. 

Barbadoes,  settlers  sent  from,  31. 

Barbarin,  Francis  N.,  151. 

Barker,  Lieut  Eben,  531. 

Barnes,  Rev.  A.  S.,  632. 

Barnes,  John,  169. 

Barnes,  John  W.,  659. 

Bamesmore,  British  merchantman, 
introduces  new  era  of  steam  In 
the  Cape  Fear,  501. 

Barnett,  Rev.  Mr.  (1765),  607. 

Barringer,  Hon.  D.  M.,  N.  C.  com- 
missioner to  Peace  Congress, 
268. 

Barry,  Col.  John  D.,  editor,  660; 
sketch  of,  303;  242. 

Baskins,  Mrs.  Octavia,  638. 

Bass,  Private,  352. 

Bassadier,  Philip,  accident  to,  190, 
191;  192,  193. 

Bartram,  William,  682. 

Bartram,  William,  jr.,  77. 

Bates,  Captain  (steamboat),  195. 

Battle,  Rev.  A.  J.,  635. 

Battle,  James,  director  W.  and  W. 
R.  R.,  150,  152. 

Battle,  Dr.  Kemp  P.,  quoted,  544, 
545;  supporter  of  University, 
331;  666. 

Battle,  Judge  William  H.,  186. 

Battle,  Dr.  W.  H.,  360. 

Battles  in  the  Cape  Fear. 

Brunswick,  50;  Elizabethtown, 
116,  116-119;  Fort  Anderson, 
302,  304;  Fort  Fisher,  490,  491, 
493,  494;  Big  Bridge,  118;  304; 
Moore's  Creek,  69;  near  South- 
port,  37;  New  Bern  Road,  209; 
Northeast  River,  324;  Sugar 
Loaf,  14,  16;  Town  Creek,  304; 
Wilmington,  324. 

Baxley,  Mrs.,  Confederate  agent,  486. 

Baxter,  Bernard,  642. 


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692 


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Baxter,  James,  200. 

Beaman,  Rev.  R.  C,  631. 

Bear,  Isadore,  646. 

Bear,  Samuel,  jr.,  death  of,  602,  603; 

gives    hospital    building,    600; 

gives  school  building,  666;  pres- 
ident hospital  board,  600;  646. 
Bear,  Solomon,  644,  646. 
Bearden,  Rev.  G.  S.,  641. 
Beatty,  Rev.  H.  E.,  641. 
Beatty,  H.  W.,  218. 
Beaufort,  early  New  Hanover  grants 

registered  at,  40. 
Beaufort  Harbor,  battle  at,  49. 
Beery.  B.  W.,  535. 
Beery,  R.  H.,  212. 
Beery,  W.  L.,  535. 
Belden,  Sergt.  Louis  S.,  sketch  of, 

310. 
Bell,  Benjamin,  562. 
Bell,  John,  282. 
Bellamy,  C.  C,  566. 
Bellamy,  E.  H.,  566. 
Bellamy,  J.  D.,  566. 
Bellamy,  Dr.  J.  D.,  director  W.  and 

W.  R.  R.,  152;  sketch  of,  182; 

219,  499. 
Bellamy,  J.  D.,  jr.,  566. 
Bellamy,  Marsden,  566. 
Bellamy,  W.  J.,  566. 
Bellamy,  Dr.  W.  J.  H.,  597. 
Bellamy,  W.  M.,  566. 
Benjamin,  Secretary  Judah  P.,  486, 

568. 
Bennett,  Col.  Charles  A,,  547. 
Benning,  Arthur,  109. 
Bernard,  MaJ.   William  H.,  editor, 

303,  560,  561. 
Bernard,  William  Stedman,  561. 
Bernheim,  Rev.  Dr.  G.  D.,  640,  641. 
Berry,    James  Ancrum,    sketch   of, 

379. 
Berry,  Dr.  William  A.,  sketch  of, 

183;  218,  226,  642. 
Bettencourt,  William  C,   212,   219, 

224.  226. 
Bettencourt,  William  H.,  172. 
Big  Island,  channel  at  obstructed, 

7,  8;   channel  opened  on  west 

side  of,  9;  Wilmington  on  east 

side  of,  7. 


Bingham,    Rev.    William,    teacher, 
655. 

Bishop,  Jack,  200. 

Black,  Miss  Christian,  675. 

Black  River,  improvements  ot   12, 
13;  41. 

Black,  Samuel,  residence  of,  69;  219. 

Blackwell,  Rev.  C.  S.,  637. 

Bladen  County,  prominent  families 
of,  682. 

Blair,  Prof.  John  J.,  address  by,  81- 
89;  sketch  by,  658-666. 

Blake,  M.,  141. 

Blake,  Admiral  Robert  (ancestor  of 
Sarah  Dry),  136. 

Blaney,  Benjamin,  136. 

Blaney,  MaJ.  George,  sketch  of,  379. 

Blaney,  W.  B.,  252. 

Blockade. 
Blockade  Runners,  after  the  fall 
of  Fort  Fisher,  470,  476;  Ameri- 
can   consuls    give    information 
about,  417-419;    heroic  conduct 
of  women  passengers  on,   430, 
431;  men  officered  by,  421. 
Blockade  Runners,  names  of: 
Advance,   account   of,    453-456; 
362,  395,  457,  460;  Agnes  E.  Fry, 

395,  452,  469;  Alice,  395,  460; 
Annie,  400;  Annie  Childs,  460; 
Antonica,  396,  417,  453,  460, 
461;  Armstrong,  423-425,  432; 
Atalanta,  395,  419.  420,  423,  426, 
452;  Banshee,  395,  407,  432,  435, 
440,  445,  447,  448,  452,  460,  480; 
Banshee  No.  2,  444;  Bat,  403, 
432,  452,  453;   Beauregard,  395, 

396,  460,  461;  Blenheim,  475; 
Britannia,  460;  Britannic,  396, 
460;  Caledonia,  460;  Calypso, 
396,  460;  Carolina,  473;  Cecile, 
458 ;  Chameleon,  468-471. 473-476 ; 
Charleston,  396,  460;  Charlotte, 
452.  475;  Chickamauga,  468, 469; 
Chicora,  452.  473,  476;  City  of 
Petersburg,  395,  460;  Clinch, 
458;  Colonel  Lamb,  396,  452; 
Condor,  396,  445.  452,  489; 
Coquette,  396,  452;  Comubia 
(Lady  Davis),  395,  399,  460; 
Dee,  896,  460,  461;   Deer,  476; 


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693 


Blockade  Runners,  continued. 

Dolphin,  396,  460;  Don,  289,  395, 
400;  Dream,  396,  432,  452,  473; 
Duoro,  396,  460;  Eagle,  396,  460; 
Edith.  452;  Ella,  396,  460,  461, 
488,  489;  Ella  and  Annie,  395, 
400,  458,  459,  463,  464;  Eliza- 
beth, 458;  Emma,  396;  Eugenie,i 
395,  460;  Falcon,  452;  Fanny 
(Orion),  395,  400,  460;  Flar 
mingo,  452;  Flora,  396,  460; 
Florence,  476;  Florie,  452;  Fox, 
452,476;  Georgiana  McCall,  396, 
460,  461;  Gertrude,  396,  460; 
Gladiator,  459;  Gordon,  458; 
Governor  Dudley,  459;  Granite 
City,  396,  460;  Greyhound,  453, 
486;  Hansa,  395,  400,  460,  469; 
Hayelock,  396;   Hebe,  395,  396, 

460,  461;  Hero,  396;  Hope,  419; 
Index,  460,  486;  Kate,  283,  286, 
287,  395,  458,  465-467;  Leopard, 
421;  Let  Her  Be,  395,  452;  Let 
Her  Rip,  395,  452;  Lilian,  cap- 
ture of,  494;  chase  of,  392-393; 
395,  401,  403,  404,  450,  452; 
Little  Hattie,   395,   452;    Lynx, 

395,  396,  401,  431,  450,  451; 
Margaret  and  Jessie,  395,  402, 
417,  460,  462,  463,  465;  Maud 
Campbell,  476;  Mary  Celeste, 
396,408-410,422;  Merrimac,  453, 
477;  Minna,  460;  Modern  Greece, 

396,  460,  461;  Night  Hawk,  441, 
442,  444.  445,  452;  Nina,  458; 
North  Carolina,  459,  473,  479, 
480;  North  Heath,  395;  Old 
Dominion,  395,  460.  476;  Orion 
(Fanny),  399,  400,  460;  Owl, 
396.  432,  433,  451,  452,  471-473. 
475,  476;  Pet,  395,  452,  453,  460; 
Phantom.  432;  Ptarmigan,  452; 
R.  E.  Lee  (Giraffe).  395,  388, 
412,  460;  Rattlesnake,  433; 
Ruby,  460;  Scotia,  396,  453,460; 
Seabrook,  458;  Siren,  388,  396, 

461,  462;  Sirius,  460;  Spunky. 
396,  461;  Stag,  452,  475;  Stone- 
wall   Jackson,    396,    416,    460; 


Blockade  Runners,  continued. 

Stormy  Petrel,  440;  Sumter, 
398,  399,  407,  430,  450,  478; 
Susan  Bieme,  396;  Thistle,  396, 
460;  Tristram  Shandy,  446; 
Venus,  395,  396,  461;  Victory, 
396,  460;  Virginia,  452,  476; 
Vulture,  452;  Wave  Queen,  460; 
Whisper,  432;  Wild  Dayrell, 
439,  440;  Wild  Rover,  440,  441; 
WiU  o'  the  Wisp,  432,  435,  440, 
441. 

Blockade  Runners,  pilots  of: 
Adkins,  J.  M.,  395;  Anderson, 
J.  W.,  sketch  of,  408-410;  396; 
Bell,  James,  401 ;  Bensel,  Joseph, 
395;  Brinkman,  Thomas,  396; 
Burriss,2  E.  T.,  sketch  of,  407; 
395;  Burri8S,2  G.  W.,  395;  Bur- 
ris8,2  J.  N.,  395, 407, 408 ;  Burriss,^ 
J.  T.,  395;  Burris8,2  Thomas, 
395,  408.  442;  Craig,  Charles  W., 
395,  401,  465;  Craig,  J.  W.,  nar- 
ratiye  by,  396-406;  395,  453; 
Craig,  T.  W.,  395,  396;  Daniels, 
E.  T.,  896;  Dosher,  Julius,  395; 
Dosher,  Richard,  395, 396;  Dyer, 
Thomas,  395.  461,  462;  Garra- 
son,  T.  B.,  395;  Grissom,  R.  S., 
395;  Grissom,  Thomas,  395,401; 
Guthrie,  Archibald,  395;  HIU, 
John,  396;  Howard,  Henry,  395; 
Morse,  C.  C,  395,  399.  404;  New- 
ton, T.  W.,  395,  399;  Potter, 
J.  W.,  395;  Savage,  John,  396, 
404;  Sellers,  R.,  395;  Smith, 
C.  G.,  396;  Springs,  Joseph,  395; 
St.  George,  William,  395,  400; 
Thompson,  Joseph,  401;  Thomp- 
son, T.  M.,  395,  423,  424. 

Blockade  Runners,  quarantine  of, 
447,  448;  relics  of,  461;  wrecks 
of,  460,  461. 

Blockade  Running: 
British  naval  officers  engaged 
in,  469;  financial  estimates  of, 
387,  388;  first  blockader,  390; 
friendly  ports  practically  block- 
aded, 416;  improved  ships  last 


iThla  should  be  Eugenie  oo  page  386. 


This  should  be  Burriss  in  the  text. 


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Blockade  Ranning,  continued. 

year  of  the  war,  452,  453;  in- 
augurated by  Goyemor  Vance, 
454;  interest  of  English  firms 
in,  435,  467;  last  days  in,  468- 
476;  natural  advantages  of 
Wilmington  for,  411;  neutral 
distance  not  observed,  416,  417; 
only  foreign  flag  in  Confederate 
ports,  467;  "paper  blockade," 
389;  President  Davis'  Arabian 
horse  brought  through,  447-449; 
protection  of  the  British  flag  in, 
418;  recommended  by  Gen.  J.  G. 
Martin,  454;  Southern  sailors  in, 
432,  433;  U.  S.  blockading 
squadrons,  390,  416. 

Bloodworth,  Capt.  J.  H.,  301. 

Bloodworth,  Thomas,  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Bloodworth,  Timothy,  Justice  of 
County  Court  (1766),  186;  mem- 
ber New  Hanover  County  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  111,  112;  U.S. 
Senator,  207. 

Blue  Banks,  owned  by  Roger  Moore, 
41. 

Qlumenthal,  L.,  646. 

Boatwright,  J.  Hal,  sketch  of,  811; 
613. 

Boca-Chica,  Cape  Fear  troops  at 
battle  of,  51,  52. 

Boies,  Rev.  ^I'temus,  616,  617. 

Boldt,  Rev.  Dr.  K.,  641. 

Bolles,  Capt.  C.  P.,  constructor  Bat- 
tery Bolles,  281;  officer  U.  S. 
Coast  Survey,  201;  sketch  of, 
311;  121. 

Boney,  Gabriel  J.,  sketch  of,  312. 

Bonitz,  Julius  A.,  editor,  562. 

Bonneau,  Capt.  F.  N.,  458,  463,  465. 

Bonnet,  Steed,  execution  of,  37; 
pirate,  36. 

Booker,  Captain,  380. 

Boone,  Leighton,  243. 

Bordeaux,  G.  C,  629. 

Boston,  Confederate  cruiser,  478. 

Boyd,  Belle,  Confederate  agent,  486. 

Boyd,  Col.  Thomas,  76. 


Boys'  Brigade,  history  of,  588-591; 
627. 

Bradford,  officer  of  a  blockade  run- 
ner, 421, 422. 

Bradley,  Amy  M.,  teacher,  honor 
due,  173,  660;  work  accom- 
plished by,  660,  661;  transfer 
of  school  property  by,  662. 

Bradley,  A.  O.,  252. 

Bradley,  Lucy,  238. 

Bradley,  Richard,  Revolutionary 
officer,  120. 

Bradley,  Richard,  141,  238. 

Bragg,  Gen.  Braxton,  commanding 
Cape  Fear  district,  491;  en 
route  to  capture  New  Bern,  492, 
493;  308,  324,  385. 

Bragg,  Mrs.  Braxton,  491. 

Branch,  Gen.  L.  O'B..  364. 

Brickell,  Dr.  John,  historian,  quoted, 
25,  39. 

Bridge,  Edmund,  141. 

Bridgers,  J.  R.,  N.  C.  commissioner 
to  Peace  Congress,  268. 

Brimley,  H.  H.,  63. 

Brinkman,  Cape  Fear  lightkeeper, 
engaged  in  life-saving  with  the 
Seminole,  528. 

Brinton,  Arthur  J.,  quoted,  550. 

Britannia,  blockader,  481.  See  also 
Runner,  460. 

Broadfoot,  Col.  C.  W.,  quoted,  366. 

Brougham,  Lord,  quoted,  657. 

Brown,  Lieut  Alexander  Davidson, 
sketch  of,  312. 

Brown,  Asa  A.,  editor,  116,  557;  212, 
214,  218,  226,  252. 

Brown,  Captain,  304. 

Brown,  Caroline,  191. 

Brown,  Colonel,  281. 

Brown,  Harriet,  191. 

Brown,  John,  379. 

Brown,  John  Nutt,  251. 

Brown,  Peter,  144,  145. 

Brown,  Maj.  R.  F.,  151,  193. 

Brown,  R.  W.,  report  of  on  Wil- 
mington trade,  506-511;  214, 
218. 

Brown,  Col.  Thomas,  wins  victory 
at  Elizabethtown,  115,  116,  118. 


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Brown,  Thomas  W.,  conunissioner 
of  Wilmington,  174;  213, 

Brown,  Miss,  teacher,  657. 

Brownlow,  J.  P.,  252. 

Brunhild,!  H.,  646. 

Brunswick,  action  of  Committee  of, 
108;  captured  by  Spaniards,  50; 
decay  of,  45;  desertion  of,  114; 
founded  by,  582;  Governor 
Tryon  writes  from,  104;  official 
records  of  destroyed,  142;  Rev- 
olutionary patriots  assemble  at, 
98-100;  Safety  Committee  of, 
8;  settlement  of,  38-40;  trade  of, 
39;  Tryon's  palace  at,  105,  106. 

Brunswick  County,  cut  off  from  New 
Hanover  County,  40;  prominent 
families  of,  680-682. 

Brunswick  River,  description  of,  14; 
improvements  of,  18. 

Bryan,  Anne,  126. 

Bryan,  William,  579. 

Bryan,  Hon.  W.  J.,  583. 

Bryant,  Alfred,  219. 

Bryant,  historian,  quoted,  30. 

Bryce,  Hon.  James,  quoted,  550,  551. 

Buffaloe,  Dr.  W.  H.,  184. 

"Buffaloes,"  404. 

Bollock,  Capt  James  D.,  Confeder- 
ate naval  agent,  459,  460. 

Bundy,  Rev.  J.  D.,  631. 

Bunker,  Professor,  657. 

Bunting,  David,  357. 

Bunting,  Samuel  R.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  312,  313. 

Bunting,  Thomas  O.,  sketch  of,  312. 

Burgoyne,  Captain,  452,  469. 

Burgwyn,  George,  72. 

Burgwyn,  George  (the  younger),  72. 

Burgwyn,  Hill,  187. 

Burgwyn.  H.  W.,  252,  611. 

Burgwyn,  John,  72. 

Burgwyn,  Capt.  John,  death  of,  72. 

Burke, ,  teacher,  656. 

Bums,  Capt.  Otway,  of  Snap  Dragon 
fame,  138. 

Burr,  Aaron,  duel  of  with  Alexander 
Hamilton,  136. 

Burr,  C.  E.,  editor,  558. 


Burr,  Rev.  H.  B.,  619. 

Burr,  Col.  J.  G.,  quoted,  138;  sketch 
by,  453-458;  sketch  of,  247;  159, 
252,  313. 

Burr,  R.,  editor,  558. 

Burr,  Talcott,  615. 

Burr,  Talcott,  jr.,  editor,  557; 
lawyer  and  Journalist,  255;  187, 
212,  252. 

Burr,  W.  A.,  252. 

Burrlngton,  Gov.  George,  description 
of,  63,  64;  quoted,  25;  residence 
of,  57;  sketch  and  administra- 
tion of,  81-83;  68. 

Burruss,  Mrs.  E.  E.,  626. 

Butler,  Gen.  B.  F.,  commanding  in 
Federal  attack  on  Ft  Fisher, 
469,  490,  493. 

Butler's  "powder  ship."  493,  574. 

Butt,  Capt.  Archibald  B.,  541. 

Butt,  Rev.  Frank,  631. 


Cairns,  Rev.  Dr.,  608. 

Calder,  Miss  Mary,  572. 

Calder,  Lieut  Robert  E.,  sketch  of, 

313;  278,  279. 
Calder,  Lieut   William,   sketch   of, 

313,  314;  278,  532. 
Calhorda,  J.  P.,  189. 
Calhoun,  Hon.  John  C,  reception  of 

the  remains  of,  223-227;   visits 

Wilmington,  210. 
Calvin,  John,  member  New  Hanover 

County  Committee  of  Safety,  111. 
Cameron,  George,  615. 
Cameron,  William,  252. 
Campbell,  Farquhar,  member  N.  C. 

Sons  of  Liberty,  106. 
Campbell,  Marsden,  residence  of,  57. 
Campbell,   William,   member   N.   C. 

Sons  of  Liberty,  106;  77. 
Campbell,  W.  B.,  566. 
Canady,  J.  S..  639. 
Cane  Creek,  Battle  of,  115. 
Cantwell,  Edward,  226,  252. 
Cantwell,  John,  240. 
Cantwell,  Col.  John  L.,  narrative  by, 

276-280;  sketch  of,  800-302. 


iThis  should  be  Bnmhild  in  the  text. 


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696 


Index 


Cape  Fair  Road,  explorers  anchor 
In,  26,  31. 

Cape  Fear. 

Coal  mined  in,  146,  303-305; 
colonial  leaders  in,  92;  coloni- 
sation of  foreigners  in,  676; 
description  of  cape,  5,  6,  519, 
544;  description  of  country,  40- 
45;  first  assembly  in,  31;  first 
attempted  settlement  of,  30-32; 
libraries  in,  80,  81;  lighthouse, 
description  of,  519,  520;  Lodge 
No.  2,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  organization 
of,  170;  merchant  marine,  206; 
"Minute  Men,"  action  of,  277; 
origin  of  name,  1-6;  permanent 
settlement  in,  38-40. 

Cape  Fear  Riyer. 

Aids  to  navigation  of,  516-521; 
bar  soundings,  201,  202;  begin- 
ning of  Federal  fortifications 
on,  134-138;  channel  obstructed, 
8;  description  of,  6-9,  36,  41, 
519,  520;  early  depth  ot  9,  10; 
explored,  26-30;  Federal  ex- 
penditures on,  12;  Federal  im- 
proyements  of,  7,  10-12,  146,  147, 
532-534;  first  steamboat  on,  138, 
139;  forgotten  aids  to  the  navi- 
gation of,  201;  names  of  early 
boats  on  and  their  masters,  139, 
206,  207;  outlet  of  more  than  80 
counties,  146;  plantations  on: 
Belgrange,  Belville,  Belvidere, 
Buchoi,  Clarendon,  Dalrymple 
Place,  Davis  Plantation,  Gov- 
ernor's Point,  Howe's  Point, 
Hullflelds,  Kendal,  Lilliput,  Old 
Town  Creek  (Rice  Plantation), 
Orton,  Pleasant  Oaks,  Russell- 
borough,  Spring  Garden  (Grove- 
ly).  Forks,  York,  57;  river 
lights,  description  of,  519,  520; 
tributaries  of,  6,  7;  Stamp  Act 
on,  53,  87,  88,  91-100,  104.  See 
Stamp  Act, 

Capers,  Bishop  William,  630;  de- 
scription of,  633;  narrative  by, 
633-635. 

Capps,  Charles  R.,  sketch  of,  674. 


Cai^s,  Thomas  Jefferson,  sketch  of, 
313. 

Garden,  Capt  G.  Lu,  quoted,  522;  re- 
port by,  530,  531. 

Carmichael,  Mrs.  James,  572. 

Carolina  coast,  general  character  ot 
523-526. 

Carr,  Gov.  Ellas,  532. 

Carr,  James  H.,  561. 

Carr,  J.  O.,  address  by,  100;  566. 

Carr,  William  T.,  quoted,  662. 

Carroll,  Mrs.  George  W^  103. 

Cartagena,  N.  C.  troops  engaged  in 
battle  at,  51,  52. 

Carter,  Captain,  fortunate  in  block- 
ade running,  452,  488. 

Carteret  Precinct,  early  extent  of,  40. 

Cashwell,  C.  C,  566. 

Cassiday,  James,  176. 

Caswell,  Gen.  Richard,  first  gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  547;  Revo- 
lutionary officer,  69,  115,  126. 

Catlett,  Prof.  Washington,  172,  612. 

Cazaux,  Capt.  Anthony  D.,  sketch  of, 
314;  192. 

Chadboum,  James  H.,  269;  quoted, 
662;  work  for  schools,  657,  658, 
660,  662,  663,  665. 

Chadboum,  James  H.,  jr.,  builds 
mission  church,  627;  561. 

Chaffin,  William  A.,  teacher,  654. 

Chalmers,  A.  C,  566. 

Chambliss,  M.  V.,  674. 

Chameleon,  Confederate  ship,  468- 
476. 

Chandler,  Samuel,  editor,  179. 

Chapman,  Alexander,  77. 

Chapman,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  H.,  192. 

Charles  River  (Cape  Fear),  account 
of  conditions  on  (1665),  32-34; 
5,  6,  31. 

Charlestown,  end  of  settlement,  32; 
first  attempted  settlement  on 
the  Cape  Fear,  30-32;  named, 
31;  ruins  of,  142. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  British  fieet  leave 
Wilmington  for,  113;  in  the 
blockade,  472-476;  N.  C.  Conti- 
nentals surrender  at,  120;  per- 
manent settlement  of,  32. 


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Index 


697 


Cherokee,  U.  S.  S.,  476. 

Cherry,  Col.  William  W.,  216. 

Chestnut,  Assistant  Quartermaster 
Columbus  L.,  314. 

Chickamauga,  Confederate  cruiser, 
406,  468,  469,  478. 

Chllds,  Capt  F.  L.,  Chief  of  ArtU- 
lery  and  Ordnance  in  the  Cape 
Fear,  281;  460. 

Chllds,  Qen.  Thomas,  145. 

Chreitzberg,  Dr.,  quoted,  632. 

Churches  in  the  Cape  Fear. 

Chapman  and  other  reyiyals, 
617,  618;  early  laws  passed  in 
support  of  religion,  606;  early 
Methodism  in  Wilmington,  632- 
636;  Federal  occupation  of,  609, 
640;  great  revival  of  1858,  617, 
620,  622;  history  of  New  Han- 
over County  churches,  605-647; 
Layman's  Recollections,  619- 
625;  maintaining  the  early 
faiths,  603. 

Clarendon  County,  named,  31,  84. 

Clarendon,  Earl  of,  3,  34. 

Clarendon  River  (Cape  Fear),  6,  14. 

Clark,  Alexander,  finds  early  Scotch 
settlers  in  North  Carolina,  124. 

Clark,  Chief  Justice  Walter,  301. 

Clark,  Joseph,  682. 

Clark,  Col.  Thomas,  Revolutionary 
officer,  120. 

Clausen,  Rev.  F.  B.,  641. 

Clay,  Hon.  Henry,  visits  Wilming- 
ton, 213,  215,  216. 

Clajrton,  Francis,  active  in  resisting 
Stamp  Act,  92;  member  Wil- 
mington Committee  of  Safety, 
111;  promotes  Revolutionary 
Convention,  110. 

Cleary,  Colonel,  210. 

Cochran,  Robert,  77. 

Cochran,  Robert,  entertains  Presi- 
dent Monroe,  210;  615. 

Cochrane,  Joshua,  editor,  557. 

Coghlan,  Captain,  commander  U.  S. 
S.  Raleigh,  532. 

Cole,  Rev.  John  N.,  631. 


Colleton,  Sir  John,  Vassell's  letter  to 
concerning  failure  of  Charles- 
town  settlement,  35,  36. 

Collett,  Capt  Abraham,  commander 
of  Ft.  Johnston,  53,  54. 

Collier,  Price,  quoted,  550. 

Collier,  Samuel,  member  New  Han- 
over County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Colonial  governors  of  North  Caro- 
lina, sketch  of,  81-89. 

Colonial  and  Revolutionary  heroes 
of  the  Cape  Fear,  119-121. 

Colonial  members  of  the  General 
Assembly,  89,  90. 

Colston,  Gen.  R.  E.,  military  acad- 
emy of,  657. 

Colville,  John,  623. 

Commissioners  appointed  for  de- 
fence against  Spaniards,  50. 

Commissioners  of  Navigation  and 
Pilotage,  appointment,  author- 
ity, and  work  of,  515,  516. 

Committee  of  Safety  formed  in  Wil- 
mington, 110. 

Comparison  of  Cape  Fear  commerce 
in  1851  and  1914,  686. 

Comstock,  Colonel,  Federal  officer  in 
the  attack  on  Ft  Fisher,  496. 

Confederacy,  agents  of  sent  abroad, 
486;  Daughters  of,  275,  276,  571; 
only  railroad  line  left  in,  468; 
values  in,  388,  480. 

Confederate  commissariat  cut  ofC, 
389. 

Confederate  heroes,  295-368. 

Confederate  Lot  deed  to,  275. 

Confederate  Navy,  sketch  of,  353, 
476-483;  486. 

Confederate  Point  battery  on,  281; 
description  of,  381;  481. 

Confederate  prisoners  under  fire  on 
Morris  Island,  301. 

Connor,  Judge  Henry  G.,  573. 

Constitution,  political  (Whig)  prize 
ship,  176. 

Cook,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  early  teachers, 
651. 


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Coon,  Prof.  Charles  L.,  quotaticmB 
from  his  history  of  N.  C.  schools, 
648-664. 

Cooper,  Sir  Anthony  Ashley,  4.  See 
Bhafteshnry. 

Cooper,  W.  B.,  director  Tide  Water 
Power  Co^  677. 

Coosa,  Wat,  explorers  buy  Cape  Pear 
River  from,  29. 

Corbett,  M.  J.,  president  W.,  B.,  and 
S.  R.  R,,  546;  661. 

Corbin,  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane,  teacher, 
649. 

Comehlson,  Capt.  C,  280,  303. 

Comelson,!  Rev.  George  H.,  Jr.,  626. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  comes  to  Wil- 
mington, 114;  headquarters  in 
McRary  house,  692;  surrender 
of,  115. 

Coastal  Canal,  548,  549. 

Costin,  Miles,  212,  219. 

Council,  James,  682. 

Courtenay,  Hon.  William  A..  538. 

Cowan,  David  S.,  186. 

Cowan,  James  H.,  editor,  664. 

Cowan,  Capt.  John,  sketch  of,  260, 
314316;  121,  226.  249,  262,  257, 
273,  300,  325. 

Cowan,  Col.  Robert  H.,  director  W. 
and  W.  R.  R..  150,  151;  memo- 
rial address  on  Governor  Dud- 
ley quoted,  229,  300;  residence 
of,  160;  sketch  of,  299,  300;  210, 
212,  226,  251,  252,  269,  296,  360, 
611. 

Cowan,  Col.  Thomas,  141,  250,  615. 

Cowan,  W.  D.,  252. 

Cox,  Gen.  Jacob  D.,  diary  of  quoted, 
495-499. 

Cox,  Quartermaster  John  W.,  360. 

Cox,  Rev.  W.  E.,  612. 

Coxetter,  Captain,  417,  419. 

Coxetter,  Mrs.  Easter,  teacher,  164, 
170. 

Craig,  MaJ.  James  H.,  gave  no  quar- 
ter, 209;  goes  to  New  Bern,  115; 
McRary  house  headquarters  of, 
592;  marches  into  Duplin,  115; 


Craig,  Maj.  James  H.,  continued, 
takes    possession    of    Wilming- 
ton, 114;  tyrannical  conduct  of, 
137. 

Craig's  'T)uU-pen,"  65,  114. 

Craig,  James  N.,  898. 

Craig,  James  William,  narrative  by, 
396-406;  632. 

Craig,  Rev.  W.  M.,  638. 

CraighiU,  Col.  Wm.  P.,  10. 

Crane  Island,  scene  of  treaty  with 
Indian  chief  Wat  Coosa,  29, 584. 

Crane  Neck  heron  colony,  61-63. 

Crapon,  Capt  G.  M.,  301. 

Cray,  William,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Creasy,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  S.,  631. 

Crenshaw,  Col.  James,  433. 

Cronly,  Mike,  176,  191. 

Crook,  Rev.  Mr.,  teacher,  651. 

Cross  Creek,  x;  Flora  Macdonald 
arrives  at,  39,  125;  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Tories,  118;  Scotch 
settlers  of  Loyalists,  126;  69. 

Crossan,  C£^t.  Thomas  N.,  assists  in 
purchasing  steamer  Advance 
(Lord  Clyde)  for  the  State,  454; 
commander  of  the  Advance,  455. 

Crowley,  Rev.  J.  S.,  626. 

Cruizer,  H.  B.  M.'s  sloop  of  war.  45. 

Cuban  man-of-war  incident,  514,  515. 

Culbreth,  Rev.  B.  B.,  632. 

Culbreth,  Rev.  Marvin,  632. 

Cumberland  County,  prominent  fami- 
lies of,  679,  680. 

Cumming,2  Capt  James  D.,  sketch 
of,  316;  193,  312. 

Gumming,  Sergt.  Preston,  sketch  of, 
316. 

Gumming,  William  A.,  sketch  of, 
316. 

Cunninggim,  Rev.  W.  L.,  631. 

Curtis,  Federal  leader  in  second  at- 
tack on  Ft.  Fisher,  389. 

Curtis,  Dr.  M.  A.  (botanist),  quoted, 
15, 132. 

Curtis,  Dr.  Walter  Gilman,  quoted, 
202,  282;  sketch  of,  680,  681. 


>Thi8  should  be  Cornelson  in  the  text. 


H>n  page  Itt  this  should  be  J.  D.  Cumminc. 


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699 


Cashing,  E.  A.,  252. 

Gushing,    Lieutenant,    attempts    to 

capture  Gen.  Hebert,  282;  visits 

Wilmington,  490. 
Cutlar,  DuBrutz,  63,  71,  253,  305, 566. 
Cutlar,  Dr.  Frederick  J.,  71. 
Cutlar,  Roger,   military  service  of, 

316. 
Cutlar,  Dr.  Roger,  71. 
••Cut-off,"  The,  31. 
"Cut-through,"  The,  14. 


Dally,  Rev.  Jonathan,  631. 

Dalrymple,  Capt.  John,  residence  of, 
57;  53. 

Dannenbaum,  G.,  646. 

Daves,  Lieut.  Graham,  sketch  of, 
317. 

Davis,  Capt.  Champ  N.,  316,  317. 

Davis,  Hon.  George,  an  appreciation 
of,  569-572;  Confederate  States 
Attorney-General,  567-569;  de- 
clines appointment  to  the  N.  C. 
Supreme  Court,  571;  delegate 
to  the  Confederate  Congress, 
270;  discusses  name  Cape  Fear, 
1-6;  Edward  Everett's  appreci- 
ation of,  220;  esteem  in  which 
held  by  President  Davis  and 
Mrs.  Davis,  567-569;  monument 
to,  572-574;  most  illustrious  son 
of  the  Cape  Fear,  571;  N.  C. 
commissioner  to  Peace  Con- 
gress, 268;  orator,  569-571; 
President  Davis'  letters  to,  567, 
568;  quoted,  67,  572,  648;  report 
of  on  Peace  Congress,  269-271; 
70,  74,  104,  185,  187,  212,  214, 
221,  318,  544. 

Davis,  George  W.,  213. 

Davis,  Horatio,  sketch  of,  319. 

Davis,  James,  erects  first  printing 
press  in  colony  (1749),  556. 

Davis,  President  Jefferson.  Letters 
of  to  Mr.  George  Davis,  567, 
568;  156,  491,  609. 

Davis,  Mrs.  Jefferson,  quoted,  568, 
569;  449. 

Davis,  Jehu,  41,  74. 


Davis,  John,  active  in  resisting 
Stamp  Act,  92,  97;  member 
N.  C.  Sons  of  Liberty,  106;  resi- 
dence of,  42,  44,  57. 

Davis,  Junius,  director  Tide  Water 
Power  Co.,  677;  sketch  of,  317- 
319;  242. 

Davis,  Thomas,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Davis,  Gen.  Thopias,  210. 

Davis,  Thomas  F.,  father  of  Hon. 
George  Davis,  185. 

Davis,  Bishop  Thomas  F.,  74. 

Davis,  Thomas  J.,  74. 

Davis,  Thomas  W.,  318,  566. 

Davis,  Rev.  Mr.,  608. 

Davis,  Capt.  William,  member  N.  C. 
Sons  of  Liblerty,  106;  Revolu- 
tionary officer,  120;  78. 

Davis,  Rev.  W.  H.,  639. 

Davis,  Wilson,  135. 

Dawson,  James,  291,  574. 

Dawson,  John,  56,  154,  189,  449. 

DeBry's  Map,  reference  to,  4. 

Deems,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  F.,  631. 

Deep  River,  Loyalists  active  on, 
115;  minerals  in  the  valley  of, 
512;  6. 

Delile,  Alyre  Raffeneau,  French 
consul,  requested  by  the  Em- 
press Josephine  to  introduce 
American  plants  into  France, 
132;  sketch  of,  130-134. 

Democratic  State  campaign  of  1876, 
330. 

Denck,  Prof.  Joseph,  657. 

Denson,  Capt  C.  B.,  quoted,  274. 

DeRosset,  Dr.  A.  J.,  commissioner 
of  Wilmington,  180;  entertains 
John  C.  Calhoun,  210;  in  active 
practice  at  ninety  years  of  age, 
182;  quoted,  227;  152,  183,  190, 
224,  226,  296,  608,  609,  610,  612. 
614,  657. 

DeRosset,  Mrs.  A.  J.,  president  Sol- 
diers' Aid  Society,  275;  sketch 
of  her  work  for  the  Confeder- 
acy, 292-294,  414. 

DeRosset,  A.  J.,  Jr.,  174,  214,  226. 


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DeRosset,  Capt  A.  L.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  319;  294. 

DeRosset,  Eddie,  242. 

DeRosset,  Mrs.  Jane  D.,  572. 

DeRosset,  Lewis  Henry,  introduced 
bill  appropriating  to  churches 
money  from  destruction  of 
pirate  ships,  59;  member  of 
Council,  77. 

DeRosset^  Louis  H.,  represents  Ord- 
nance and  Quartermaster's  De- 
partments in  Nassau,  294,  450; 
253. 

DeRosset,  Mrs.  Louis  H.,  rescue  of, 
450,  451. 

DeRosset  Memorial  Fund,  613,  614. 

DeRosset,  Moses  John,  active  in  re- 
sisting Stamp  Act,  92,  94,  97,  98, 
579;  officer  in  French  and  In- 
dian War,  119. 

DeRosset,  Dr.  Moses  John,  sketch 
of,  294,  319. 

DeRosset,  Thomas  €.,  sketch  of,  294; 
242. 

DeRosset,  Col.  William  Lord,  sketch 
of,  296,  297;  273,  280,  291,  294, 
305,  611. 

Devane,  Duncan  J.,  566. 

Devane,  John,  111. 

Devane,  Thomas,  111. 

Devane,  Col.  William  S.,  356,  363, 
566. 

Devil's  Ditch,  70. 

Dick,  Judge  John  M.,  186. 

Dickinson,  P.  K.,  promotes  railroad 
construction,  149;  director  W. 
and  W.  R.  R.,  150-152;  188,  214, 
219,  224. 

Dickson,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  F.,  617. 

Dickson,  James,  141,  615,  651. 

Dickson,  Dr.  James  H.,  heroism  of 
in  yellow  fever  epidemic,  284- 
286;  183,  214,  218,  251,  269,  616. 

Dickson,  Joseph,  member  of  "Court 
Martial"  (1777),  103. 

Dickson,  Rufus  DeVane,  566. 

Diligence,  brings  stamps  to  the  Cape 
Fear,  94,  99;  96,  104;  H.  B.  M.'s 
sloop  of  war,  45. 


Disastrous  Fires.  Blockade  runners. 
Confederate  Government,  etc., 
lose  by,  534-537. 

Disastrous  year  of  1819,  139-142. 

Divine,  Capt.  John  F.,  184,  239. 

Dix,  John  W.  K.,  286. 

Dobbin,  Hon.  James  C,  sketch  ot 
68Q. 

Dobbs,  merchant  ship  seized  by  the 
king's  authorities,  94. 

Dobbs,  Gov.  Arthur,  administration 
of,  85-87;  residence  of,  57;  104, 
105. 

Dobbs,  Edward  Bryce,  104. 

Dorsey,  Lawrence  D.,  25L 

Dorsey,  R.  J.,  252. 

Dortch,  Dr.  Louis,  33L 

Dortch,  Sallie,  331. 

Dortch,  W.  T.,  Confederate  States 
Senator,  271. 

Dragon,  Federal  prison  ship,  299. 

Drane,  Henry  M.,  172. 

Drane,  Rev.  R.  B.,  heroism  of  in 
yellow  fever  epidemic,  286,  609 ; 
606-612,  652. 

Draughon,  James  Hughes,  615. 

Dry  Pond,  162,  169,  232. 

Dry,  Col.  William,  completes  Ft, 
Johnston,  53;  takes  oath  never 
to  issue  stamped  paper,  99;  de- 
fends Brunswick  against  Span- 
ish, 50;  96,  98,  99,  135. 

DuBois,  John,  Justice  County  Court 
(1777),  186;  137. 

DuBois,  Magdalen,  137. 

DuBois,  Walter,  78,  92. 

Dudley,  Bishop,  member  New  Han- 
over County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Dudley,  Christopher  A.,  169. 

Dudley,  Capt.  Edward  B.,  jr.,  sketch 
of,  320. 

Ehidley,  Gov.  Edward  B.,  A.  C.  L. 
R.  R.  follows  policy  outlined  by, 
153;  elected  governor  of  the 
State,  150;  entertains  Daniel 
Webster,  217-219;  pledges  pri- 
vate fortune  to  secure  W.  and 
W.   R.  R.,   150,   151,   153,   155; 


Digitized  by 


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Index 


701 


Dudley,  Qov.  Edward  B.,  continued, 
promoter  W.  and  W.  R.  R.,  148; 
sketch  of,  229-231;  welcomes 
Henry  Clay,  215;  141. 

Ehidley,  E.  P.,  590. 

Dudley,  G.  L.,  sketch  of,  320;  252. 

Dunbibin,  Jonathan,  187. 

Duncan,  Alexander,  78. 

Dupre.  D.,  212. 

Dushan,  Charles,  591. 

Dyer,  Michael,  46,  47. 

Dyer,  Thomas,  murder  of,  461. 

Eagles'  Island,  14. 

Eagles,  Richard,  residence  of,  57. 

Earp,  Capt  H.,  under  double  cross 
fire  on  Morris  Island,  301. 

Earthquake  of  1886,  account  of,  538- 
540. 

"Ecce  Homo,"  painting  from  de- 
stroyed Spanish  ship,  50. 

Edenton,  81. 

Eells,  Rev.  W.  W.,  teacher,  170;  617, 
652. 

Elder,  Rev.  J.  M.  W.,  626. 

Ellen  wood,  H.  S.,  death  of,  177; 
sketch  of,  557. 

Ellerbrook,  William,  death  of,  536. 

Elliott,  George  B.,  566. 

Elliott,  Warren  B.,  president  James 
Walker  Hospital  Board,  598, 
599. 

Ellis,  Capt  Charles  D.,  commis- 
sioner of  Wilmington,  174; 
sketch  of,  320;  218,  226. 

Ellis,  Gov.  John  W.,  orders  Ft. 
Caswell  restored  to  U.  S.  au- 
thorities, 278;  orders  the  taking 
of  Ft.  Caswell  and  Ft  Johnston, 
279;  356. 

Ellis,  N.  C.  gunboat,  353. 

Ellis,  Z.,  sketch  of,  320. 

Emmons,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  advises 
mining  of  coal  in  Chatham 
County,  203,  204. 

Empie,  Adam,  Jr.,  212,  252,  566,  655, 
656. 

Empie,  Rev.  Adam,  president  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  College  in  Yir- 


Empie,  Rev.  Adam,  continued, 

ginia    (1827),    608;    rector   St 
James's,  608,  633;  sketch  of,  655. 

Empie,  B.  G.,  566. 

Empie,  S.  M.,  566. 

Engelhard,  MaJ.  Joseph  A.,  editor, 
558;  275. 

Ennet,  Capt  W.  T.,  299. 

Equator,  Confederate  gunboat,  480- 
482. 

Eustice,  Dr.  John,  active  in  resi8^ 
ing  Stamp  Act,  92;  76. 

Evans,  C.  N.,  677. 

Everett  Dr.  S.  B.,  652. 

Explorers  (1660),  visit  of,  29,  30. 

Explorers  (1663),  report  of,  26-30. 

Fabian,  Peter,  sent  from  Barbadoes 
to  explore  C^pe  Fear,  31;  30,  62. 

Falrley,  Lieut.  J.  H.,  sketch  of,  484. 

Faison,  Capt  Frank,  355. 

Fanning,  Col.  David,  captures  Gov- 
ernor Burke,  fights  at  Cane 
Creek,  takes  Hillsboro,  115. 

Fanning,  P.  W.,  chairman  Board  of 
Commissioners  of  Navigation 
and  Pilotage,  397;  editor,  177, 
557;  252,  659. 

Farrington,  Rev.  F.  H.,  639. 

Farris,  William.  Appointed  to  as- 
sist in  erecting  Ft  Johnston,  53. 

Fayettevllle,  mail  stage  line  pass- 
ing through,  149,  207;  sketch  of, 
205-207,  679;  steamboat  line  to, 
138,  139;  508,  512. 

Fennell,  Hardy  L.,  172. 

Fennell,  Capt  Gwen,  sketch  of,  321; 
171,  172,  219. 

Fergus,  Dr.  James,  surgeon  in  the 
Revolution,  120. 

Fergus,  Dr.  John,  description  of,  76. 

Fergus,  Lieut  John,  commandant  of 
Ft.  Johnston,  134,  138. 

Fergus,  Washington  C,  172. 

Fergus,  William,  239. 

Fillmore,  President  Millard.  Visits 
Wilmington,  208,  212,  213. 

Fires  from  1771  to  1843  and  in  1864, 
account  of  and  losers  in,  139- 


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702 


Index 


Fires,  continued, 

144,     534-537;     valuable    docu- 
ments destroyed  by,  142. 

Fisher,  Colonel  Charles  F.,  156. 

Flagler,  Mrs.  Henry  M.,  erects 
armory  for  Boys'  Brigade,  590; 
331. 

Planner,  Lieut  Henry  O.,  sketch  of, 
320,  321. 

Flanner,  Joseph  H.,  172,  253.  See 
Wilkinga-Flanner  duel. 

Flats,  506,  511. 

Fleming,  Cecil,  242. 

Flora  Macdonald,  Confederate  trans- 
port on  the  Cape  Fear,  403. 

Florida,  Confederate  cruiser,  478. 

Floyd,  Capt  F.  F.,  under  double 
cross  fire  on  Morris  Island,  300. 

Forbes,  William,  appointed  commis- 
sioner to  take  measures  for  de- 
fence against  Spaniards,  50; 
appointed  commissioner  to  as- 
sist in  constructing  Ft.  John- 
ston, 53. 

Ford,  S.  R.,  252,  253. 

Forrest,  Andrew  J.,  officer  on  a 
blockade  runner,  394. 

Forster,  John,  appointed  to  assist  in 
obstructing  channel  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  8. 

Forts  in  the  Cape  Fear  Region. 

Names  and  account  of:  Ander- 
son, attack  on,  302,  303;  evacu- 
ated, 497;  Federal  occupation 
of,  499;  ruins  of  described,  574; 
58,  484,  500;  Buchanan,  58; 
Campbell,  evacuated  and  maga- 
zines blown  up  by  Confederates, 
880;  Caswell,  armament  of,  547; 
batteries  of  named  for,  647, 648; 
captured  by  "Minute  Men."  276- 
278,  295;  construction  of,  55, 
379;  evacuated  and  magazines 
blown  up,  380,  471,  472;  restored 
to  U.  S.  authorities,  278,  279; 
situation  of,  547;  taken  by  Gov- 
ernor's order,  279,  280;  use  of 
in  War  between  the  States,  379; 
388,  439,  440,  455,  476,  499,  540, 
546,  681;  Fisher,  attacks  upon. 


Forts  in  Cape  Fear,  continued. 

383-386,    469,    490-494;     Battery 
Bolles,  the  first  defensive  work 
of.  280;  defends  New  Inlet,  3SSr, 
433,    434;    descripUon    of,    381- 
383;  fall  of,  380,  385,  476;  gar- 
rison of.  385;  gateway  between 
the  Confederate  States  and  the 
world,    388;     Malakoff    of    the 
South,    381;    occupation    of    by 
Federal    forces,    433,    434,    470, 
471;  ruins  of.  18;  situation  ot 
381;   Whitworth  guns  of,   311; 
55,   58,   274,   359,   361,   362,   363. 
451,  476, 480,  481,  482;  Johnston, 
abandoned,   55;    British  troops 
at    the   site   of,    54;    ceded    to 
United   States,   55;    description 
of,  53;  erection  of.  50,  52;  Fed- 
eral occupation  of  anticipated, 
295;  Federal  work  on,  134,  137; 
garrison  of,   50,   96;    Governor 
Martin  flees  to,  112;  Governor 
Tryon  orders  protection  of,  98, 
105;  site  of  marked,  581;  town 
near    incorporated    and    aban- 
doned, 54;  60,  281. 
Fort  Jackson,  Federal  cruiser,  401. 
Fort  Lafayette,  Federal  prison,  422, 

462,  465. 
Fort  Sumter,  firing  on,  279;  295. 
Fosgate,  Frederick,  121. 
Foster,    F.    W.,    Federal    sanitary 
agent  in  Wilmington  (1865),  357. 
Foster.  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.,  637,  638. 
Fowler,  W.  G..  162. 
Foy.  Dr.,  184. 

Frankland,  Sir  Thomas,  grandson  of 
Oliver  Cromwell,  owner  of  Lil- 
liput,  60. 
Fredericksburg,  historic  associations 

of.  406. 
Fremont,  Col.  S.  L.,  in  command  of 

the  Cape  Fear,  281;  611. 
French,  George  R.,  director  in  Tide 

Water  Power  Company,  677. 
French.  Judge  Robert,  566. 
French,   Gen.   Samuel   G.,   in   com- 
mand of  Confederate  forces  in 
the  vicinity  of  Wilmington,  347. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


Index 


703 


French,  William  A.,  662. 

Freshwater,  Thomas,  659. 

Frieze,  Rev.  Jacob,  editor,  177. 

Frolic  (formerly  Advance),  Federal 
gunboat  sent  to  intercept  Cuban 
man-of-war,  457,  615;  speed  of, 
457. 

Fry,  Oapt  Joseph,  commander  block- 
ade runner,  452. 

Fnring  Pan  Shoals,  description  of, 
5,  517,  518,  523;  hazard  of,  5, 
507;  522. 

Fuller,  Bartholomew,  editor,  569. 

Fulton,  David,  attorney,  187;  editor, 
178;  218,  558. 

Fulton,  Federal  armed  transport, 
462,463;  422. 

Fulton,  Hamilton,  work  of  on  Cape 
Fear  River  improvement,  144, 
145. 

Fulton,  James,  editor,  178;  pub- 
lished only  Wilmington  news- 
paper in  1862,  284,  285;  sketch 
of,  558;  226. 

Gafford,  John,  169. 
GafPord,  W.  P.,  566. 
Gaither,  Col.  B.  F.,  216. 
Gale,  Christopher,  2. 
Galloway,    MaJ.    Andrew    Jackson, 
officer  W.  and  W.  R.  R.  Com- 
pany, 681. 
Galloway,     Bishop    Charles     Betts, 

sketch  of,  682. 
Galloway,  Hon.  Charles  Mills,  sketch 

of,  682. 
Galloway,  Cornelius,  emigrates  from 

Scotland,  581. 
Galloway,  Daniel  W.,  242. 
Galloway,  James  M.,  clerk  of  Pender 

County,  682. 
Galloway,  Capt  John  W.,  organized 

Coast  Guard  Company,  681. 
Galloway,  Rufus,  681. 
Galloway,  Sam,  681. 
Galloway,   Samuel,  emigrates   from 

Scotland,  681. 
Galloway,  Capt.  Swift,  681. 
Galloway,  Dr.  W.  C,  681. 
Gardner,  Julius  D.,  193. 


Gardner,  J.  D.,  jr.,  231. 

Gautier,  Capt  T.  N.,  quoted,  9. 

Geer,  Gilbert,  141. 

General  Whiting,  torpedo  boat  in 
the  Cape  Fear  River,  500. 

George,  Edward  Payson,  leaves  sum 
for  Marion  Sprunt  memorial 
annex  to  hospital,  600-602. 

Georgia,  Confederate  cruiser,  478. 

Gettysburg,  blockader,  formerly 
blockade  nmner  Margaret  and 
Jessie,  402;  disables  the  Lilian, 
494. 

Gibble,  Rev.  J.  B.,  613. 

Gibbons,  Cardinal,  work  of  in  Wil- 
mington, 642,  643;  583. 

Gibbs,  George,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Gibbs,  John,  member  N.  C.  Sons  of 
Liberty,  106;  682. 

Gibbs,  Robert,  620. 

Gibson,  Walter,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Gieschen,  J.  G.  L.,  German  consul, 
director  in  Tide  Water  Power 
Company,  677. 

Gilchrist,  William,  598. 

Giles,  Clayton,  military  service  of, 
321;  208. 

Giles,  Norwood,  sketch  of,  321,  322. 

Gillett,  B.  C,  141. 

Girardeau,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.,  622. 

Gladiator,  early  boat  on  the  Charles- 
ton line,  145,  169,  196. 

Glenn,  Gov.  R.  B.,  590. 

Glennan,  Sergeant,  quoted,  274,  276. 

Godden,  Colonel,  killed  in  Battle  of 
Elizabethtown,  117. 

Godfrey,  Lieut  Thomas,  sketch  of, 
77-80;  subscribers  to  poems  of, 
77. 

Godwin,  H.  E.,  officer  of  W.,  B.,  and 
S.  R.  R.,  546. 

Godwin,  Hon.  H.  L.,  aids  in  secur- 
ing appropriation  for  Wilming- 
ton Custom  House,  596;  641. 

Goldsborough,  3iatthew  T.,  assists 
In  building  W.  and  W.  R.  R., 
151. 

Goodman,  Louis,  666. 


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704 


Index 


Gore,  Captain,  303. 

Oorgas,  Gen.  Josiah,  Confederate 
chief  of  ordnance,  309,  485. 

Governor  Buckingham,  Federal  crui- 
ser, attacks  blockade  runner 
Lynx,  450,  451. 

Governor's  Cove,  description  of,  105 ; 
H.  B.  M.'s  eloops  of  war  an- 
chored in,  45. 

Governor  Dudley,  steamboat  of  the 
Charleston  line  converted  into 
a  blockade  runner,  459. 

Gouverneur,  M.  P.  H.,  director  In 
Tide  Water  Power  Company, 
677;  573. 

Gracie,  Miss  Mary  (Mrs.  Stephen 
Jewett),  teacher,  238. 

Grady,  R.  G.,  566. 

Graham,  Edward  Kidder,  president 
University  of  North  Carolina, 
quoted,  667,  668. 

Graham,  Professor,  657. 

Graham,  Sarah,  331. 

Graham,  Ctov.  William  A.,  contest  of 
with  Joseph  Alston  Hill  over 
railroad  policy,  148. 

Grainger,  Col.  Caleb,  officer  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War  and  in 
the  Revolution,  119,  120;  78. 

Grainger,  I.  B.,  356. 

Grainger,  Joshua,  helps  to  lay  oft 
Newton,  45.    See  Wilmington. 

Grainger,  J.  V.,  director  in  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  677. 

Grant,  L.  Clayton,  566. 

Grant,  Gen.  U.  S.,  letters  of  to  Gen- 
eral Lee,  352,  353;  quoted,  414; 
493,  496. 

Green,  Jack,  169. 

Green,  James  G.,  225,  226,  252. 

Green,  James  S.,  death  of,  286;  fine 
courtesies  of,  155,  266;  resi- 
dence of,  162;  secretary  and 
treasurer  W.  and  W.  R.  R.,  150, 
155,  286;  168,  212,  214,  219,  249, 
659. 

Green,  Robert  C,  172. 

Green,  William  Henry,  sketch  of, 
322. 


Green,  William  M.,  bishop  of  Mis- 
sissippi, 250;  249. 

Greenhow,  Mrs.  Rose  O.,  grave  of 
marked  by  Memorial  Associa- 
tion, 275;  sketch  of,  489,  490. 

Green's  River  explored,  27-29; 
named,  31. 

Greenville,  Richard,  the  great  navi- 
gator, 3,  4. 

Greenwald,!  N.,  646. 

Greer,  Lee,  566. 

Grey,  Private,  352. 

Grier,  Mrs.  Matthew  B.,  621. 

Grier,  Rev.  Matthew  B.,  sketch  of, 
620,  621;  617. 

Griffin,  Dr.  John  Lightfoot,  surgeon 
at  Fort  Johnston,  134. 

Griffith,  Captain  (fire  company), 
241. 

Grinnell,  Mrs.,  Confederate  agent, 
sketch  of,  486. 

Griswold,  MaJ.  Walter,  directs  main 
construction  in  Cape  Fear  River 
improvement  (1873),  10. 

Groves,  Rev.  William  H.,  617. 

Gwyn,  Walter,  Chief  engineer  in 
construction  of  W.  and  W.  R.  R,, 
151, 195. 

Haar,     Jurgen,     director    in    Tide 

Water  Power  Company,  677. 
Hagood,  Gen.  Johnson,  495,  500. 
Haid,  Rt  Rev.  Leo,  643. 
Hale,  Maj.  Edward  Joseph,  sketch 

of,  322,  323. 
Hale,  Rev.  Dr.  Fred  D.,  637,  638. 
Hall,  Avon  E.,  341. 
Hall,    Sergt.   B.    Frank,   sketch   of, 

823,  324,  628. 
Hall,  Col.  Edward  D.,  sketch  of,  306, 

306;  252. 
Hall,  Hon.  Eli  W.,  opposes  Know- 

Nothing  party,  231;   sketch  of, 

255;  176,  191,  212,  225,  226,  253, 

566. 
Hall,  E.  P.,  180,  650. 
Hall,  Jessie  D.,  missionary,  617. 
Hall,  Rev.  J.  H.,  631. 
Hall.  Rev.  J.  K.,  615. 


nrhia  Bhould  be  Greenwald  in  the  teri. 


Digitized  by 


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Index 


705 


Hall  John,  214. 

Hall,  Mrs.  Margaret  Tannahill, 
chuch  erected  in  memory  of, 
627,  628. 

Hall,  William  H.,  172. 

Hallet.  Capt.  B.,  535. 

Hailing,  Rev,  Dr.,  first  principal 
Wilmington  (Innes)  Academy, 
608,  655. 

Halpin,  Captain,  commands  block- 
ade runner,  453. 

Halsey.  B.  W.,  teacher,  649. 

Halsey,  William  H.,  249,  250. 

Halsey,  William  K.,  566. 

Halton,  Robert,  appointed  commis- 
sioner to  assist  in  building  Ft. 
Johnston,  53. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  death  of  gen- 
eral calamity,  136. 

Hamilton,  Dr.  J.  G.  DeRoulhac,  ad- 
dress by,  52;  quoted,  318. 

Hancock,  Captain,  U.  S.  Coast  Ar- 
tillery, 541. 

Harahan,  William  J.,  president  Sea- 
board Air  Line  Railway,  sketch 
of,  674. 

Hardee,  Qen.  William  J.,  362. 

Hardy,  Sir  Thomas,  action  of  with 
reference  to  U.  S.  diving  vessel 
In  the  War  of  1812,  687. 

Harnett,  Cornelius,  chairman  Cape 
Fear  Committee  of  the  Sons  of 
Liberty,  106,  107,  108;  chair- 
man New  Hanover  County  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  111;  consults 
Committee  of  Safety  about  im- 
porting a  negro,  112;  grave  of, 
644;  leader  in  resistance  to 
Stamp  Act,  53,  92,  97-99,  104; 
president  of  the  Provincial 
Council,  76;  sketch  of,  75,  76; 
the  Samuel  Adams  of  North 
Carolina,  644;  wiU  of,  121,  122; 
78,  112. 

Harper,  Capt  John  W.,  controls 
river  trade,  546;  561. 

Harrell,  Rev.  J.  B.,  639. 

Harris,  Cicero  W.,  editor,  559. 

Harris,  Mrs.  Cioero  W.,  editor,  569, 
560. 


Harris,  Nehemiah,  141. 

Harrts,  P.,  141. 

Harris,  Col.  Wade  H.,  editor,  559, 

560. 
Harris,  William,  141,  615. 
Harrison,  President  William  Henry, 

candidacy  of,  175,  176,  189. 
Harriss,  George,  191,  252. 
Harriss,  Nehemiah,  191. 
Harriss,  Dr.  W.  J.,  commissioner  of 

Wilmington,  180;  death  of,  182. 
Harriss,  Dr.  William  White,  sketch 

of,  324;  252,  253. 
Hart,  Annie,  teacher,  657. 
Hart,  Levi  A.,  170. 
Hartman,  Jacob,  615. 
Hartman,  Lieutenant,  352. 

Hartshorn, ,  teacher,  656. 

Harvey,  Selina  M.,  582. 
Hasell,   Chief   Justice   James,   resi- 
dence of,  57;  74. 
Hasell,  Susannah,  74. 
Hasell,    William    Soranzo,    editor, 

177,  181;  sketch  of,  181;  74. 
Haskell,  Maj.  J.  C,  322. 
"Haul-over,"  opening  of  by  storm,  8. 

See  Neto  Inlet, 
Hawes,  Capt.  J.  R.,  303. 
Hawflelds,  Orange  County  residence 

of  Edmund  Strudwick,  64. 
Hayne,   Paul   H.,   editor  and   poet, 

564. 
Haynes,  Capt  Roger,  sketch  of,  71, 

72. 
Haywood,  CoL  E.  G.,  839. 
Head,  J.  F.,  566. 
Hebert,  Gen.  Louis,  commands  lower 

defences  of  the  Cape  Fear,  282, 

302. 
Hedrick,  Col.  John  J.,  in  command 

at     Confederate     Point     281; 

sketch  of,  302,  803;  surrenders 

Ft  Caswell  in  obedience  to  the 

Governor's  order,  278,  279;  takes 

possession  of  Ft  Caswell  and 

Ft.  Johnston,  277,  295;  176,252, 

833. 
Helde,  A.   S.,  Danish  vice  consul, 

190. 


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706 


Index 


Hemenway,  Mrs.  Mary,  educatioaal 
work  of  for  Wilmington,  173, 661. 

Henrietta,  early  Ci^m  Fear  River 
boat.  679. 

Heme,  Captain,  44. 

Heron,  Benjamin,  78. 

Herring,  Rev.  R.  H.,  639. 

Hewitt,  Admiral,  British  naval  offi- 
cer, blockade  runner,  452. 

Hewitt,  John  T.,  162. 

Hewlet's  Creek,  signs  of  Indian  oc- 
cupancy on,  18. 

Hiden,i  Rev.  J.  C,  636. 

Higgins,  Michael,  helps  to  lay  oft 
Newton,  45, 248.  See  Wilmington, 

Highland  Point,  named  by  explor- 
ers, 28. 

Hill,  Arthur  J.,  residence  ot  75;  172. 

Hill,  Qen.  D.  H.,  333,  363,  368. 

Hill,  Frederick  C,  editor,  178,  557; 
214. 

Hill,  Dr.  Frederick  J.,  "Father  of 
public  schools,"  658;  Orton 
home  of,  57;  71. 

Hill,  MaJ.  Gabriel  H.,  sketch  of,  324. 

Hill,  MaJ.  James  H.,  121,  484. 

Hill,  Capt.  John,  residence  of,  71; 
Revolutionary  officer,  121,  579; 
sketch  of,  74. 

Hill,  John,  Jr..  71. 

Hill,  Dr.  John  "Bank."  president 
Bank  of  Cape  Fear,  238;  sketch 
of,  251;  176. 

Hill,  Dr.  John,  of  Kendal,  824. 

Hill.  Dr.  John  Hampden,  sketch  of, 
63. 

Hill,  Lieut.  John  Hampden,  military 
service  of,  324. 

Hill,  John  L.,  172. 

Hill,  Joseph  Alston,  contest  of  with 
Governor  Graham  over  railroad 
policy,  148;  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  566;  sketch  of, 
66,  251. 

Hill,  Mrs.  Joseph  A.,  entertains 
Henry  Clay,  214. 

Hill,  Dr.  Nathaniel,  sketch  of,  72, 
73;  213,  214. 

Hill,  Dr.  Thomas,  324. 


^This  should  be  Hiden  in  the  text. 


Hill,  William,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  566;  welcomes 
President  Polk,  211, 212;  187, 252. 

Hill,  Capt  William,  Revolutionary 
oiBcer,  120;  sketch  of,  77;  112, 
579. 

Hill,  Rev.  WiUiam  E.,  617. 

Hill,  Hon.  William  H^  residence  ot 
75;  66. 

Hilton,  Capt  William,  report  of  on 
exploration,  2,  26-30;  62. 

Hilton  Riv^,  explorers'  report  of, 
28,  29;  584. 

Hinsdale,  Col.  John  W.,  325. 

Historical  monographs,  publicatioB 
ot  V. 

Historic  spots  in  North  Carolina  of 
the  colonial  period  yet  un- 
marked, 583-587. 

Hoard,  Seth,  141. 

Hobart,  Captain,  distinguished  Brit- 
ish naval  officer  commanding 
blockade  runner  Don,  400; 
quoted,  289,  290;  452. 

Hodgson,  John,  Speaker  of  the  As- 
sembly (1739),  49. 

Hodgson,  Valentine,  170. 

Hoge,  Rev.  Dr.  Moses  D.,  exciting 
trip  of  in  blockade  runner  Ad- 
vance, 455. 

Hoge,  Rev.  Peyton  H.,  617,  626. 

Hogg,  Robert,  member  Wilmington 
Committee  of  Safety,  111;  pro- 
motes Revolutionary  Conven- 
Uon,  110. 

"Hogg's  Folly,"  160,  193.  See  Para- 
dise, 

Hogue,  Rev.  Richard  W.,  poem  by, 
61;  610. 

Hoke,  Gen.  Robert  F.,  commands 
defence  of  Wilmington,  495; 
365. 

Hollingsworth,  John,  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Hollinshead,  William,  615. 

Holmes,  Gabriel,  141. 

Holmes,  Gabriel,  Jr.,  615. 

Holmes,  Gov.  Gabriel,  death  ot  229. 

Holmes,  Mrs.  Gabriel,  572. 


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Index 


707 


Holmes,  H.  L.,  228. 

Holmes,  James  D.,  856. 

Holmes,  John  L.,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  187,  566;  212, 
226,  232,  611. 

Holmes,  Dr.  Joseph  A.,  quoted,  203; 
report  of  on  Indian  mounds,  19- 
24;  16. 

Holmes,  Rev.  K.  D.,  631. 

Holmes,  Lucian,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  187,  566. 

Holmes,  Owen,  death  of,  187;  emi- 
nent member  Wilmington  Bar, 
666. 

Holt,  Obadiah,  78. 

Holtie  (modem  steamer),  compari- 
son of  with  vessels  in  the  carry- 
ing trade  of  an  earlier  time, 
501, 686. 

Hood,  Gen.  John  Bell,  365. 

Hooper,  Anne,  witness  to  Harnett's 
will,  122. 

Hooper,  Archibald  Maclaine,  editor, 
177;  sketch  of,  258,  556;  615. 

Hooper,  Johnson,  author,  556,  557; 
sketch  of,  258,  259. 

Hooper,  William,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  565;  member 
Wilmington  Committee  of 
Safety,  110,  111;  procures  call 
of  first  Revolutionary  Conven- 
tion, 110;  signer  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  556; 
sketch  of,  76. 

Home,  Robert,  publishes  descrip- 
tion and  map  of  North  Carolina, 
2,5. 

"Horse  Pond,"  description  of,  160, 
161,  164. 

Horsey,  Captain,  421,  422. 

Hort,  Dr.  William  P.,  promoter  W. 
and  W.  R.  R.,  147,  148. 

Hoskins,  Mrs.,  141. 

Hoskins,  Rev.  B.  L.,  promoter  Odd 
Fellows'  School,  171. 

Houston,  Samuel,  103. 

Houston,  Capt.  William  J.,  103. 

Houston,  Dr.  William,  appointed 
stamp  master,  91 ;  patriotic  serv- 
ice of  later,  103;  resignation  of. 
93;  sketch  of,  100103. 


Howard,  Emily,  191. 

Howe,  Gen.  Robert,  distinguished 
in  French  and  Indian  War  and 
in  the  Revolution,  50,  120;  in 
command  of  Fort  Johnston,  54; 
leader  in  resistance  to  Stamp 
Act,  92,  98;  promotes  Revolu- 
tionary Convention,  110;  resi- 
dence of,  57,  60;  sketch  of,  76. 

Howell,  Rev.  Andrew  J.,  617,  627, 
628. 

Howey,  Thomas  H.,  170. 

Howquah,  blockader,  attacks  block- 
ade runner  Lynx,  450,  451;  481. 

Huggins,  Lieut.  George  W.,  sketch 
of,  325. 

Huggins,  James  B.,  military  service 
of,  325. 

Hughes,  ,  assists  in  purchase 

for  the  State  of  the  blockade 
runner  Advance,  454;  officer  of 
the  Advance,  455. 

Hunt,  Rev.  Thomas  P.,  617. 

Huntsville,  Federal  ship,  chase  by, 
429. 

Hyrne,  Colonel,  residence  of,  71. 

Immortality  (poem),  264,  265. 

Indians. 
Account  of  tribes  of: 
Algonquin,  17;  Burghaw,  25; 
Catawbas,  25;  •  Congarees,  25; 
Iroquois,  17;  Keyawees,  25;  Old 
Cheraws,  25;  Sapona,  14,  25; 
Saxapahaw,  16,  25;  Siouan,  16, 
17;  Toteras,  25;  Waccamaws, 
43;  Warrennuncock,  16;  Wax- 
haw,  25;  Woccon,  16;  Tamas- 
sees,  24,  25;  black  drink  of,  15; 
disappearance  of,  25;  last  set- 
tlement of  on  the  peninsula,  18 ; 
massacre  in  Albemarle,  38; 
mounds  of,  19-24;  occupancy  of, 
16-18;  pirates  supposed  to  have 
amalgamated  with,  37;  pottery 
of,  17;  trade  with,  30;  Tusca- 
rora  War,  38. 

Innes,  Capt.  James,  commands  Cape 
Fear  troops  at  Cartagena,  49, 52, 
119;  commands  Virginia  forces 


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Innes,  Capt  James,  continued, 

in  French  and  Indian  War,  52, 
119,  248;  leaves  money  for  a 
free  school,  248. 

Innes  Academy,  account  ot  248, 594. 

Innett,  Rev.  I.,  636. 

"Intelligent   Ck)ntrabands,"   account 
of,  392. 

Iredell,  James,  Life  and  Correspond- 
ence  of  quoted,  76,  77. 

Iredell,  James  (of  Raleigh),  224. 

Iverson,  Col.  Alfred,  363. 

Ives,  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.,  608. 

Ivy,  Captain  (steamboat),  195. 


Jackson,  J.  W.,  560,  562. 

Jackson,  Stonewall,  anniversary  of 
death  of  observed  as  Memorial 
Day,  313;  wounded,  275. 

Jacobi,  J.  N.,  646. 

Jacobi,  M.  W.,  646. 

Jacobi,  Nathaniel,  646. 

Jacobs,  Bela  H.,  252. 

Jacobs,  Benjamin,  615. 

Jacob's  Run,  161,  593. 

James,  Hinton,  engineer  in  charge 
of  early  Cape  Fear  River  im- 
provement, 145. 

James,  Lieut.  John  Christopher, 
sketch  of,  325. 

James,  Mrs.  John  C,  572. 

James,  John  S.,  252. 

James,  Joshua  T.,  editor,  178,  559, 
563;  publishes  account  of  yellow 
fever  epidemics  (1821,  1862), 
287;  sketch  of,  563;  252. 

James,  Adj.  Theodore  C,  sketch  of, 
326;  345. 

James  Walker  Memorial  Hospital, 
sketch  of,  597-603. 

Jarrett,  Rev.  Nathan,  629. 

Jastrow,  Dr.  Marcus,  644,  645. 

Jefferson,  Joseph,  narrative  of  ex- 
periences in  Wilmington  by, 
262-264;  561. 

Jenkins,  Michael,  promoter  A.  C.  L. 
Railroad,  668. 

Jenkins,  Rev.  J.  T.,  638. 

Jenkins,  Nelson,  638. 


Jenkins,  Mrs.  Nelson,  638. 

Jennings,  Qeorge,  141. 

Jennings,  Thomas,  141. 

Jenny  Lind  incident,  265-267. 

Jewett,  Bradley,  241. 

Jewett,  Ella  (Mrs.  Crosley),  244. 

Jewett,  Creorge  W.,  account  of  school 
taught  by,  238-244,  656. 

Jewett,  Mrs.  George  W.,  teacher,  238. 

Jewett,  Stephen,  teacher,  sketch  of, 
238;  253. 

Jewett,  Stephen,  jr.,  sketch  of,  326; 
242,  243. 

Jewett,  William,  242. 

Joceljm,  Samuel  R.,  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  566. 

Johnson,  Robert,  78. 

Johnston,  Gov.  Gabriel,  administra- 
tion of,  83-85;  appointed  com- 
missioner to  assist  in  erecting 
Ft  Johnston,  53;  espouses  cause 
of  Newton  against  Brunswick, 
45-49;  Ft.  Johnston  named  for, 
543;  reports  on  raising  troops 
against  the  Spaniards,  51;  76. 

Johnston,  Capt  George  B.,  323. 

Johnston,  Gten.  Joseph  E.,  295,  309, 
321,  325. 

Jones,  Capt  Booker,  380. 

Jones,  David,  185. 

Jones,  Frederick,  member  New  Han- 
over County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111 ;  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106;  promotes  Revo- 
lutionary Convention,  110;  resi- 
dence of,  71. 

Jones,  Col.  John  D.,  210,  218,  249. 

Jones,  Capt  J.  Pembroke,  comman- 
der C.  S.  ram  Raleigh,  201,  480, 
482;  sketch  of,  326,  327;  282. 

Jones,  Col.  Maurice,  active  in  re- 
sistance to  Stamp  Act  92;  resi- 
dence of,  72,  92. 

Jones,  Murphy  V.,  collector  of  cus- 
toms, 190. 

Jones,  Richard  J.,  treasurer  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  676. 

Jones,  Attorney  General  Robert  de- 
cision of  on  detained  merchant- 
men, 94,  95. 


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709 


Jones,  Col.  Thomas  M.,  military 
service  of,  282. 

Jones,  W.  F.,  566. 

Jones,  William,  Justice  County 
Court  (1777),  186;  member 
New  Hanover  County  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  111. 

Jordan,  Col.  J.  V.,  360. 

Jordan,  Rev.  W.  H.,  636. 

Joy, ,  teacher,  666. 

Joyner,  Andrew,  director  W.  and  W. 
R.  R,,  150. 

Joyner,  Dr.  J.  T.,  quoted,  659. 

Judd,  Dr.,  608. 

Jury,  William  Edward,  615. 

Juske,  John,  witness  to  Harnett's 
will,  122. 

Kansas,  blockader,  481. 

Katz,  M.  M.,  646. 

Kearsage,  U.  S.  man-of-war,  408. 

Kegley,  Rev.  C.  R.,  641. 

Keith,  B.  F.,  secures  new  custom 
house,  595,  596. 

Keith,  Edwin  A.,  216,  252,  459. 

Kellogg,  Joseph,  141. 

Kellogg,  William,  240. 

Kellum,  Woodus,  566. 

Kelly,  Hanson,  magistrate  of  police, 
210;  141. 

Kelly,  John  William,  172. 

Kenan,  Felix,  member  N.  C.  Sons  of 
Liberty,  106. 

Kenan,  Graham,  328, 566. 

Kenan,  Col.  James,  chairman  Dup- 
lin County  Committee  of  Safety, 
111;  member  Duplin  County 
"Court  Martial"  (1777),  103; 
Revolutionary  officer,  115,  329. 

Kenan,  Capt.  James  G.,  sketch  of, 
327,  328;  wounded  and  cap- 
tured, 345. 

Kenan,  Dr.  Owen,  328. 

Kenan,  Owen  Rand,  member  Con- 
federate Congress,  329 ;  328,331. 

Kenan,  Thomas,  settled  in  Duplin 
County  in  1735,  328. 

Kenan,  Col.  Thomas  S.,  prisoner  of 
war  on  Johnson's  Island,  340, 
345;  sketch  of,  329-382;  828. 


Kenan,  Capt.  William  Rand,  sketch 

of,  332;  589,  590. 
Kennedy,  Kate,  teacher,  657. 
Kerr,  Captain,  325. 
Keystone  State,  blockader,  463,  495. 
Kidder,  Edward,  loss  by  of  blockade 

runner,  453 ;   president  Wilming- 
ton Gas  Light  Company,   676; 

212. 
Kidder,  Fred,  242. 
Kidder,  George  W.,  military  service 

of,  332. 
Kidder,  Mrs.  George  W.,  president 

N.  C.  Society  of  Colonial  Dames 

of  America,   578,   580;    quoted, 

583. 
Kidder,  Gilbert  P.,  242,  243. 
Kimball,  Hon.  S.  I.,  superintendent 

Cape  Fear  Life-saving  Service^ 

527. 
King,  Charles  Humphrey,  sketch  of, 

332. 
King,  Rev.  Joseph  P.,  639. 
King,  Nettle,  637. 
Kingsbury,   Dr.  T.  B.,  editor,  562; 

quoted,  569,  570;  sketch  ot  564, 

565. 
Kinlaw,  Corporal  T.,  352. 
Kitchin,  Ck)V.  W.  W.,  540,  542. 
Kramer,  Rev.  J.  W.,  638. 
Kyle,  Lieut.  William  E.,  sketch  of, 

332, 333. 


Lamb,  CoL  John  C,  487. 

Lamb,  Col.  William,  commander  of 
Ft  Fisher,  281,  293,  381,  398, 
481;  heroic  defence  of  Ft. 
Fisher  by,  385,  386,  493,  494; 
Lieut.  Cushing  tries  to  capture, 
490;  protecting  blockade  run- 
ners, 311,  437,  442,  444,  445,  448, 
451;  quoted,  359,  461;  sketch  of, 
333;  wounded,  386,  434,  494. 

Lament,  D.  A.,  269. 

Lane,  Rev.  E.  E.,  626. 

Lane,  Ezekiel,  largest  landowner  in 
New  Hanover  County,  68;  Stag 
Park  sold  to,  64. 

Lane,  Gton.  James  H.,  303,  328,  364. 


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710 


Index 


Lane^  Joel,  j^antatlon  of  site  of 
State  capital,  207. 

Lane,  Levin,  residence  of,  68. 

Lane,  Levin,  Jr.,  242. 

Langdon,  Richard  F.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  335;  263. 

La  Pierre,  Rev.  John,  605. 

Larklns,  John,  member  New  Han- 
over County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Latham,  Capt.  A.  C,  322. 

Lathrop,  Rev.  Leonard  E.,  minister, 
617;  teacher,  656. 

Latimer,  Henry  G.,  243. 

Latimer,  William,  president  Sea- 
coast  Railway,  677. 

Latta,  John  C,  623. 

Latta,  John  R.,  sketch  of,  333,  334; 
623. 

Laughlin,  J.  J.,  590. 

Laurence,  Alexander,  465. 

Law,  Augusta,  191. 

Law,  Gen.  E.  M.,  347. 

Law,  Henry,  191. 

Law,  Sidney  G.,  172. 

Lawrence,  Mrs.  (Sister  Cecilia),  613. 

Lawson,  John,  monument  to,  584. 

Lawson's  map  referred  to,  2. 

Lawson,  William  E.,  editor,  564. 

Lazarus,  Aaron,  director  W.  and  W. 
R.R..150;  184.190. 

Lobby,!  Captain,  commander  block- 
ade runner  Little  Hattie,  452. 

Lee,  Capt  Daniel  W..  sketch  of,  406, 
407. 

Lee,  Light  Horse  Harry,  brings 
news  of  Comwallis'  surrender, 
115. 

Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E.,  correspondence 
of  with  General  Grant  at  Cold 
Harbor,  352,  353;  message  of  to 
Governor  Vance  in  praise  of 
N.  C.  troops,  308;  telegram  of 
to  Colonel  Lamb  intercepted,  387. 

Legare's  Neck,  famous  hunting 
ground,  71. 

Leon,  Lewis,  sketch  of,  384,  335. 

Levy,  Jacob,  141. 


»This  should  be  Lebby  in  the  text. 


Lewis,   Hon.   Dickson  H.,  in  steam- 
boat wreck,  195. 

Lewis,  Capt.  T.  C,  300.  335. 

Liberty  Pond,  description  of,  60. 

Life-Savingr  Service,  account  of,  527- 
529. 

Light  Vessel  No.  94,  descripUon  ot 
518,  519;  position  of,  517,  524. 

Ules,  Col.  E.  R.,  360. 

Lillington,  Gen.  Alexander,  bums 
Mt  Blake,  Craig's  headquarters, 
71;  member  Directory  chosen  by 
the  people  to  resist  the  Stamp 
Act,  95,  97,  98;  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111;  residence  of,  69,  W; 
sketch  of,  69,  120;  tries  to  arrest 
progress  of  Loyalists,  113-115; 
wins  victory  at  Moore's  CreA, 
126;  77. 

Lillington,  Mrs.  Alexander,  said  to 
have  been  on  the  battlefield  st 
Moore's  Creek,  69. 

Lillington,  George,  69. 

Lillington,  John  A.,  187. 

Lillington,  Lieut.  John,  justice  of 
County  Court  (1777),  ISB;  Rer- 
olutlonary  oflScer,  120. 

Lincoln,  President  Abraham,  271. 

Lincoln,  Gen.  Benjamin,  surrenders 
at  Charleston,  114,  120. 

Lind,  Jenny,  155,  265. 

Undsay,  Robert,  teacher,  sketch  of, 
172;  186,  253. 

Uneker  Memortal  Hall,  628. 

Uneker,  William  A.,  628. 

Lineker,  Mrs.  William  A.,  628. 

Linn,  Rev.  J.  A.,  640. 

Lippltt,  Mrs.  Devereux,  teacher,  657. 

Lippitt,  Fanny,  191. 

Lippitt,  J.  J.,  212,  226,  252,  611. 

Lippitt,  Capt  J.  W.,  military  service 
of,  336. 

Lippitt,  W.  H.,  252. 

Little,  J.  W.,  566,  596. 

Lloyd,  George,  141. 

Lloyd,  Col.   James,   member  N.  C. 
Sons  of  Liberty,  106. 

Lloyd,  Richard,  141,  615. 


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711 


Lloyd,  Mrs.,  teacher,  652. 

Lloyd,  Col.  Thomas,  member  Direc- 
tory chosen  by  the  people  to  re- 
sist Stamp  Act,  95,  97. 

Lobb,  Captain,  commander  H.  B.  M.'s 
sloop  of  war  Viper,  96;  declares 
confidence  in  ability  to  resist 
patriots,  98;  denied  provisions 
for  British  forces  on  the  river, 
95;  sought  in  Tryon's  Palace  by 
patriots,  104. 

Lockwood,  Capt  Robert,  commander 
blockade  runner  Margaret  and 
Jessie,  462;  prisoner  of  war  at 
Ft  Lafayette,  465. 

Lockwood,  Capt.  Thomas  J.,  com- 
mands blockade  runner  Colonel 
Lamb,  452;  dangerous  experi- 
ence of  in  a  small  boat,  465-467. 

Lockwood,  Mrs.  Thomas  J.,  danger- 
ous experience  of  in  a  small 
boat,  465-467. 

Lockwood's  Polly,  county  seat  at, 
680;  destruction  of  by  Indians, 
36,  40, 41. 

"Loco  Foco"  Democrats,  incident 
from  which  name  was  derived, 
175. 

London,  Alexander,  242. 

London,  John,  141. 

London,  John  (died  young),  187. 

London,  John,  Jr.,  242,  243. 

London,  J.  R.,  210,  253. 

London,  Mauger,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  566;  187,  214, 
228,  252,  611. 

Long,  Anthony,  early  explorer  sent 
from  Barbadoes,  30,  31,  62. 

Looking  Forward,  685-687. 

Lord,  F.  J.,  253. 

Lord,  John,  135. 

Lord,  John  B.,  243. 

Lord,  Willie,  242. 

Lord,  William,  Revolutionary  officer, 
120. 

Lord.  William  C,  141. 

Lord,  W.  C,  collector  of  customB,  190; 
249,  250. 


Lords  Proprietors,  choose  Sir  John 
Teamans  governor,  81;  forbid 
settlement  within  20  miles  of 
Cape  Fear  River,  38;  King's 
grant  to,  81;  oppose  newspapers, 
556. 

Loring,  Captain,  commands  U.  S. 
man-of-war  Sabine,  404,  405. 

Loring,  Reuben,  141. 

Loring,  Thomas,  editor,  117;  sketch 
of,  250,  557;  218,  224,  226,  249, 
615. 

Loughlin,  C.  C,  566. 

Louisiana,  493.  See  Butlet^a  powder 
ship. 

Love,  D.  C,  561. 

Love  Grove  Plantation,  169. 

Love,  William  J.,  141. 

Lowry, ,  teacher,  656. 

Lowry,  William,  252. 

Lumber  River,  original  name  of,  25. 

Lyell,  Sir  Charles,  writes  of  Wil- 
mington fires,  144. 

Lynch,  Commodore  William  F.,  con- 
troversy of  with  General  Whltr 
ing,  487;  determines  to  raise 
blockade  of  New  Inlet,  480,482; 
fleet  of,  486,  487. 

Mabson,  Arthur,  residence  of,  74. 

Macauslan,  John,  615. 

Maccoll,  John,  615. 

MacComb,  Gen.  Alexander,  U.  S. 
engineer,  144. 

Macdonald,  Flora,  autobiography  of, 
127-129;  comes  to  the  Cape  Fear, 
X,  39,  123;  idenUfied  with  Roy- 
alist party,  126;  reception  of, 
125. 

MacKay,  Murdock,  185,  615. 

MacKay,  William,  615. 

Macks,  Jacob  I.,  646. 

Maclaine,  Archibald,  active  in  re- 
sisting the  Stamp  Act,  92;  emi- 
nent member  Wilmington  Bar, 
565;  member  Wilmington  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  111 ;  promotes 
Revolutionary  Convention,  110; 
Shakespearean  critic,  76,  77,  81. 


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712 


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Maclaine,  Capt  John,  Revolatlonary 
officer,  120. 

Maclaine,  Thomas,  witness  to  Har- 
nett's will,  122. 

MacLaurin,  John,  narrative  by,  159- 
196;  sketch  of,  159. 

MacRae,  Alexander,  jr.,  193. 

MacRae,  Gen.  Alexander,  military 
history  of,  127,  302,  337;  presi- 
dent W.  and  W.  R.  R.,  152,  153, 
155;  promoter  W.  and  W.  R.  R., 
148,  675;  residence  of,  185; 
superintendent  W.  and  W.  R.  R., 
150,  151,  195;  170,  194,  214,  218. 

MacRae,  Colin,  675. 

Macrae,  David,  visits  Highland  set- 
Uement,  123-127. 

MacRae,  Donald,  British  vice  consul, 
467;  president  Thalian  Asso- 
ciation, 257;  promoter  public 
schools,  663;  176,  252,  269,  675. 

MacRae,  Donald,  jr.,  573,  675. 

MacRae,  Duncan  K.,  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  566. 

MacRae,  Capt.  Henry,  military  serv- 
ice of,  337;  172. 

MacRae,  Hugh,  public  activities  of, 
548,  675-677. 

MacRae,  Maj.  James  C,  military 
service  of,  339. 

MacRae,  Col.  John,  commissioner  of 
Wilmington,  174;  promotes  Odd 
Fellows'  School,  171;  193,  194, 
212,  214.  252,  675. 

MacRae,  John  C,  252. 

MacRae,  Capt.  Robert  B.,  military 
service  of,  339;  172. 

MacRae,  Roderick,  243. 

MacRae,  Roderick  (Brown  Roder- 
ick), descendants  of,  675. 

MacRae,  Capt.  Walter  G.,  mayor  of 
Wilmington,  301,  541;  retentive 
memory  of,  243;  sketch  of,  337, 
338;  under  double  cross  fire  on 
Morris  Island,  300. 

MacRae,  Gen.  William,  sketch  of, 
127,  338,  339;  354. 

McAden,  Rev.  Hugh,  616. 

McAllister,  Lieut.  H.  C,  352. 


McClammy,  MaJ.  Charles  W^  sketch 

of,  336. 
McClammy,  H.,  666. 
McClammy,  R.  P.,  663,  664. 
McClanahan,  Rev.  G.  W^.,  641. 
McClure.   Rev.   Alezandw    O..    619, 

629. 
McCoU,  J.,  252. 
McCormick,  Captain,   369. 
McCormick,  J.  G.,  566. 
McCullen,  Rev.  A.,  631. 
McCuUoh,   Henry,   land    grants    to, 

328;    sends   settlers    to    North 

Carolina,  101,  328. 
McDaniel,!  Rev.  James,  636. 
McDonald,  Gen.  Donald,  capture  of, 

136. 
McDonough,  Lieut  Patrick,  battery 

at  Fort  Caswell  named  for,  548. 
McDougal,   George  C.    escapes    Im- 
prisonment   in    Pt.    LoLt&yBtte, 

462-465;  467. 
McDougal,  Capt  James  L.,  304. 
McDowell,  Col.  J.  C.  S.,  347. 
McDowell,  Rev.  John,  early  service 

of,  85,  86,  607. 
McDuffle,  Archibald,  78. 
Mcllhenny,     John,     superintendent 

Wilmington    Gas    Ught     Com- 
pany, 676. 
Mcllhenny,  Lieut  John  C,  military 

service  of,  340. 
Mcllhenny,  Col.  Thomas  C,  recites 

incident    of    Daniel    Webster's 

visit,  218;  253. 
Mclntire,  Dr.  Andrew,  339. 
Mclntire,  Capt.  Robert  M.,  sketch  of, 

339,  340. 
Mclver,  Alexander,  work  of  as  State 

superintendent  of  education,  662. 
Mclver,     Charles     D.,     educational 

campaign  of,  662. 
Mclver,  Rev.  Colin,  615. 
McKaughan,  Rev.  J.  A.,  639. 
McKavett,  Capt.  Henry,  battery  at 

Pt  Caswell  named  for,  548. 
McKay, ,  officer  blockade  run- 
ner Armstrong,  423. 


iMcDiarmid  (not  indexed),  page  8*^,  should 
be  McDiarmid  in  the  text,  and  not  HoDearnud. 


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Index 


713 


McKay,  Gen.  James  Ivor,  sketch  of, 

227-229;  682. 
McKay,  Murdock,  185,  615. 
McKelway,  Dr.  A.  J.,  editor,  659. 
McKoy,  Judge  A.  A.,  356. 
McKoy,  Catherine,  642. 
McKoy,  Henry,  239. 
McKoy,  MaJ.  J.  A.,  360. 
McKoy,  Maj.  Thomas  Hall,  sketch 

of,  340. 
McKoy,  W.   B.,  quoted,  17;   sketch 

by,  591-694;  248,  566. 
McLauchlin,  Robert,  sketch  of,  171, 

172. 
McLaurin,  John,  editor,  659;  172. 
McLaurin,  Kate,  191. 
McLaurin,  Maggie,  191. 
McLean,  ,  officer  on  blockade 

runner  Chameleon,  473,  474. 
McLeod,  Maggie,  teacher,  164,  170. 
McManus,  Capt.  Thomas,  officer  in 

French  and  Indian  War,  119. 
McMillan,  Rev.  George  W.,  617. 
McMillan,  Hamilton,  quoted,  23,  24. 
McMillan,  Capt  J.  D.,  300. 
McMillan,  A.  Adj.  William  Dougald, 

sketch  of,  336,  337. 
McNeill,  Col.  Archibald  P.,  141.  249. 
McNeill,  Dr.  Daniel,  249. 
McNeill,  Rev.  George,  editor,  559. 
McNeill,  "Bluff  Hector,"  early  Scotch 

immigrant,  125. 
McNeill,  Rev.  James  A.,  617. 
McNeill,  William  Gibbs,  249. 
McNorton,  J.  A.,  566. 
McQueen,   Henry  C,   director  Tide 

Water    Power    Company,    677; 

sketch  of,  340,  341;   vice  presi- 
dent W.,  B.,  and  S.  R.  R.,  546; 

541,  561. 
McQueen,  Mrs.  Henry  C.  341. 
McQueen,  Rev.  Martin,  618. 
McRae,  Capt.  Farquhar,  141. 
McRae,  Rev.  W.  V.,  632. 
McRary  house,  headquarters  of  Com- 

wallis,  592. 
McRee,  Griffith,  242. 
McRee,  Griffith  J.,  quoted,  76,   77; 

214. 


McRee,  MaJ.  Griffith  John,  Revolu- 
tionary officer,  121. 

McRee,  Dr.  James  Fergus,  commis- 
sioner of  Wilmington,  180; 
magistrate  of  police,  174; 
scholar,  121;  sketch  of,  68,  182, 
183,  250;  169,  224,  249. 

McRee,  Dr.  James  Fergus,  jr.,  mili- 
tary service  of,  340;  surgeon  in 
Wilkings-Flanner  duel,  234,  236; 
193,  213,  226. 

McRee,  Mrs.  ,  141. 

McRee,  Robert,  242. 

McRee,  Sergt.  Maj.  Robert,  military 
service  of,  340. 

McRee,  Gen.  Sam,  officer  in  Mexican 
War,  121. 

McRee,  William,  682. 

McRee,  Cadet  William,  134. 

Madison,  Surgeon  William  S.,  bat- 
tery at  Ft.  Caswell  named  for, 
548. 

Maffltt,  Capt.  John  N.,  commands  the 
Lilian,  403,  452;  commands  the 
Owl,  433,  471,  475;  escapes  cap- 
ture on  crossing  Western  Bar 
after  fall  of  Ft.  Fisher,  471,  472, 
475,  476;  life  of  at  Smithville, 
202;  report  of  hydrographic 
work  of,  201,  202;  sketch  of, 
202,  203;  takes  news  of  fall  of 
Ft  Fisher  to  Nassau,  476. 

Maffitt,  Mrs.  John  N.,  describes  life 
of  Capt.  Maffitt  at  Smithville, 
202,  203. 

Maglenn,  Capt.  James,  escapes  from 
capture,  458;  officer  blockade 
runner  Advance,  457. 

Main  Bar,  changes  in  the  channel 
of,  506;  507,  511. 

Malloy,  Capt  Charles,  303. 

Mallory,  Secretary  S.  R.,  navy  of, 
486,  487. 

Manly,  M.  E.,  Judge  ( Superior  Court) , 
186. 

Mann,  Rev.  Dr.  James,  631. 

Manning,  C,  252. 

Manning,  Capt.  E.  W.,  480. 

Manson,  Dr.  Otis  F.  (of  Richmond), 
367. 


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714 


Index 


Marcus,  H..  646. 

Marion  Mission,  account  of,  628, 
629. 

Marion,  Rev.  Patrick,  643. 

Marion  Sprunt  Memorial,  account 
of,  600-602. 

Blarsden,  Rev.  Richard,  early  serv- 
ice of,  71,  85,  606.  606. 

Marshall,  Captain  (steamboat),  195. 

Marshall,  James,  141,  615. 

Marshall,  John,  176. 

Marshall,  Samuel,  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Marsteller,  Col.  Lewis  D.,  Revolu- 
tionary officer,  252. 

Marsteller,  Oen.  Lewis  H.,  clerk  of 
New  Hanover  County  Court, 
122;  collector  of  customs,  190; 
sketch  of,  252;  194,  212,  218, 
226. 

Martin,  Alexander,  78,  103. 

MarUn,  Alfred,  253. 

Martin,  Mrs.  Alfred,  vice  president 
Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  293. 

Martin,  Captain  D.  A.,  commands 
Lilian,  402. 

Martin,  Capt.  Eugene  S.,  chief  of 
ordnance  and  artillery  at  Ft 
Fisher,  380;  plants  torpedoes  in 
Cape  Fear  River,  499,  500; 
sketch  of,  341,  342;  242,  243, 
566. 

MarUn,  Rev.  G.  A.,  639. 

Martin,  Gov.  Josiah,  action  of  with 
reference  to  Ft.  Johnston,  64; 
administration  of,  88,  112; 
course  of  in  the  Revolution, 
112,  113;  53.  126. 

Martin,  Gen.  J.  G..  blockade  recom- 
mended by.  454. 

Martin,  Silas  N.,  work  of  in  behalf 
of  Union  Free  School,  659,  660. 

Martin.  Willie,  243. 

Massachusetts  sends  aid  to  Cape 
Fear  (1667),  34. 

Matthews,  Dr.  John  E.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  342,  343. 


Maultsby,  Jolrn,  New  Liverpool 
(Wilmlnston)  situated  on  lands 
of,  14,   45. 

Maverick,  SamueU  writes  of  failure 
of  Charlestown    settlement,  U, 

Meade,  Professor,  657. 

Meares,  C^apt.  B.  G.,  military  service 
of,  344;  363,  364. 

Meares,  Ck>l.  Gaston,  death  of,  297. 
360,  579;  sketch  of,  296;  2U 
298,  344. 

Meares,  Mrs.  Gaston,  work  of  as 
president  N.  C.  Society  Colonial 
Dames  of  America,  579. 

Meares,  Iredell,  account  by  of  Presi- 
dent Taft's  visit  to  Wilmin^n. 
540-542;  quoted,  208;  566. 

Meares,  John  U,  212,  213,  252. 

Meares,  Mrs.  Kate  DeRosset,  612. 
613. 

Meares,  Col.  O.  P.,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  566;  secession- 
ist, 271;  second  in  Wilklngs- 
Planner  duel,  234-237;  sketch 
of,  343,  344;  280. 

Meares,  Tom,  242. 

Meares,  Thomas  D.,  187,  214,  219. 

Meares,  Thomas  D.,  jr.,  mUitMry 
service  of,  343;  243,  566. 

Meares,  Walker,  member  school 
committee,  668;  quoted,  155; 
sketch  by,  265. 

Meares,  Willie,  242. 

Meares,  William  B.,  director  W.  and 
W.  R.  R.,  150;  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  187,  566;  pro- 
moter W.  and  W.  R  R.,  1*8; 
210,  249,  252. 

Meginney,  Levin,  school  of,  172.  666; 
sketch  of,  656. 

Memminger,  C.  G.,  486. 

Mendelssohn,  Rabbi  Samuel,  645. 

Mengert,  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.,  640,  641. 

Meredith,  William,  629,  630,  633. 

Merrick,  Col.  George,  active  in  re- 
sisting Stamp  Act,  92;  member 
New  Hanover  County  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  111. 


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Index 


715 


Merrimac,  Confederate  ironclad, 
effect  of  on  naval  warfare,  477. 

Metts,  Capt.  Jamee  I.,  sketch  of,  344- 
346;  243,  273. 

Myers,  Rev.  E.  M.,  644. 

Middleton, ,  officer  on  a  block- 
ade runner,  423. 

Milan,  Anthony,  British  consul, 
sketch  of,  258,  269;  poem  about, 
460,  461. 

Miller,  C.  B.,  190. 

Miller,  David  M.,  260. 

Miller,  Dr.  James  A.,  service  of  as 
Confederate  surgeon,  346. 

Miller,  Col.  James  T.,  chairman 
Court  of  Pleas  and  Quarter  Ses- 
sions, 187,  254;  director  W.  and 
W.  R.  R.,  162;  president  Tha- 
lian  Association,  252,  254; 
sketch  of,  254,  265;  194,  211, 
212,  218,  226,  250,  263. 

Miller,  Capt.  John,  military  service 
of,  346;  310,  321. 

Miller,  T.  C,  187,  228. 

Miller,  Thomas,  eminent  member 
WUmington  Bar,  566;  269,  346. 

Mitchell,  B.  P.,  170. 

Mitchell,  Captain ,  656. 

Moir,  Rev.  James,  606,  607. 

Monroe,  President  James,  visits 
Wilmington;  208-211. 

Montgomery,  blockader,  takes  the 
blockade  runner  Bat,  403,  404. 

Monuments. 

Commemorating  Battle  of 
Moore's  Creek,  113;  commemo- 
rating resistance  to  Stamp  Act, 
581;  marking  the  site  of  Ft. 
Johnston,  581,  684;  to  Confeder- 
ate heroes,  275;  to  George  Davis, 
672-574;  to  Cornelius  Harnett, 
579,  580;  to  John  Lawson,  584; 
to  Col.  Maurice  Moore,  in  St. 
Philip's  Church,  581,  582;  to  the 
women  of  the  Revolution,  113. 

Moody,  Rev.  D.  L.,  evangelistic  serv- 
ices of,  617. 

Moon,  Capt.  J.  W.,  300. 

Mooney,  James,  quoted,  16. 

Moore,  Alfred,  210. 


Moore,  Judge  Alfred,  associate  jus- 
tice U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  77; 
residence  of,  57;  Revolutionary 
officer,  120;  sells  Rocky  Point 
lands,  68. 

Moore,  Col.  Alexander  Duncan, 
sketch  of,  306;  346. 

Moore,  Sergt  Maj.  Alexander 
Duncan,  military  service  and 
death  of,  346;  242. 

Moore,  B.  P.,  director  W.  and  W. 
R.  R.,  161. 

Moore,  George,  appointed  to  assist 
in  erecting  Ft.  Johnston,  53; 
justice  of  County  Court  (1777), 
186;  member  N.  C.  Sons  of 
Liberty,  106;  member  New  Han- 
over County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111;  one  of  the  leaders 
in  resistance  to  Stamp  Act,  97, 
98,  104;  residence  of,  70,  92. 

Moore,  Hilliary,  141. 

Moore,  Ida  N.,  682. 

Moore,  Capt.  J.  G.,  317. 

Moore,  Col.  James,  brings  troops 
from  South  Carolina  to  aid 
North  Carolina  colonists,  38. 

Moore,  Gen.  James,  active  in  resist- 
ance to  Stamp  Act,  97,  99;  death 
of,  77;  distinguished  in  French 
and  Indian  War  and  in  the 
Revolution,  50;  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111;  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106;  promotes  Revo- 
lutionary Convention,  110; 
sketch  of,  119;  78. 

Moore,  Gov.  James  (of  South  Caro- 
lina), 38. 

Moore,  James  Osborne,  purser  in 
Confederate  Navy,  346. 

Moore,  John,  residence  of,  57. 

Moore,  Capt.  Julius  Walker,  sketch 
of,  846. 

Moore,  Col.  Maurice,  brings  troops 
from  South  Carolina  to  aid 
North  Carolina  colonists,  38; 
contention  of  with  Gtovemor 
Burrington  over  Rocky  Point 
lands,  68;  leads  troops  to  aid  of 


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Moore,  Col.  Maurice,  continued. 
South   Carolina,   38;    residence 
ot  92;    settles  the  Cape  Fear 
(1725),   39;    tablet  erected   to, 
581;  44. 

Moore,  Ensign  Maurice,  jr..  Revolu- 
tionary officer,  120. 

Moore,  Judge  Maurice,  active  in  re- 
sistance to  Stamp  Act,  97;  76, 
81. 

Moore,  Nathaniel,  plantation  of 
(1734),  41,  42;  residence  of,  57. 

Moore,  Parker  Quince,  sketch  of, 
551;  views  of  on  municipal  gov- 
ernment, 551,  552. 

Moore,  Richard,  242,  243. 

Moore,  Roger,  252. 

Moore,  Capt.  Roger,  Revolutionary 
officer,  120. 

Moore,  Col.  Roger,  military  service 
of,  308;  368. 

Moore,  "King"  Roger,  builds  and  re- 
sides at  Orton,  41,  44,  57;  com- 
missioned to  assist  in  erecting 
Ft  Johnston,  53;  commissioned 
to  take  measures  for  defence 
against  Spaniards,  50;  gains 
victory  over  Indians  at  Sugar 
Loaf,  14,  16;  owned  Kendal,  58; 
why  called  "King"  Roger,  16. 

Moore,  Sallie,  70. 

Moore,  Schencklng,  residence  of,  57. 

Moore,  William,  sells  Russellbor- 
ough,  104. 

Moore,  William,  70. 

Moore's  Creek,  account  of  battle  of, 
69,  126;  113. 

Moran,  James,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Moran,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  S.,  631. 

Mordecai,  Emma,  teacher,  657. 

Morehead,  James,  Revolutionary 
officer,  118. 

Morehead,  Col.  James  T.,  335. 

Morehead,  John  M.,  elected  gover- 
nor, 175;  N.  C.  Commissioner 
to  Peace  Congress,  268. 

Morrelle,  Rev.  Daniel,  185. 

Morris,  Amy,  work  of  in  developing 
public  school  system,  660. 


Morris,  John,  191. 

Morris,  Wilkes,  253. 

Morrison,  Capt.  (George,  officer  on 
blockade  runner  Advance,  455; 
sketch  of,  457. 

Morton,  Rev.  P.  C,  626. 

Moseley,  Edward,  active  in  resist- 
ance to  Stamp  Act,  92;  commla- 
sioned  to  take  measures  for  de- 
fence against  the  Spaniards,  60; 
commissioned  to  assist  in  erect- 
ing Ft.  Johnston,  53;  library  ot 
80. 

Moseley,  Sampson,  justice  of  Ck>unty 
Court  (1777),  186;  member 
King's  council,  66;  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111,  112. 

Moseley,  W.  D.,  director  W.  and  W. 
R.  R..  150. 

Moseley's  map  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  reference  to,  7. 

Mosher,  historian,  81. 

Motte,  Rev.  Mr.,  608. 

Mount  Vernon,  blockader,  481. 

"Mud  Market"  (fish  market),  189. 
593. 

Mulock,  Jesse,  school  of,  165,  191, 
651;  170,  192. 

Mumford,  Professor,  657. 

Murchison,  Capt  David  R,  presi- 
dent Carolina  Central  Railway 
C!ompany,  671;  sells  controlling 
interest  in  (Carolina  Central  R. 
R.,  674;  sketch  of,  350,  351; 
with  Col.  K.  M.  Murchison  gives 
St.  Philip's  Church  to  diocese  of 
North  C^arolina,  348,  582. 

Murchison,  Duncan,  347. 

Murchison,  Ck)l.  John  R.,  death  of 
occasion  of  correspondence  be- 
tween (General  Lee  and  General 
Grant,  352,  353;  sketch  of,  351. 

Murchison,  Kenneth  McK.,  emigra- 
ted from  Scotland,  347. 

Murchison,  Col.  Kenneth  McKenzie, 
organizes  military  company, 
365;  owner  of  Orton,  57;  sketch 
of,  347-350;  with  Capt  D.  R, 
Murchison    gives    St    Philip's 


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Index 


717 


Mnrchison,  Col.  K.  M.,  continued. 
Church    to    diocese    of    North 
Carolina,  348;  306,  582. 

Murchison,  Mrs.  Kenneth  McK.,  680. 

Murchison,  Kenneth  McKenzie,  New 
York  architect,  son  of  Col.  Ken- 
neth McKenzie  Murchison,  601. 

Murphey,  Judge  Archibald,  210. 

Murphy,  boy  courier,  274. 

Murphy,  M..  141. 

Murphy,  Patrick,  141,  274. 

Murphy,  Rev.  Father,  heroism  of  in 
yellow  fever  epidemic,  287. 

Murphy,  Robert,  615. 

Murphy,  Rev.  Thomas,  642. 

Murray,  Capt.  Ajmsley,  oflScer  of  the 
British  Navy  commanding 
blockade  runners  Venus  and 
Hansa,  461,  469. 

Murrell,  Gaston  M.,  638. 

Murrell,  Z.  E.,  638. 

Muse,  Commodore  W.  T.,  sketch  of, 
363. 

Myers,  Charles  D.,  military  services 
of,  346. 

Myers,  C.  W.,  253. 

Myers,  Rev.  E.  M.,  644. 

Myers,  George,  253. 

Myrover,  J.  H.,  206. 

Nansemond    (blockader),   419,    420, 

481. 
Nash,  Judge  Frederick,  186. 
Nash,  Rev.  Dr.  L.  L.,  631. 
Nashville,  Confederate  cruiser,  478. 
Neale,  Samuel,  member  N.  C.  Sons 

of  Liberty.  106. 
Needham,  Lady  Alice,  579.. 
Negrohead  Point  (Point  Peter),  14, 

134. 
Nelson,  Charles,  narrative  of,  424- 

426;  432. 
Nethercutt,  Col.  J.  H..  314. 
Neuse  River,   colony  on,  well-nigh 

destroyed,  38. 
New  Bern,  effort  to  make  principal 

port   of   North    Carolina,    694; 

General     Lillington     stationed 

near,  116;  Governor  Martin  fled 


New  Bern,  continued, 

from,  112;  Governor  Tryon  es- 
tablished seat  of  government  at, 
87;  Revolutionary  Convention 
met  at,  110. 

Newcomer,  Waldo,  rehabilitates  A. 
C.  L.  Railroad,  668. 

New  England  explorers  (1660),  30. 

New  Hanover  Association,  112. 

New  Hanover  County,  early  popu- 
lation of,  139;  proceedings  of 
Committee  of  Safety  in,  110-112. 

New  Hanover  Militia,  120. 

New  Hanover  precinct,  originally  in 
Carteret,  40. 

New  Inlet,  closing,  12;  146;  depth 
of,  10;  defence  of,  135;  defence 
of  in  war,  276;  formation  of,  8; 
one  of  the  mouths  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River,  488,  507,  511;  tor- 
pedoes anchored  near,  600;  used 
by  blockade  runners,  388,  392, 
480. 

New  Inlet  Bar,  depth  on,  606,  611; 
used  by  trading  vessels,  607. 

Newland,  Rev.  L.  T.,  619. 

Newland,  Mrs.  L.  T.,  619. 

New  Liverpool,  46.  See  Wilmington, 

Newspapers  in  the  (}ape  Fear  and 
their  editors^  history  of,  74,  77, 
108,  177-181,  303,  566-565. 

Newton,  44,  46.    See  WilminQton. 

Newton,  Daniel,  172. 

Nina,  coastwise  boat,  224,  226. 

Niphon,  blockader,  attacks  block- 
ade runners,  407,  450,  469;  481. 

Nissfleld,  Mrs.  Anne,  78. 

Nixon,  Nicholas  N.,  611. 

Noble,  M.  C.  S.,  Superintendent  City 
public  schools,  663,  666. 

Noe,  Rev.  Thomas  P.,  613,  6l4. 

Noe,  Rev.  W.  R.,  614. 

Non-Importation  Agreement,  107- 
109. 

Norman,  Rev.  W.  C,  631. 

Norment,  Capt  William  S.,  303. 

North  Carolina,  Confederate  ship, 
description  of,  479;  heavy  draft 
of,  487. 


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718 


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North  Carolina  receirea  help  from 
South  Carolina  against  Indiana, 
88;  sends  help  to  South  Caro- 
lina against  Indians,  38. 

North  Carolina  Society  of  Colonial 
Dames  of  America,  erects  monu- 
ment to  Cornelius  Harnett,  579. 
S80;  marks  -itc  j*  TVyon's  Pal- 
ace, 106;  sketch  of,  678'id3. 

North  Carolina,  steamer  on  uie 
Charleston  line,  145,  195. 

Northeast  River.  Branch  of  Cape 
Fear  Rirer,  7;  improrement  of, 
12;  Wilmington  on,  14, 31;  early 
plantations  on,  sketch  of: 
Ashe-Moore,  68;  Castle  Haynes, 
71,  72;  aayton  Hall,  66;  Pair 
Fields,  74;  Green  Hill,  65,  66; 
HermlUge,  72;  Hilton,  75; 
Hymeham,  63,  71;  Ullington 
Hall,  69,  81;  Moore  Fields,  70; 
Moseley  Hall,  66;  Mt  Blake, 
71;  Mt  Gallant,  71;  Mulberry, 
71;  Neck,  64;  Nesces  Creek,  74; 
Oaks,  71;  Pleasant  Hall,  71; 
Rock  HiU,  78;  Rocky  Run,  72, 
73;  Rose  Hill,  73;  Sampson 
Hall,  65,  71,  120;  Sans  Souci, 
75,  169;  Spring  Field,  68;  Stag 
Park,  29,  31,  63,  64;  Strawberry, 
68;  Swann  Point,  71;  Vats,  68. 

Northrop,  Caroline,  191. 

Northrop,  Clarissa,  191. 

Northrop,  Isaac,  191. 

Northrop.  John  T.,  243. 

Northrop,  Capt.  Wm.  H.,  sketch  of, 
354. 

Northrup,  Commissary  General  L.  J., 
485. 

Northwest  River,  branch  of  Cape 
Pear  Rirer,  14,  41,  44. 

Norwood,  John  G..  663. 

Nutt,  J.  D.,  240. 

Nutt,  Henry,  active  in  closing  New 
Inlet,  1, 10,  11;  193,  219.  226,  506, 
637,  611. 


Oak    Island  Channel,   improvement 
of,  10. 


Oakley,  Mrs,  Julia  A.,  president  M^ 
mortal   Aasociatioo,  275. 

O'Connor,  Mkj.  D.,  643. 

Ocracoke  Inlet,  seised  by  Sp«i- 
iards,  49. 

Odd  Fellows'  Liodge.  organixaUoo 
of,  170,  171. 

Oil,  use  of  to  prerent  breaking  seas, 
demonstrated  in  an  article  by 
Alexander  Sprunt,  629;  by  cut- 
ter Seminole,  630,  631;  by  V.  S. 
xNavy,  530. 

Oldham,  Capt  W.  P.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  354. 

Old  Capitol  Pt^Mn,  369. 

Old  Inlet,  one  of  >b  mouths  of  the 
Cape  Fear  Rive;  483,  488.  See 
Main^  Bar  and  We^^m  Bar. 

"Old  Palace  Field,"  106 

Old  school  days  in  \^lmlngton, 
account  of,  238-244. 

Old-time  Spelling,  example*  ^^  ^' 

"Old  Seventy-six."  descrlpc^'^  ^^ 
186,  209.    See  Assemblp  9^^' 

Oliver,  Rev.  W.  B.,  637. 

Orton,  colonial  trading  vessel,  3d, 

Orton   Cove,    torpedoes   planted    AP' 
500.  \ 

Orton  Plantation.   Desert ption  of,  41^ 
57-61;  Heron  Colony  on,   61-63; 
residence     of     "King"     Roger 
Moore,  41,  57,  348;  residence  of 
Dr.  Fred  J.  Hill,  658;  residence 
of  Col.   K.  M.  Murchison,   348- 
350,  582;  residence  of  Mr.  James 
Sprunt,  62,  583;  Russellborougli 
on,  104;  sawmill  at,  510;  Tryon's 
palace  on,  103,  104,  105,  106, 142, 
143. 

Overman,  Senator  Lee  S.  Valuable 
service  of  in  securing  appro- 
priations for  Cape  Fear  River. 
517;  541,  547. 

Owen,  Gov.  James,  president  W.  and 
W.  R.  R.,  150,  161.  196;  resi- 
dence of,  176;  governor,  6S2; 
210,  214,  224,  226. 

Owen,  Oen.  Thomas,  303. 

Owen,  Rev.  Thomas  R.,  617. 

Owen,  Col.  William,  386. 


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719 


n 

■;-«? 

'J' 


Paddison,  Richard  P.,  narrative  by, 
354-368. 

Page.  Hon.  R.  N.,  641. 

Paggett,  Louis,  141. 

Pamlico,  colony  on  well-nigh  de- 
stroyed, 38. 

"Paradise,"  160. 

Parish,  Richard,  616. 

Parker,  Rev.  A.  J.,  631. 

Parker,  Wm.  M.,  668. 

Parrtsh,  Joel,  111. 

Parsley,  Oscar  O.  Commissioner  of 
schools,  174;  director  W.  and 
W.  R.  R.,  162;  uniforms  mili- 
tary company,  297;  213. 

Parsley,  Capt  O.  G.,  186,  193,  247, 
269. 

Parsley,  R.  A.,  648. 

Parsley,  Col.  William  M.,  sketch  of, 
297-299;    271,  346. 

Parsley,  Mrs.  William  M.,  narrative 
by,  271;   572. 

Patterson,  Rev.  Dr.  George,  chaplain 
Third  Regiment,  276;   254,  612. 

Patterson,  G^i.  Samuel  F.,  secretary 
Internal  Improvement  Conven- 
tion, 148. 

Pajme,  Rev.  Dr.  C.  M.,  619. 

Payseur,  Rev.  J.  J.,  638. 

Pearsall,  Oscar,  director  in  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  677; 
erects  Pearsall  Memorial 
Church.  619. 

Pearson,  Chief  Justice  R.  M.,  law 
school  of,  329;  186. 

Pearson,  T.  Gilbert,  report  of  on 
Crane  Neck  Heron  Colony,  62, 
63. 

Pearson,  Rev.  R.  G.,  617. 

Peck,  George  A.,  536. 

Peck,  Sarah,  191. 

Peden,  James  A.,  187. 

Peden,  Maj.  W.  N.,  194,  219,  262. 

Peele,  Rev.  R.  E.,  638. 

Pender,  Gen.  W.  D.,  309. 

Pennington,  William,  H.  B.  M.'s  con- 
troller of  customs,  76;  resigna- 
tion of,  99. 

Percival,  Andrew,  register  of  Berke- 
ley Precinct,  3. 


Person,  Hon.  Samuel  J.,  212,  270, 
566,  611. 

Peschau,  Rev.  Dr.  P.  W.  B.,  641. 

Peschau,  George  L.,  566. 

Peterson,  Sam,  242. 

Pettigrew,  Col.  J.  Johnston,  317. 

Phipps,  Captain,  commander  H.  B. 
M.'s  sloop  of  war  Diligence,  96. 

Pierce,  L.  H.,  193,  262. 

Plnckney,  Commodore,  commander 
naval  defences  of  the  Cape 
Fear,  487. 

Pirates,  execution  of,  37. 

Pitt,  Rev.  Thomas  D..  612. 

Plowden,  Rev.  J.  M.,  627,  628. 

Plyler,  Rev.  M.  T.,  632. 

Point  Caswell,  13. 

Point  Peter,  14. 

Poisson,  F.  P.,  253,  666. 

Poisson,  John  J.,  172. 

Poisson,  Dr.  Louis  J.,  sketch  of,  183. 

Poisson,  L.  J.,  566. 

Polk,  President  James  K.,  visits 
Wilmington,  208,  211,  212. 

Pool,  Col.  S.  D..  565. 

"Poor  House  Square,"  184. 

Porter,  Admiral  David  D.,  commands 
fleet  attacking  Ft  Fisher,  490- 
494;  quoted,  386,  387;  491. 

Porter,  Capt.  Elisha,  sketch  of,  358. 

Porter,  John,  92. 

Porter,  Capt  John  L.,  chief  con- 
structor C.  S.  Navy,  479. 

Porterfleld,  MaJ.  Denny,  682. 

Postroads,  Governor  Tryon  recom- 
mends establishment  of,  87. 

Potter,  Gilbert,  director  W.  and  W. 
R.  R.,  152;  214,  218. 

Potter,  Capt.  Samuel,  director  W. 
and  W.  R.  R.,  161,  162;  enter- 
tains Henry  Clay,  215;  218. 

Potts,  Joshua,  founds  Smithville, 
135;  makes  survey  and  map  of 
Cape  Fear  River,  9;  reports  on 
trade  of  Wilmington,  502-506. 

Pratt,  Dr.  Joseph  Hyde,  quoted,  203. 

Price,  Alfred  L.,  editor,  178,  558. 

Price,  Capt.  Joseph,  captures  Water 
Witch.  358;  sketch  of,  368;  404. 


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Price,  Capt.  Richard  W.,  sketch  of, 
358. 

Price,  Susie,  613. 

Prtce,  Dr.  William  J.,  editor,  178; 
252. 

Primrose,  Rev.  J.  W.,  619. 

Primrose,  W.  S.,  24. 

Pritchard,  Rev.  John  L.,  287,  636. 

Prometheus,  first  steamboat  on  the 
Cape  Fear,  account  of  arrival  of, 
138, 139. 

Public  buildings,  account  of,  591-603. 

Purdie,  Col.  Thomas  J.,  303. 

Purviance,  Samuel,  fortifies  Wil- 
mington against  approach  of 
British,  113;  Revolutionary  of- 
ficer, 120. 

Purviance,  Judge  William,  78,  92, 186. 

Quince,  John,  member  New  Hanover 
County  Committee  of  Safety, 
111. 

Quince,  Mrs.,  208. 

Quince,  Parker,  colonial  merchant, 
73,  74;  goes  to  relief  of  Boston, 
110. 

Quince,  Richard,  sr.,  lived  at  Orton, 
67;  member  N.  C.  Sons  of  Lib- 
erty, 106. 

Quince,  Richard,  jr.,  member  N.  C. 
Sons  of  Liberty,  106,  109. 

Quince,  Lieut  W.  H.,  310,  344. 

Quincy,  Josiah,  53,  579. 

Radcliffe,  Col.  James  Dillard,  sketch 
of,  307;  343,  363. 

Radcllffe,  Capt.  R.  S.,  644. 

Radclifl^e,  W.  C,  141. 

Railroads. 

Declaration  of  State  policy,  148; 
first  American  built  locomotive, 
149;  first  railroad  project,  149; 
history  of  different  lines:  At- 
lantic Coast  Line,  history  and 
present  condition  of,  668-671; 
Cape  Fear  and  Tadkin  Valley, 
projection  and  failure  of,  147; 
Carolina    Central,    history    of, 


Railroads,  continued. 

671-673;  Wilmington  subscribes 
to,  196,  197;  Seaboard  Air  Line, 
history  and   present   condition 
of,  671-674;  Wilmington,  Bruns- 
wick and  Southport,  account  of, 
546;  Wilmington,  Charlotte,  and 
Rutherford,  anticipated  value  of 
in   cotton   transportation,    513; 
becomes  Carolina  Central,  671; 
Wilmington     and     Manchester, 
small  loss  sustained  by  in  fire 
of  1864,  535;   Wilmington   sub- 
scribes to,  196,  197;  Wilmington 
and  Weldon    (Wilmington   and 
Raleigh),   chartered,  149;    con- 
necting lines  consolidated,  669; 
equipment  of  worn  out  at  end 
of  war.  668,  670;  history  of,  150- 
156;  194-196;  longest  railroad  in 
the  world  (1840),  153;  Internal 
Improvement     Convention      of 
1833,    148;    origin    of    railroad 
project,  149,  507. 

Rake's  Delight,  early  trading 
schooner,  39. 

Raleigh,  Confederate  ironclad  ram, 
attacks  blockading  squadron, 
480-483;   401,  487. 

Raleigh  Sentinel,  service  of  to 
North  Carolina,  564. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  spelling  of 
name  of,  2. 

Raleigh,  U.  S.  S.,  two  services  of 
silver  presented  to  by  North 
Carolina,  532. 

Ramousin,  Augustus,  252. 

Ramsey,  Capt.  John  A.,  359. 

Rankin,  Capt.  John  T.,  fire  engine 
named  for,  537;  sketch  of,  359; 
242,  243. 

Rankin,  Laura  (Mrs.  Rothwell), 
teacher,  164,  170,  191. 

Rankin,  N.  B.,  243. 

Rankin,  Robert,  141. 

Rankin,  Capt.  Robert  G.,  chairman 
Citizen's  Committee  of  Safety 
(1861),  277;  sketch  of,  358,  359; 
193,  214,  249,  269,  304. 


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721 


Ransom,  Senator  M.  W.,  N.  C.  Com- 
missioner to  Peace  Congress, 
268;  secures  aid  for  Cape  Fear 
River  improvement,  146. 

Ransom,  Gen.  Robert,  308,  666. 

Ransom,  Mrs.  Robert,  teacher,  666. 

Reed,  Capt.  E.  C,  commands  Con- 
federate cruiser  Sumter,  398; 
experiences  of  in  the  blockade, 
396,  399,  401,  407,  430,  431,  460, 
461. 

Regulators'  War,  136. 

Rehder,  Mrs.  Henry,  672. 

Reid,  David,  Jr.,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  187. 

Reid,  Gov.  David  S.,  N.  C.  Commis- 
sioner to  Peace  Congress  (1861), 
268;   228. 

Reilly,  MaJ.  James  I.,  commands 
Reilly's  battery,  277;  defends 
land  face  in  attack  on  Ft. 
Fisher,  369,  384-386;  in  com- 
mand at  Ft.  Caswell,  272;  sur- 
renders Ft.  Johnston,  280. 

Renting  for  a  "peppercorn,"  171. 

Repiton,  A.  Paul,  jr.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  360. 

Repiton,  Rev.  A.  Paul,  heroic  serv- 
ice of  in  yellow  fever  epidemic, 
287;  pastor,  636,  636;  teacher, 
170,  662;  360. 

Reston,  John  R.,  sketch  of,  266,  266; 
262. 

Reston,  Thomas  Clajrton,  616. 

Reston,  William,  263. 

"Retainers,"  137. 

Retrtbution,  Confederate  cruiser, 
404,  478. 

Revenue-Cutter  Service,  account  of, 
626-626. 

Revolution. 

Aid  sent  to  Boston,  110;  arrival 
of  the  British  fleet,  113;  Battle 
at  Big  Bridge,  118;  Battle  of 
Elizabethtown,  116,  116-119; 
Battle  of  McKenzie's  mill-dam, 
68;  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek,  69, 
113.  126;  Battle  on  the  New 
Bern  road,  209;  conditions  in 
Bladen,  116,  116,  119;  Comwal- 

46 


Revolution,  continued. 

lis  in  Wilmington,  114;  Craig's 
"bull  pen,"  114;  Craig  con- 
structs fort  at  Rutherford  Mills, 
114;  Craig  in  Duplin,  116; 
Craig  takes  possession  of  Wil- 
mington, 114;  encounter  at  Rock 
Creek,  116;  Fanning  captures 
Governor  Burke,  116;  first  overt 
act  of  violence,  103;  General 
Rutherford  hems  Craig  in,  116; 
Governor  Martin  flees  to  Ft 
Johnston,  112;  institution  of 
Revolutionary  Government,  110; 
Loyalists  embody,  113;  Loyal- 
ists overrun  Cape  Fear,  114; 
military  organizations  in  the 
Cape  Fear,  113;  military 
strength  of  the  Cape  Fear  de- 
pleted by  fighting  at  the  South, 
114;  New  Hanover  Association 
adopted.  111,  112;  North  Caro- 
lina engaged  in  blockade  run- 
ning, 464;  proceedings  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  110-112; 
rallying  of  the  Whigs,  116;  reso- 
lution for  independence,  88; 
Scotch  become  Tories,  126,  126; 
St.  James's  Church  made  hos- 
pital by  the  British,  608;  sur- 
render of  Comwallis,  116; 
Tories  subdued,  117;  "Tory 
Hole,"  117;  Whigs  and  Tories, 
112-116;  withdrawal  of  the 
British,  116. 

Rexford,  Rev.  W.  L.,  632. 

Reynolds,  Rt  Rev.  Dr.,  bishop  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  642. 

Rheinstein,  F.,  646. 

Rhett,  Col.  William,  organizes  ex- 
pedition against  pirates,  37. 

Rhodes,  Capt  E.  H.,  310,  344. 

Ricaud,  A.  G.,  666. 

Ricaud,  Rev.  T.  Page,  631. 

Rice,  Col.  Nathaniel,  appointed  com- 
missioner to  assist  in  erecting 
Ft.  Johnston,  63;  residence  of, 
67,  142;  678. 

Richardson,  Dr.  J.  J.,  physician  to 
President  Taft,  641. 


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Richardson,  Mra^  teacher,  172. 

Richert,  Rev.  Otto,  642. 

Ridley,  Oapt.  C.  S.,  assistant  engi- 
neer U.  S.  A^  xi. 

Rip  Channel,  depth  in   (1853),  10. 

Ritenour,  Dr.  Thomas  N.,  356. 

River  Counties,  history  of,  678-683. 

River  lighUng,  520,  621. 

Roads,  Henry,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Robeson,  John,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Uberty,  106;  78. 

Robeson,  Thomas,  682. 

Robeson,  William,  member  New 
Hanover  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  111;  118. 

Roberts^  Captain,  400.    See  Hohart. 

Robertson,  Rev.  Noel,  617. 

Robinson,  Q.  M.  Sergt  C.  H., 
sketch  of,  360;  231. 

Robinson,  Sergt  Frederick  G., 
sketch  of,  360. 

Robinson,  John,  justice  of  County 
Court  (1777),  186;  member 
Wilmington  Committee  of 
Safety,  111. 

Robinson,  John  M.,  president  R.  and 
G.  R.  R.,  674. 

Robson,  Stewart,  141. 

Rocky  Point,  described,  68;  Col. 
Maurice  Moore  contends  with 
(Governor  Burrington  over  pos- 
session of,  68;  named  by  explor- 
ers, 28,  31;  residence  of  many 
colonial  patriots,  67,  81,  92. 

Rogers,  Rev.  C.  T.,  632. 

Rogers,  H.  E.,  566. 

Rogers,  John  (midshipman),  teach- 
er, 655. 

Rose,  British  colonial  prison  ship, 
45,  60. 

Roster  of  Cape  Fear  Camp,  U.  C.  V., 
369-378. 

Roth  well,  Mrs.  Laura  P.  (Miss 
Laura  Rankin),  sketch  of,  170, 
657;  164,  191. 

Rountree,  George,  566,  573. 

Rowan,  Matthew,  commissioned  to 
assist  in  erecting  Ft.  Johnston, 
53. 


Rowan,  Robert,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Uberty,  106. 

R.  R.  Cuyler,  blockader,  steamer 
Stonewall  Jackson  chased  by  in 
neutral  waters,  416,  417. 

Ruark,  Robert,  566. 

Ruffin,  Hon.  Thomas,  N.  C.  commis- 
sioner to  Peace  Ck>ngress,  268. 

Russell,  Harry  P.,  sketch  ot  560; 
559. 

Russell.  H.  P.,  252. 

Russell,  J.  B.,  252. 

Russell,  Capt  John,  names  and 
owns  Russellborough,  104. 

Russellborough,  residence  of  Qor- 
emor  Dobbs,  57;  residence  of 
Governor  Tryon,  104-106;  scene 
of  first  armed  resistance  in  the 
Revolution,  103.  See  Stamp  Act 
on  the  Cape  Fear. 

Rutherford,  Ckn.  Griffith,  marches 
to  the  relief  of  Wilmington,  115. 

Rutherford,  John,  606. 

Ryan,  T.  F.,  controls  Seaboard  sys- 
tem, 675. 

Ryckman,  Miss,  teacher,  650. 

St.  Gabriel's  parish,  establishment 
of,  101. 

St  Philip's  CHiurch,  description  and 
history  of.  59,  60,  85,  86;  143. 
574,  582,  606,  607. 

Sabine,  U.  S.  man-of-war.  Confeder- 
ate prisoners  confined  on,  404, 
405. 

Sailors'  chanties,  x. 

Sallie,  Confederate  cruiser,  478. 

Salter,  William  (of  Bladen),  682. 

Sampson,  Col.  James,  member  N.  C. 
Sons  of  Liberty,  106;  one  of  the 
settlers  of  New  Hanover  County, 
328. 

Sampson,  Col.  John,  active  in  re- 
sistance to  Stamp  Act  97; 
defends  Brunswick  against  the 
Spaniards,  50;  residence  of,  65, 
120. 

Sampson,  Joseph  E.,  member  school 
committee,  663. 

Sampson,  Michael,  residence  of,  71. 


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723 


Sanford,  Robert,  writes  of  condi- 
tions on  Charles  River,  32-34. 

Sanford,  Thomas»  sketch  of,  256; 
214,  252. 

'*Sapona,"  Indian  name  for  Cape 
Fear  River,  6,  14. 

Sarecta,  residence  of  William 
Houston,  stamp  master,  102. 

Sassard,  John,  officer  blockade  run- 
ner Mary  Celeste,  sketch  of,  422, 
423. 

Satchwell,  P.  D.,  666. 

Saunders,  Rev.  D.  J.  (colored), 
editor,  660,  621. 

Saunders,  Romulus  M.,  candidate 
for  governor  in  1840,  176. 

Saunders,  MaJ.  William  J.,  Con- 
federate chief  of  artillery  in 
second  attack  on  Ft  Fisher, 
369. 

Saunders,  Col.  William  L.,  editor,  568; 
secures  charter  for  Memorial 
Association,  276. 

Savage,  Dick,  191. 

Savage,  Col.  Edward,  military  serv- 
ice of,  360;  253. 

Savage,  Capt.  Henry,  sketch  of,  360, 
361;  219,  226,  263,  273,  303. 

Savage,  May,  191. 

Savage,  Sarah,  191. 

Sawyer,  Rev.  Mr.,  631. 

Scharf,  Colonel,  quoted,  475,  476, 
477-479. 

Schaw,  Robert,  78. 

Schenck,  Aletta  Jane,  191. 

Schenck,  Nicholas  W.,  172.  191. 

Schnibben,  ,  chief  of  flre  de- 
partment, 538. 

Schofleld,  Gen.  John  McA.,  in  attack 
on  Wilmington,  496,  497,  498. 

Sqhools. 

Announcement  of  early  schools 
(1812-1840),  648-654;  Cape  Fear 
schools  prior  to  1800,  655;  es- 
tablishment of  high  schools, 
665;  opposition  to  high  schools, 
664;  public  education  in  Wil- 
mington, 667,  668;  public 
schools,  history  of,  658-666;  re- 
port    of     superintendent     of 


Schools,  continued. 

schools  in  1886,  663;  report  on 
Wilmington  schools  in  1882, 
663;  rules  of  a  school  of  1840, 
663,  654;  schools  just  prior  to 
the  war,  666,  657;  Tileston  Nor- 
mal School  building  given  to 
Wilmington,  660. 

Schultz,  Abe,  646. 

Scorpion,  H.  B.  M.'s  sloop  of  war, 
45,  104. 

Scotch  emigration  to  North  Caro- 
lina, 124,  125. 

Scott,  Qtea.  Winfleld,  quoted,  173; 
491. 

Scruggs,  Rev.  A.  A.,  638. 

Scull,  J.  H.,  666. 

Seaman's  Friend  Society,  676,  677. 

Seeders,  Thomas  T.,  560. 

Sell,  Rev.  B.  C,  632. 

Seminole,  coast  guard  cutter,  head- 
quarters of,  624;  officers  of,  624; 
President  Taft  on,  541;  service 
of,  524;  uses  oil  to  prevent 
breaking  seas,  530,  631;  wireless 
equipment  of,  624,  525. 

Settle,  Judge  Thomas  (Superior 
Court),  186. 

Shackelford,  Lieut.  Daniel,  military 
service  and  death  of,  361. 

Shackelford,  John  F.,  243. 

Shackelford,  Theodore,  military 
service  and  death  of,  361. 

Shaftesbury,  Earl  of,  author  Habeas 
Corpus  Act,  3;  character  of,  3; 
elected  first  chief  justice  of 
Carolina,  3. 

Shamburger,  Rev.  S.  M.,  631. 

Sharp,  Capt.  John  H.,  sketch  of, 
674,  676. 

Shenandoah,  Confederate  cruiser, 
478. 

Shenandoah,  U.  S.  man-of-war, 
chases  Lilian,  392.  393;  417. 

Shepard,  Dr.  Joseph  C.  sketch  of. 
361. 

Shepherd,  Rev.  Mr.,  teacher,  170. 

Shepperd,  Col.  William,  655. 

Sherwood,  ,  620. 

Sherwood.  Daniel,  262. 


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724 


Index 


Shipp,  Lieut  William  E.,  battery  at 
Ft  Caswell  named  for,  547. 

Schroeder,  ,  officer  blockade 

runner  Chameleon,  474. 

Shuter,  Samuel,  190. 

Sickle,  MaJ.  H.  W.,  U.  S.  engineers,  x, 

Sidbury,  K.  C,  566. 

Sieg,  Mrs.  J.  McC.,  619. 

Simmons,  Senator  F.  M.,  secures 
Congressional  aid  for  Cape 
Fear  River  improvement,  147. 

Simon  ton.  Col.  C.  H.,  capture  of,  495; 
in  command  at  Ft.  Caswell,  282, 
380. 

Simpson,  Mrs.  Jane  Anna,  writes  of 
George  Washington's  visit  to 
Wilmington,  208. 

Simpson,  Jessie  B.,  teacher,  652. 

Simpson,  Oen.  J.  H.,  U.  S.  A.,  in 
charge  of  Cape  Fear  River  im- 
provement, 10. 

Singleton,  Rev.  Dr.  Horace  L.,  617. 

Skelding,  A.  B.,  general  manager 
Tide  Water  Power  Company, 
677. 

Skinner,  Capt.  S.  W.,  176. 

Slingsby,  Col.  John,  appointed  to 
aid  in  obstructing  Cape  Fear 
River  Channel  (1775),  8;  falls 
commanding  Tories  at  Eliza^ 
bethtown,  117,  118;  held  Whig 
prisoners,  119. 

Sloan,  MaJ.  Benjamin,  ordnance 
officer  on  General  Whiting's 
staff,  484. 

Slocum,  Dr.  Robert  B.,  sketch  by, 
597-603. 

Slocumb,  Mary,  monument  to,  113. 

Small,  Hon.  John  H.,  promotes  in- 
land water-way  improvement  in 
Congress,  549;  541. 

Smallbones,  H.  G.,  612. 

Smallpox  epidemic  (1862),  356. 

Small  wood,  James,  606. 

Smith,  Gov.  Benjamin,  active  in  re- 
sistance to  Stamp  Act,  92;  con- 
structs tapla  work  on  the  site 
of  old  Ft  Johnston,  135,  137; 
gift  to  the  University,  666;  gov- 
ernor of  North  (Carolina,   135, 


Smith,  Gk)v.  Benjamin,  continued. 
634;  residence  at  Belvidere  and 
Orton,  57;  sketch  of,  135,  545; 
Smith  brothers'  controversy,  68, 
Smithville  named  for,  55,  544. 

Smith,  Mrs.  Benjamin  (Sarah  Dry), 
religious  experience  of,  635; 
135,  634. 

Smith,  Dr.  C.  Alphonso,  quoted,  570, 
571. 

Smith,  David,  141. 

Smith,  David,  jr.,  editor,  556. 

Smith,  G.  Herbert  director  in  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  677. 

Smith,  J.  A.,  566. 

Smith,  Capt  J.  B.  (steamboat),  195. 

Smith,  James,  goes  to  South  Cslto- 
lina,  58;  Kendal  residence  of, 
58. 

Smith,  Rev.  James  A.,  sketch  of, 
361,  362. 

Smith,  Landgrave,  governor  of 
South  Carolina,  135;  locates 
grant  on  Cape  Fear  River 
(1692),  36. 

Smith,  Moody  B.,  eminent  member 
Wilmington  Bar,  566;  231. 

Smith,  Samuel  L.,  638. 

Smith,  W.  L.,  566. 

Smith,  Bishop  Whiteford,  630. 

Smith,  William,  president  of  the 
Assembly  (1739),  49. 

Smith,  Col.  William  L.,  mayor  of 
Wilmington,  556. 

Smith's  Island,  Cape  Fear  Light- 
house on,  519;  described,  519; 
10,  12. 

Smithville,  county  records  in  de- 
stroyed by  Federal  troops,  142; 
county  seat  680;  described,  544; 
founded  by  act  of  Assembly,  54; 
General  Whiting  stationed  at, 
483;  name  changed  to  South- 
port  55,  544;  resort  of  promi- 
nent families,  135.  507,  680; 
social  life  of,  202,  203;  steam- 
boat line  to,  138;  244. 

Smoot,  Rev.  Dr.  T.  A.,  631. 

Snow's  Marsh  Channel,  depth  and 
width  of,  11. 


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Index 


725 


Snyder,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  A.,  641. 

Social  ConditionB,  76-80. 

Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  work  of,  292, 
293. 

Solomon,  Albert,  646. 

Solomon,  B.,  646. 

Sons  of  Liberty  on  the  Cape  Fear. 
Assembly  at  Wilmington,  106; 
committees  appointed,  106;  res- 
olutions passed,  107-109. 

"Sound"  salt  works,  506,  506. 

Southport,  advantageous  situation 
of,  646,  647;  battle  with  pirates 
near  present  site  of,  37;  com- 
munication with  Wilmington, 
646,  546;  described,  643,  644; 
formerly  Ft.  Johnston  and 
Smithville,  56,  643,  544,  646. 

Spanish  invasion  (1747),  account 
of,  49,  60. 

Spencer,  E.  M.  S.,  teacher,  660,  661. 

Springer,  J.  A.,  561. 

Springer,  W.  E.,  661. 

Springs,  S.,  141. 

Sprunt,  Alexander,  advocates  oil  to 
prevent  breaking  seas,  629; 
British  consul  at  Wilmington, 
467;  founds  firm  of  Alexander 
Sprunt  ft  Son,  629;  623,  628. 

Sprunt,  Alexander  ft  Son,  introduce 
the  new  era  of  steam  to  Wil- 
mington by  charter  of  British 
steamer  Bamesmore,  501;  629. 

Sprunt,  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander,  617, 
628. 

Spnmt,  Mrs.  James,  an  appreciation 
of,  687,  588;  gave,  with  Mr. 
Sprunt,  Marion  Sprunt  Memo- 
rial Building  to  hospital,  600- 
602;  report  of  on  historic  places 
in  North  Carolina  of  colonial 
date  yet  unmarked,  684-687; 
sketch  of  and  work  as  president 
of  the  North  Carolina  Society 
of  Colonial  Dames  of  America, 
679-683. 

Sprunt,  Rev.  Dr.  James  Menzies, 
principal  Grove  Academy,  329, 
363;  sketch  of,  363. 


Sprunt,  Jane  Dalziel,  628. 

Sprunt,  John  D.,  624,  626. 

Sprunt,  Marion  Murchison,  memo- 
rtal  to,  600-602. 

Sprunt,  William  H.,  gave  building 
to  hospital,  600;  661,  601,  602, 
626. 

Stacey,  W.  P.,  666. 

Stallings,  Mrs.  J.  N.,  103. 

Stamp  Act  on  the  Cape  Fear. 

Directory  appointed,  96,  96; 
King's  vessels  covered,  98; 
leaders  in  opposition  to,  66,  92; 
military  companies  formed,  97; 
passage  of  Stamp  Act,  87,  91; 
patriotic  action  of  February, 
1766,  96;  patriotic  meeting  in 
Wilmington,  92;  patriotic  pro- 
ceedings of  November,  1766,  92- 
94;  repeal  of  Stamp  Act,  88, 
100;  resignation  of  controller, 
99;  resignation  of  stamp  mas- 
ter, 93;  Tryon's  letter  in  refer- 
ence to  people's  opposition,  104. 

Stanlift,  J.  W.,  teacher,  660. 

State  elections,  when  held,  176. 

Steamboat  line  between  Wilmington 
and  Charleston,  146,  196,  196, 
469,  546. 

Stedman,  Charles  M.,  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  666. 

Stedman,  Rev.  J.  O.,  617. 

Steele,  Captain,  skill  of  as  a  block- 
ade runner,  407,  408,  439.  440. 

Stephens,  Hon.  A.  H.,  visits  Wil- 
mington, 216. 

Sterrett,  Captain  (steamboat),  196. 

Stetson,  Miss,  teacher,  238. 

Stevenson,  Daniel  S.,  sketch  of,  362. 

Stevenson,  James  C,  sketch  ot  362. 

Stevenson,  Maj.  James  M.,  in  com- 
mand at  Ft.  Johnston,  280; 
sketch  of,  362;  320. 

Stevenson,  Capt.  William  M.,  sketch 
of,  363. 

Stewart,  Andrew,  sets  up  second 
printing  press  in  North  CtLto- 
lina  (1763),  666. 

Stewart,  James,  78. 


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726 


Index 


Stewart,  Patrick,  78. 

Stickle,    MaJ.    W.    H.,    reports    of 

quoted,  13. 
Stokes,  Col.  M.  S.,  321. 
Story,  Rev.  J.  C,  626. 
Strange,  Bishop  Robert,  bishop  of 
East  Carolina,  610,  613;  memo- 
rfal  sketch  of,  57&-577;  318,583. 
Strange,  Mrs.  Robert,  qaoted,  583. 
Strange,  Robert,  jr.,  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  566;  212, 
228,  253. 
Strange,  R.  W.,  566. 
Strauss,    Alexander,    report   of   on 
condition  of  Old  Ship  Channel 
(1870),  9. 
Stringer,  William,  editor,  179. 
Strode,  Porter,  214. 
Strong,  Major,  aide-de-camp  to  Gen- 
eral Whiting,  454. 
Strudwick,  Betsy,  64. 
Strudwick,  Edmund,  Stag  Park  and 

Hawfields  residences  of,  64. 
Strudwick,  Dr.  Edmund,  64. 
Strudwick,  Samuel,  sketch  of,  64. 
Strudwick,  Maj.  William,  64. 
Styron,   Capt.   C.   W.,   assists  with 
sick  and  wounded  Confederates 
when  Wilmington  is  taken,  356. 
Stuart,  Kate,  sketch  of,  682. 
Sugar  Loaf,  battle  with  Indians  at, 
14,  16;   Confederate  intrenched 
camp  on,  381;  probable  site  of 
last  Indian  settlement  on  the 
Federal  Point  peninsula,  18;  38, 
68. 
Sullivan,  Rev.  J.  A.,  639. 
Sumter,  Confederate  cruiser,  478. 
Sutton,  Rev.  T.  H.,  632. 
Swain,  Gov.   D.  L.,  N.  C.  commis- 
sioner to  Peace  Congress,  268; 
presides  over  Internal  Improve- 
ment Convention,  148. 
Swampy  Branch,  named  by  explor- 
ers, 27. 
Swann,  John,  jr.,  141. 
Swann,  Dr.  John,  226. 
Swann,  Maj.  John,  active  in  resist- 
ance  to   Stamp  Act,   97;    com- 


Swann,  Maj.  John,  continued. 

mands  troops  against  Spaniards^ 
50;    commissioned  to  assist  in 
erecting  Ft  Johnston,  53;  Rocky 
Point    residence    of,     44,     92; 
Swann  Point  residence  of,  71. 

Swann,  Speaker  Samuel,  active  in 
resistance  to  Stamp  Act,  97; 
justice  County  Court  (1777), 
186;  member  New  Hanover 
County  Committee  of  Safety, 
111;  Oaks  residence  of,  71; 
Rocky  Point  residence  of,  92. 

Swash  Defence  Dam,  description  of, 
12. 

Swift,  Capt  Alexander  J.,  assists  in 
constructing  Ft  Caswell,  379, 
547;  in  charge  of  works  at  the 
mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River,  379; 
one  of  the  batteries  at  Ft.  Cas- 
well named  for,  547. 

Swift  C^en.  Joseph  G.,  describes  his 
work  on  Ft.  Johnston  and  life 
at  SmithvUle,  134-138;  379. 

Taft,  President  William  H.,  enter- 
tained by  Mr.  James  Sprunt 
540,  541,  583;  visits  Wilming- 
ton, 208,  540-542,  583. 

Tait  Col.  George,  sketch  of,  307; 
303. 

Tait  Capt  Robert  303. 

Tallahassee,  Confederate  cruiser, 
478. 

Tallichet  Prof.  Henri,  657. 

Tamborrella,  Professor,  657. 

Tate,  Rev.  James,  chaplain  in  Revo- 
lution, 120;  teacher,  655. 

Taylor.  Archibald,  615. 

Taylor,  C.  E.,  jr.,  director  in  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  677. 

Taylor,  Gen.  Dick,  308. 

Taylor,  J.  A.,  opinion  of  on  munici- 
pal government  552,  553;  seeks 
to  connect  Cape  Fear  River 
with  Coastal  Canal,  548. 

Taylor,  Capt.  Jacob  W.,  320. 

Taylor,  Rev.  James  B.,  636,  637. 

Taylor,  John  A.,  219,  535,  617. 


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Index 


727 


Taylor,  Col.  John  D.,  sketch  of,  SOS- 
SOS;  172,  380. 

Taylor,  J.  W.,  6S8. 

Taylor,  Mrs.  J.  W.,  638. 

Taylor,  MaJ.  M.  P.,  military  service 
of,  294,  363. 

Taylor,  Thomas  E.,  finds  the  body 
of  Mrs.  Greenhow,  490;  narra- 
tive by,  435-448. 

Taylor,  Col.  Walker,  collector  of 
customs,  696;  organizes  Boys' 
Brigade,  588-691;  561. 

Taylor,  Gen.  Zachary,  491. 

Telfair,  James,  249. 

Terry,  Gen.  A.  H.,  commands  land 
attack  on  Ft  Fisher,  493,  494; 
pursues  General  Hoke,  499; 
takes  possession  of  Wilming- 
ton, 495. 

Terry,  Rev.  R.  E.,  611,  612. 

Tew,  Col.  C.  C,  in  command  at  Ft 
Macon,  342,  343. 

Thalian  Association,  history  of,  248- 
257. 

Thalian  Hall,  built,  257;  220,  221. 

Thomas,  Hon.  Charles  R.,  aids  in 
securing  appropriation  for  new 
custom  house,  596;  secures 
appropriation  for  Moore's  Creek 
monument,  113;  541. 

Thomas,  George  G.,  243. 

Thomas,  J.  W.,  535. 

Thompson,  John  R.,  editor,  564. 

Thompson,  Joseph  E.,  661. 

Thorn,  Federal  transport,  sunk  by 
torpedo  in  Cape  Ffear  River, 
499,  600. 

"Thoroughfare,"  Maultsby  land 
grant  opposite,  45;  14. 

"Thunder  and  Lightning"  house,  184. 

Thurston,  Col.  S.  D.,  action  of  in 
taking  Ft  Caswell  not  sustained 
by  Governor  Ellis,  278;  assists 
in  taking  Ft.  Caswell  later  by 
the  Governor's  order,  277; 
sketch  of,  297. 

Tilden,  Eleazar,  141. 

Tognio,  Dr.  J.,  169. 

Tolson,  Rev.  G.  M.,  638. 


Toomer,  Henry,  active  in  resistance 
to  the  Stamp  Act,  92. 

Toomer,  Mrs.,  141. 

Torrey,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  A.,  617. 

Town  Creek,  first  settlers  disem- 
bark at,  31,  142;  improvement 
of,  13. 

Town  Creek  Plantation,  Governor 
Dobbs  buried  on,  87. 

Townes,  W.  A.,  566. 

Town  House,  first  public  building 
in  Wilmington,  691,  592. 

Travis,  Rev.  Mr.,  634. 

Trawick,  Rev.  C.  W.,  626. 

Tryon,  Gov.  William,  builds  palace, 
88;  governor  when  patriots  re- 
sist Stamp  Act,  91-100;  postp 
pones  convening  of  the  Assem- 
bly, 91;  quoted,  53;  Russell- 
borough  residence  of,  104-106; 
sketch  and  administration  of, 
87,  88;  vestry  of  St  James's 
replies  to,  607;  Wilmington 
residence  of,  593. 

Tryon's  Palace,  history  and  ruins 
of,  103-106;  monument  at,  581; 
on  Orton  Plantation,  59;  relics 
of,  142,  143. 

Turkey  Quarters,  named  by  explor- 
ers, 28. 

Turner,  Hon.  Josiah,  public  service 
of  as  an  editor,  564. 

Turner,  W.  P.  M.,  566. 

Tuscarora,  blockader,  481. 

Tuttle,  Rev.  D.  H.,  631. 

Tyler,  Rev.  A.  P.,  631. 

Tyler,  President  John,  vice-presi- 
dential campaign  of,  175-177. 

Ulysses,  Scotch  trading  vessel  of 
1773,  brings  stores  to  Bruns- 
wick, 39. 

University  of  North  Carolina,  char- 
ter of,  545;  contributions  of 
Cape  Fear  people  to,  666,  667; 
first  benefactor  of,  545;  library 
of,  544,  545. 

Upper  Cape  Fear,  Loyalists  In,  114. 

Urquhart,  Henry,  141. 


Digitized  by 


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728 


Index 


Usher,  James,  141. 

Usina,!  capt.  M.  P.,  narrative  by, 

416-435;  sketch  of,  415. 
UUey,  Rev.  C.  H.,  639. 

Van  Amringe,  Cyrus  Stowe,  287. 

Van  Benthuysen,  commander  naval 
detachment  at  Ft  Fisher,  385. 

Van  Bokkelen,  A.  H^  184,  253,  659. 

Van  Bokkelen,  Capt  John  F.  S., 
sketch  of,  363,  364;  242,  285. 

Vance,  Gov.  Zebulon  B.,  colonel  of 
a  North  Carolina  regiment,  453; 
elected  governor,  453,  454;  ship 
named  for,  454;  571. 

Van  Cleft,  John  M..  161. 

Vanderbilt,  blockader,  473. 

Vanderbilt,  runs  the  blockade,  459; 
steamer  on  line  to  Charleston, 
145,  195. 

Vassall,  Henry,  fails  to  bring  relief 
to  colony,  35;  promotes  settle- 
ment, 31. 

Vasi^l,  John,  leading  promoter  of 
Charlestown  settlement,  30,  31; 
sends  explorers,  31;  unable  to 
hold  colonists,  32;  writes  of  fail- 
ure of  Charlestown  settlement, 
35,  36. 

Van  Viel,  Caroline,  191. 

Venable,  Hon.  Abraham  W.,  223, 
225. 

Venable,  Dr.  Francis  P.,  quoted,  15, 
667. 

Vickers,  Rev.  T.  C,  632. 

Viper,  H.  B.  M.'s  sloop  of  war,  45, 
96. 

Vipperman,  Rev.  J.  L.,  638. 

Visit  to  the  Cape  Fear  (1734),  40-45. 

Visit  to  the  Highland  settlement, 
123-127. 

Volgt,  Rev.  Dr.  A,  G.,  641. 

Von  Borcke,  Major,  470. 

Waccamaw  Lake,  description  of 
(1734),  43,  44. 


Waddell,  €k>l.  Alfred  Moore,  account 
of  writings  of,  574,  575;  de- 
scendant of  Sir  John  Teamans, 
104;  editor,  558;  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  566;  ex- 
member  of  Congress,  541; 
mayor,  451,  598,  599;  narratives 
by,  55,  56,  290,  291,  408;  quoted, 
142,  554,  606;  sketch  of,  307; 
305,  318,  555,  573,  583,  644. 

Waddell,  Mrs.  Alfred  Moore,  ex- 
perience of  on  a  blockade  run- 
ner, 451;  president  North  Oro- 
lina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames 
of  America,  583;  657. 

Waddell,  F.  N.,  253. 

Waddell,  F.  N.,  jr.,  234. 

Waddell,  Col.  Hugh,  at  Alamance, 
118;  leader  in  resistance  to 
Stamp  Act,  53,  96-98;  officer  in 
French  and  Indian  War,  119; 
72. 

Waddell,  John,  residence  of,  57. 

Wade,  Captain  (steamboat),  195. 

Wainwright,  Rev.  J.  A.,  611. 

Walker,  Alvis,  121,  172. 

Walker,  Calhoun,  121. 

Walker,  Carlton,  66. 

Walker,  CJapt  George,  121. 

Walker,  Henry,  121. 

Walker,  James,  gives  hospital  to 
Wilmington,  598;  sketch  of, 
597;  644. 

Walker,  Capt  James,  member  Wil- 
mington Committee  of  Safety, 
111;  sketch  of,  136,  137;  135. 

Walker,  James  W.,  teacher,  649. 

Walker,  John,  176. 

Walker,  Maj.  John,  residence  of^ 
186;  66,  121,  212,  216,  218,  224. 
252, 

Walker,  John  M.,  242,  243. 

Walker,  John  Moseley,  66. 

Walker,  Maj.  John  (Jack),  active 
in  resistance  to  Stamp  Act,  92; 
Revolutionary  officer,  120,  121; 
54,  615. 


^inoe  printing  the  text,  it  haa  been  found  that  Captain  Ueina  did  not  belong  to  Charles- 
ton. He  was  born  in  St.  Augustine,  Florida,  and  was  a  resident  of  Savannah  prior  to  the  war 
and  afterwards. 


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729 


Walker,  Dr.  Joshua  C,  121,  356,  357. 

Walker,  Julius  H.,  249. 

Walker,  Louisa,  135. 

Walker,   MaJ.   Norman   S.,   Confed- 
erate agent  at  Bermuda,  402. 

Walker,    Justice    Piatt    Dickinson, 
(Supreme  Court),  241,  242,  243. 

Walker,  P.  M.,  212,  226. 

Walker,  Robert,  137. 

Walker,  Sergeant,  U.  S.  A.,  280. 

Walker,  Hon.  Thomas  D.,  121,  187. 

Walker,  W.  M.,  second  in  WilkingSr 
Planner  duel,  234-236. 

Walker,  Willie  A.,  170. 

Wallace,  Rev.  B.  E.,  626. 

Wallace,  S.  D.,  212. 

Walsh,  Rev.  M.,  191. 

Walter,  T.  U.,  architect,  608. 

Walters,  Henry,  develops  A.  C.  L. 
R.  R.  after  the  war,  668,  669. 

War  between  the  States. 

Amusing  incident  in  early  war 
preparations,  282,  283;  Confed- 
erate heroes,  sketch  of,  295-368; 
decline  in  Confederate  money, 
414;  foreign  intervention  hoped 
for,  285;  Ft.  Fisher  falls,  383- 
386,  492-494;  fortifying  Confed- 
erate Point,  281;  General 
Hospital  No.  4,  356;  General 
Whiting  and  Courier  Murphy, 
274,  275;  Governor  Ellis  orders 
Ft.  Caswell  restored  to  U.  S. 
authorities,  278;  Governor  Ellis 
orders  Ft.  Caswell  and  Ft. 
Johnston  taken  after  firing  oa 
Ft.  Sumter,  279;  history  of  the 
Third  Infantry  Regiment,  273, 
274;  lawless  conditions,  413; 
LfOe's  starving  soldiers,  468; 
Memorial  Association,  account 
of,  275,  276,  292;  military  prep- 
arations, 272;  minute  men  take 
Ft.  Caswell  and  Ft.  Johnston, 
277;  North  Carolina's  naval 
force,  353;  North  Carolina 
sends  delegates  to  the  peace 
congresses,  268;  Oak  Island  de- 
fences, 380;  people  of  the  Cape 
Fear  fired  by  Lincoln's  call  for 


War  between  the  States,  continued. 
troops,  271;  Rebel  Rangers  cap- 
ture Federal  gunboat,  353,  354; 
secession,  on  the  eve  of,  268- 
271;  secession  sentiment  in  the 
Cape  Fear,  277;  secession  senti- 
ment in  North  Carolina  divided, 
269,  277;  services  to  the  Con- 
federacy of  Mrs.  Armand  J. 
DeRosset,  292-294;  Soldiers' Aid 
Society,  work  of,  258,  275,  292, 
414;  Southern  railroads  in  war 
times,  condition  of,  289-291, 
468;  use  of  torpedoes  in  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  499,  500;  war 
inaugurated  in  North  Carolina 
a  month  prior  to  secession,  280; 
war  prices  in  Wilmington,  288, 
413,  414;  Washington  Peace 
Congress,  account  of  and  George 
Davis'  report  on,  268-270;  Wil- 
mington captured,  495-499.  See 
Wilmington. 

War  of  Jenkins'  Ear,  cause  of,  50- 
52;  North  Carolina  troops  in, 
51, 52. 

Ward,  Richard,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Ware,  Dr.  William,  194. 

Washington,  President,  character  of 
contrasted  with  that  of  the 
Duke  of  Marlborough,  221,222; 
diary  of  quoted,  209;  Edward 
Everett's  address  on,  221,  222; 
serves  under  Innes,  52;  visits 
Wilmington,  208,  209. 

Water  Witch,  U.  S.  steamer  cap- 
tured by  Lieutenant  Price,  358. 

Watkins,  William,  78. 

Watson,  Bishop  Alfred  A.,  church  of 
taken  for  Federal  hospital,  609; 
sketch  of,  364. 

Watson,  John,  assists  in  lajring  ofP 
Newton  (1733),  48.  See  Wil- 
mington, 

Watson,  Rev.  N.  M.,  631. 

Watters,  Samuel,  member  N.  C. 
Sons  of  Liberty,  106;  Revolu- 
tionary officer,  120. 

Watters,  William,  69. 


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Index 


Watts,  J.  T.,  262. 

Wayfarer's  Adieu  (Poem),  244-247. 

Webster,  Hon.  Daniel,  appreciates 
Southern  cooking,  219,  220; 
visits  Wilmington,  217-219;  227. 

Weeks,  C.  D.,  666. 

Weil,  I.  H.,  181,  185. 

Weill,  Abraham,  646. 

Welch,  Rev.  E.  R.,  632. 

Wells,  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.,  narrative 
b7,  590,  591;  617,  627. 

West,  "Sonny."  242. 

Western  Bar,  blockading  fleet  at, 
399,  469,  470;  one  of  the  ap- 
proaches to  Cape  Fear  River, 
392,  411;  471,  686.  See  Main 
Bar, 

Whipple,  Miss,  teacher,  238. 

Whistler,  James  Abbott  McNeill, 
249. 

White,  Capt  Harvey,  334. 

White,  John,  agent  of  North  Caro- 
lina in  England  during  the  war, 
464. 

Whitefield,  Rev.  George,  preaches  in 
Wilmington,  616. 

Whitfield,  Needham,  126. 

Whitfield,  William,  126. 

Whiting,  Gen.  W.  H.  C,  advises 
General  Bragg,  492;  commands 
Cape  Fe&T  defences,  281,  308; 
commands  Cape  Fear  district, 
282,  284,  353,  483,  484;  confi- 
dence inspired  by,  485;  contro- 
versy of  with  Commodore  Lynch, 
487;  death  of,  386;  encourages 
Courier  Murphy,  274;  heroism 
in  the  attack  on  Ft.  Fisher,  296, 
385,  386,  493,  494;  Lieutenant 
Cushing's  message  to,  490;  re- 
port of  quoted,  359,  383-385; 
sketch  of,  295,  296,  483,  484; 
293,  324. 

Whiting,  Mrs.  W.  H.  C,  121.  295.  502. 

Whiting,  Capt  H.  C,  380. 

Whitlock,  Rev.  C.  F.,  639. 

Whitney,  Lieutenant  (cutter  Semi- 
nole), 541. 

Wiggins,  Capt.  O.  A.,  sketch  of,  364, 
365. 


Wiley,  Dr.  Calvin  H.,  develops  pub- 
lic school  system,  658,  669. 

Wilkes,  Commodore  Charles,  U.  S.  N., 
attacks  blockade  runner  at 
Nassau,  417;  report  of  on  Cape 
Fear  coal,  204. 

Wilkes, ,  teacher,  656. 

Wilkings,  Dr.  W.  C,  231-237. 

Wilkings,  Winslow  S.,  190. 

Wilkings-Flanner  duel,  account  of, 
231-237. 

Wilkinson,  John,  member  N.  C.  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106. 

Wilkinson,  C!apt  John,  commands 
C.  S.  cruiser  Chickamauga,  406; 
fails  to  enter  Charleston  after 
the  fall  of  Ft  Fisher,  476;  nar- 
ratives by,  410415,  468-476; 
runs  the  blockade  21  times  in 
command  of  the  R.  E.  Lee,  388. 

Willard,  James  A^  611. 

Willard,  Mrs.  Martin  S.,  572. 

Williams,  Capt.  A.  B.,  sketch  ot 
365,  366. 

Williams,  A.  S.,  566. 

Williams,  Capt  David,  military  serv- 
ice of,  366. 

Williams,  Capt.  E.  D.,  given  knowl- 
edge of  mines  in  the  Cape  Fear 
River,  600. 

Williams,  Gtoorge  W.,  348. 

Williams,  John  D.,  348. 

Williams,  Col.  John  Pugh,  residence 
of,  71. 

WUliams,  J.  S.,  253. 

Williams,  Capt  Robert  service  in 
war  and  death  of,  366;  303. 

Williamson,  Hugh,  historian,  quo- 
ted, 556. 

Willington,  William,  465. 

Willis,  Rev.  R.  A.,  631. 

Willow  Spring  Branch,  161. 

Wills,  Rev.  Mr.,  last  rector  of  St 
James's  under  the  colonial  gov- 
ernment 607,  608. 

Wilmer,    Bishop   Richard    H.,    608. 

Wilmington. 

Action  of  patriots  of  1766,  S6, 
96,100-102;  Bench  and  Bar,  ac- 
count of,  174.  186,  187,  665,  566; 


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731 


Wilmington,  amtinued, 

bill  to  incorporate  rejected,  149; 
boy  home  guards,  414;  British 
occupation  of,  114,  118,  608; 
British  evacuation  of,  116; 
business  and  professional  men 
of  1850,  198-200;  Cape  F^ar  pa^ 
triots  enter  into  an  association 
in,  95;  capture  of,  495-499; 
changes  in  during  the  war, 
283-289;  commerce  and  trade 
of,  156-158,  197,  198,  501-514, 
686;  Committee  on  Internal 
Improvements,  148;  Committee 
of  Safety,  action  of,  8,  54,  110- 
112,  358;  Committee  of  the  Sons 
of  Liberty,  106-109;  custom 
house,  account  of  new  building, 
594-597;  defence  of,  113,  495- 
499,  484,  485;  during  the 
blockade,  483-492;  entrepdt  of 
the  Confederacy,  389;  erection 
of,  45-49;  fire  companies,  ac- 
count of,  537,  538;  fires  in,  140- 

144,  534-537,  230,  231;  first 
commissioners  of,  48;  growth 
of,  139,  683-685;  importance  of 
to  the  Confederacy,  282,  283, 
295,  392;  incorporation  of,  46- 
49;  Jobbing  busiAess  in,  684; 
manufacturers  in,  684;  mer- 
chant shipbuilders  in,  145,  156; 
military  companies  and  otBcers 
of  (1861-65),  273;  "minute 
men"  of  1861,  action  of,  275, 
295;  municipal  govemment  in, 
account  of,  174,  549-553;  popu- 
lation of,  (1781)  114,  (1791) 
209,  (1820)  139,  (1840)  162, 
180;  port  of,  507;  port  of  dur- 
ing the  war,  389-393;  President 
Wilson's  youth  in,  542,  543; 
public  spirit  and  enterprise  of, 

145,  196,  197;  public  utilities 
in,  676,  677;  results  of  the 
Revolution  of  1898  in,  555; 
situation  of,  7,  683;  subscribers 
for  improvements  of  C^pe  Fear 
River,  145;  taxable  property  in. 
684;  threatened  by  British,  113; 


Wilmington,  continued, 

visits  of  presidents  to,  208-213, 
540-542;  war  prices  in,  288,  413; 
yellow  fever  in,  140,  284-287, 
356,  447. 

Wilmington,  boat  on  the  Charleston 
line,  169,  195,  459. 

Wilmington,  colonial  trading  vee- 
sel,  39. 

Wilmington  in  the  Forties. 

Annual  hiring  of  slaves,  179, 
180;  buildings,  184,  188-190; 
conditions  and  customs,  162- 
164;  conduct  of  traflic,  167; 
courts  and  judges,  174, 193, 194; 
elections,  175;  fire  of  January 
17  and  18,  1840,  189-191;  Har- 
rison log  cabin  in  Wilmington, 
176,  177;  lawyers,  187  (See 
Wilmington  Bench  and  Bar); 
mail  routes  and  postage,  165, 
166;  manner  of  conducting 
business,  166-168;  militia,  173, 
174,  193, 194;  moru8  multicauli$ 
craze,  168;  newspapers,  177-179, 
180,  181;  physicians  and  medi- 
cal practice,  164,  182-184;  popu- 
lation, 162,  180;  presidential 
campaign  of  1840,  175-177,  189; 
railroads,  condition  of,  196; 
river  boats  and  their  command- 
ers, 195  (See  steamboat  line  to 
Charleston) ;  river  lighting,  196 
(See  Cape  Fear  River) ;  schools 
and  teachers,  164,  165,  170-173, 
174,  186,  191.  192;  topography 
of  WUmington,  159-162,  164; 
town  commissioners,  174; 
trade,  166;  truck  farming,  168, 
169,  173;  Washingtonian  tem- 
perance movement,  166;  whip- 
ping post,  187;  W.  and  W.  Rail- 
road, 194-196.    (See  Railroads.) 

Wimble,  James,  assists  in  laying  out 
Newton,  45. 

Wimble's  map,  reference  to,  2,  7. 

Winder,  Capt  John  C,  chief  engi- 
neer in  Cape  Fear  defences, 
281;  308. 

Wingate,  E.  H.,  252. 


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Winklen,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  T.,  636. 

Winslow,  Hon.  Warren,  232. 

Winsted,  Maj.  John,  escapes  from 
Johnson's  Island,  345. 

Withington,  E.,  252. 

Wood.  Rev.  Frank,  631. 

Wood,  Robert  B.,  154.  218. 

Wood,  Dr.  Thomas  P.,  editor,  560; 
narrative  by,  284-286;  sketch 
of,  366,  367. 

Woodbury,  Gen.  Daniel  F.,  in 
charge  of  Cape  Fear  River  im- 
provement, 145. 

Wooster.  H.,  141. 

Wooster,  John,  190. 

Wooster,  Lieut.  John  L.,  military 
service  of,  367. 

Wooster,  William  A.,  military  serv- 
ice of,  367. 

Wooten,  Rev.  J,  C,  631. 

Worth,  Archie,  242. 

Worth,  B.  G.,  active  in  school  de- 
velopment, 660. 

Worth,  C.  W.,  director  in  Tide 
Water  Power  Company,  677. 

Worth,  David.  305. 

Worth,  David  G.,  515. 

Worth,  Dr.  George  C.  617. 

Worth,  Mrs.  George  C,  617. 

Worth,  Thomas  Clarkson,  heroism 
of  in  yellow  fever  epidemic, 
287. 

Wortham,  A.  Adj.  George,  279. 

Wright,  Dr.  A.  E.,  service  of  in 
war,  367;  356. 

Wright,  Sir  Charles,  last  royal 
governor  of  Georgia,  249. 

Wright.  Charles  J.,  249. 

Wright,  James,  member  New  Han- 
over County  Committee  of 
Safety.  111. 

Wright,  Capt  James  A.,  military 
service  of.  367;  172.  253. 

Wright,  Judge  J.  G..  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  566;  212, 
249. 


Wright,  Joshua  G.,  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  187,  566. 

Wright,  Lieut.  Joshua  Graing^*, 
sketch  ot  367,  368. 

Wright,  J.  Hill,  253. 

Wright,  Maj.  Thomas  Charles, 
sketch  of,  367. 

Wright,  Thomas  H.,  242,  243. 

Wright,  Dr.  Thomas  H..  director  W. 
and   W.   R.   R.,   150.   151;    214,. 
219.  224,  251,  367,  650. 

Wrtght,  Tom  (littie),  240. 

Wright,  William  A.,  commissioner 
of  schools,  174;  director  W.  and 
W.  R.  R.,  152;  eminent  mem- 
ber Wilmington  Bar,  5'66;  187. 
212.  214. 

Wright,  Willie  Gus,  242. 

Wright,  Lieut  William  Henry, 
sketch  of.  249. 

Wylie,  Captain,  officer  blockade 
runner  Advance,  455. 


Yadkin,  Confederate  gunboat,  480- 
482. 

Tancey,  Bartlett,  author  bill  creat- 
ing "Literary  Fund,"  658. 

Tates,  Charles  W.,  sketch  of,  368; 
561. 

Yates,  Daniel,  638. 

Yates,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.,  631. 

Yates,  Mrs.  Mary,  638. 

Yeamans,  Sir  John,  governor 
Charlestown  (N.  C.)  settlement, 
31;  governor  Charlestown  (S. 
C.)  settlement,  32;  visits  Cfl^e 
Fear.  33;  104. 

Yopon   (shrub),  description  of,  15. 

Young,  Rev.  W.  M..  636. 

Younger,  Eliza,  135. 

Yulee,  Senator  David  L.,  president 
Florida  R.  R.,  156. 


Zeke's  Island,  10,  11. 


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oa  6,  oils: 
liigtoo&rj 
t.  Mn  ^ 

367. 

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